Californians to Receive Digital Driver's Licenses Via Apple Wallet in Upcoming Year

Californians Obtain Digital Driver's Licenses via Apple Wallet in 2021

California is set to join the ranks of several US states that have adopted digital identification cards, with the announcement that official digital driver's licenses and identification cards will be introduced into Apple Wallet.

The revelation was first reported by MacRumors on Monday, with California listed on the Apple Wallet Wikipedia page as an "upcoming state." Georgia, which adopted digital identification cards in 2023, is already using this technology, and five other states currently offer the embedded version of digital identification cards. Arizona, Maryland, and Colorado were the first states to offer digital identification cards in 2021, with only three states immediately implementing the digital IDs at that time.

Ohio started offering digital identification cards last week, and eight states, including California, were announced to adopt digital identification cards in 2021. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has a dormant landing page about this feature on the Apple Wallet Wikipedia page, suggesting that it's not yet ready for public consumption. However, the landing page is missing essential assets like helper videos and images, which may indicate that the feature is still in development.

One of the potential benefits of using Apple Wallet for these credentials is that it will make it easier to multitask between the iPhone and Apple Watch. This feature will potentially reduce the likelihood of leaving digital credentials behind in public places like bars or grocery stores. However, it's worth noting that not all cars are equipped with ultra wideband for remote unlocking, which is required for Apple Wallet to function effectively in this context.

Currently, Californians can use the official DMV app to store their credentials, but this feature will eventually allow them to use Apple Wallet instead. Digital identification cards have not yet been rolled out to the rest of the country, but it seems that the trend towards digital IDs is gaining momentum. As more states adopt this technology, it's likely that we'll see an increase in convenience and security for individuals who rely on their driver's licenses and ID cards on a daily basis.