Ohio has recently joined the list of states accepting digital driver’s licenses and state IDs through the iPhone’s Apple Wallet app. As the fifth state to offer this feature, Ohio residents can now use their digital IDs for various purposes, including at TSA airport security checkpoints and select businesses and applications. This move aims to enhance convenience for those who frequently forget their physical wallets.
In addition to accepting digital IDs, Ohio is also working on a free age verification app for businesses that need to verify customers’ identities. This initiative reflects the state’s commitment to integrating digital solutions to streamline identification processes, making it easier for businesses to confirm ages without physical ID checks.
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has provided resources, including an instructional video, to guide residents through the process of adding their driver’s license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app. This step is part of the broader effort to support the digital transition and ensure that users can smoothly adopt the new technology.
Ohio now joins Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland as states that recognize digital licenses and IDs in the Apple Wallet app. Many other states, along with Washington DC and Puerto Rico, are exploring or implementing digital license regulations, signaling a growing trend towards digital identification across the US.
Furthermore, Google Wallet supports digital IDs in four states, including the same ones that accept Apple Wallet—Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland. This feature, available to Android users with Android 8 or higher, is not yet supported on foldable devices.
Since Apple introduced the capability to store driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet with iOS 15 in 2021, the app has expanded its use, including functionalities such as viewing bank account totals and storing hotel room key cards.
