Have an Apple Wallet? You can now add your California driver’s license or ID to it

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office on Thursday announced that the state now offers residents the chance to securely add their California driver’s license or state-issued ID to Apple Wallet on their iPhone and Apple Watch.

Residents can then use this feature at select businesses and TSA checkpoints at airports in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“With this new integration, we’re working to better serve the people of California in the 21st century,” Newsom said in a statement announcing the decision.

Last month, the state announced that Californians could add their driver’s license to Google Wallet.

“Enabling California residents to seamlessly add and present their IDs with their iPhone or Apple Watch represents a significant step in replacing the physical wallet with a more secure and private digital wallet,” said Jennifer Bailey, a vice president for Apple, in a statement.

In order to add your ID, tap the “plus” button at the top of the screen in the Wallet app on your iPhone, select “driver’s license or state ID,” and then follow on-screen instructions to set up.

“To help ensure that the person adding the identity card to Apple Wallet is the same person to whom the identity card belongs, the user will be asked to take a selfie and scan the front and back of their driver’s license or state ID card, which will be securely provided to the DMV for verification,” according to the Governor’s Office.

The Governor’s Office notes that the Apple Wallet does not negate the need to carry a physical ID while driving.

More than 625,000 Californians now have a mobile driver’s license, a separate program that was created a year ago, according to Newsom’s office.

This story was originally published September 19, 2024 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Have an Apple Wallet? You can now add your California driver’s license or ID to it."