SALT LAKE CITY — Utah will join Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, and Oklahoma in being the first states to bring state IDs and driver’s licenses to Apple Wallet.
Back in March, Utah's Driver License Division announced it was going to start working on digital IDs with the company Get Mobile, which uses a standalone app.
Fast forward to June, people started signing up for them at some Utah Community Credit Union branches, then at the beginning of August people started signing up for digital IDs at Harmons.
The state says about 1,200 Utahns are now using their digital IDs at some participating banks and grocery stores.
Now the state is working with Apple to get IDs and driver's licenses onto the Wallet app for iPhones and Apple Watches.
Joe Dougherty, the Spokesperson for the Utah Department of Public Safety said they're working with more places to get them to accept the mobile IDs.
"We’re working with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage control for state liquor stores and really that could expand to TSA and other places as well. We expect to have a lot more progress by this fall with more potentially liquor stores and more grocery stores coming on board," said Dougherty.
Arizona and Georgia will be the first states to introduce this new feature to their residents, with Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Utah to follow.
The exact date of implementation has not been revealed.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will allow select airport security checkpoints in participating airports as the first locations customers can use their driver’s license or state ID in Wallet.
Apple has heavily focused on security in recent years and this feature is no different.
“The addition of driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet is an important step in our vision of replacing the physical wallet with a secure and easy-to-use mobile wallet,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “We are excited that the TSA and so many states are already on board to help bring this to life for travelers across the country using only their iPhone and Apple Watch, and we are already in discussions with many more states as we’re working to offer this nationwide in the future.”
The TSA is also touting the convenience and security of the ability to have your ID stored in Apple Wallet.
“This new and innovative mobile driver’s license and state ID initiative with Apple and states around the country will enable a more seamless airport security screening experience for travelers,” said David Pekoske, TSA Administrator. “This initiative marks a major milestone by TSA to provide an additional level of convenience for the traveler by enabling more opportunities for touchless TSA airport security screening.”
Apple says, once Utah begins offering this capability, you'll be able to add your driver’s license or state ID to Wallet and simply tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to present it to the TSA, without taking out your physical card or handing over your device.
The bottom line is you will be able to choose between the "Get Mobile" version, which Utah is currently piloting, and the Apple Wallet version.
The Director of the Utah Driver License Division, Chris Caras, said the Apple Wallet digital IDs are expected to become available sometime next year.
