I Have the Apple Digital Driver’s License-Do You Have FOMO?

by Robert McGarvey

On March 23 Apple announced the debut of its digital driver’s license – and within a few minutes of learning about it, I had it installed on my iPhone.

It would have been installed sooner except I had to update the OS on the phone. Once that was handled, it was smooth and quick sailing.

Right now, only Arizona licenses work with the Apple technology. Apple has said other states will soon follow, including Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, and the territory of Puerto Rico. Timelines are unclear.

If you do not have an Arizona driver’s license, forget about it for now.

If you do not have an iPhone or Apple Watch, forget about it.

So I pat myself on the back in congratulation of my early adoption.

But exactly what have I adopted? What are my benefits?

Back up a few steps. Arizona, presumably to keep state operating costs low, does not have that many DMV officers where licenses can be renewed. So when I last renewed it I used a privately run facility that charges a few dollars more but it was nearby and there was no line.

One hitch: the license has this notice – “NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION.”

Typically I had used a driver’s license at the TSA checkpoints so this was a problem. Yes, I have a passport – two in fact – but they are in a large case that I bring on international trips. Not always on domestic.

I bought a US Passport card – the same size as a driver’s license. Problem solved. It fits in my wallet right behind the driver’s license.

Would my driver’s license in fact work with the Apple system?

Yep.

Little by little, Apple is adding features to its wallet app that augment its usefulness. I also have a BART Clipper card installed in the wallet, for instance. An Apple Card is in there too.

Will I ever actually use the digital driver’s license that now claims pride of place in the Apple Wallet?

JoeSentMe columnist Phil Baker is cynical about the usefulness of this Apple tool: “The best I can say for the digital license is that it’s a useful way to back up your physical license. I’ll continue to carry my real license with me and not depend on my phone. Clearly, it’s in Apple’s interest to turn the iPhone into a digital wallet, but it’s doing it because it can, not because there’s a need.”

Note too that not all airports will accept the Apple digital ID. Apple acknowledges this: “Driver’s licenses and state IDs in Wallet are currently available for use in select states at select TSA checkpoints. Travelers should refer to TSA checkpoint signage to confirm availability,” it said in its press release.

9to5Mac says the list of locations where it can be used is in fact singular: “For now, it looks like certain TSA checkpoints at the Phoenix International Airport are the only officially supported places to use Apple digital IDs.”

If your flights are not taking you to PHX, maybe just forget about this for now.

And also understand that, for now, the digital ID cannot be substituted for a plastic license if stopped by a cop who insists on seeing your license. You still will need to carry the plastic.

So I don’t disagree with Baker but I got one anyway. Why? Because I write about this stuff, it interests me, and I do believe we need stronger, better ID systems in this country. Perhaps the Apple ID is a step in that direction.

For sure, Apple’s game plan is clear. It wants to sell states – like Arizona, which already has no fondness for issuing license renewals – to contract with Apple to assume the licensing responsibility. Assuming Arizona sticks to its skinflint GOP budget biases I can see AZ hopping aboard that train.

Here’s the bottomline: this remains very early days for digital IDs on our phones. Everybody knows they are coming, almost everybody applauds this, but almost nobody has marked a day on their calendar when they plan to shred their plastic driver’s licenses.

Me, I remain glad I did it. Fast, easy and, for now, no cost.

Will I ever use it?

Somebody has to be the test subject. Why not me?