Apple Wallet IDs Set to Reach Four More US States

Apple Wallet driver’s licenses and state IDs appear set to reach four more US states, according to code sightings reported this week, which would take the feature to 18 states plus Puerto Rico.

MacRumors reported finding references to Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia in Apple’s code, with no timeframe attached to any of them. Apple has not announced the three states, and the sighting indicates preparation rather than a confirmed launch date.

North Carolina is the exception, and it is confirmed. The state’s Division of Motor Vehicles has said it will launch its own NC Wallet app in December, with Apple, Google and Samsung Wallet support following in early 2027.

Fourteen states currently support Apple Wallet IDs, along with Puerto Rico. Arizona was first in March 2022, followed by Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, California, Iowa, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia and Illinois, with Arkansas joining in May 2026. The pace has been uneven: three states came online in 2022 and one in 2023, followed by five across 2024 and four in 2025.

Enrolment runs through the Wallet app itself. A resident taps the plus sign, selects Driver’s License and ID Cards, picks their state from the list and follows the on-screen steps.

Presentation works without handing over the device. A holder taps an iPhone or Apple Watch against an identity reader, sees what information is being requested, and authorises release with Face ID or Touch ID. The phone does not need to be unlocked or shown, and the credential can be used to prove identity or age at participating airports, businesses and apps.

Acceptance remains the constraint. Apple Wallet IDs work at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 US airports for domestic travel, and North Carolina’s DMV says its credential will be accepted at Charlotte Douglas and Raleigh-Durham. Beyond airports, the number of businesses that accept them is small, and they are generally not accepted by law enforcement, so a physical license is still legally required at a traffic stop. Travellers are advised to check TSA signage to confirm the feature is available at a given checkpoint.

North Carolina’s DMV makes the same point about its own credential. “Your mobile ID is a valid form of identification in North Carolina,” it says, but as retailers and restaurants transition, “some may not be set up to accept them right away. For now, carrying your physical card gives you a backup when needed.”

Individual airports have continued adding the checks, with Sacramento International launching mobile license verification at its TSA checkpoints.

Sources: MacRumors, 9to5Mac

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By the ID Tech Editorial Team