Californians Can Now Add Driver’s Licenses to Apple Wallet

As announced in August, up to 1.5 million participants in a pilot program can now add their driver’s licenses or state ID cards to Apple Wallet. This process involves scanning the document using an iPhone and performing a series of facial and head movements to ensure security. The scans must be verified by the state before the digital documents become available in Apple Wallet.

Despite this new functionality, the state DMV advises users to still carry their physical IDs, as the digital IDs are authorized for limited use.

Effective today, the digital IDs can be utilized at specific TSA checkpoints at San Francisco International, Los Angeles International, and San Jose Mineta International airports. This allows users to verify their identity without presenting physical copies of their IDs or even their iPhones. They can also use the digital IDs at participating businesses and venues to prove identity and age.

Apple states that IDs stored in Apple Wallet are encrypted, including the history of when the ID has been presented, and this data is not accessible by Apple or the state issuing the ID. Access to this information requires authorization through Face ID or Touch ID, and the device does not need to be fully unlocked to display the ID.

California joins six other states in supporting Apple Wallet IDs, which include Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Hawaii, and Ohio. Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia are expected to support this feature in the future.

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