When Apple unveiled iOS 15, it also revealed that the Wallet app will support storing digital driver’s licenses and identification cards. Unfortunately, though, the feature isn’t supported by all 50 states in the United States, at least not yet. Worse, the feature isn’t even live quite yet, as Apple delayed the feature for sometime later this fall.
But, working on support is still important. Which is where the state of Florida comes in. According to a report from Florida Politics, the state is working on launching digital state IDs that will be stored in a dedicated app. What’s more, the state is also working on supporting the Apple Wallet for storing digital identification cards and driver’s licenses as well.
The plan, according to the initial report, is to launch the digital I.D. app before the end of November of this year. Support for the Apple Wallet app should rollout sometime around then as well. However, nothing has been finalized quite yet.
Until that support for the Wallet app arrives, the dedicated digital I.D. app will have to do. A Smart ID app will let folks prove their identity and age as needed. However, the report says that this is not meant to replace the physical driver’s license, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will still require drivers to have the physical card on their person while operating a vehicle.
From the official Smart ID website:
After downloading and authenticating, Florida motorists will simply launch their Florida Smart ID app, select the type of verification needed, and display the QR/barcode on their smart device to be scanned for verification. The smart device does not need to leave the owner’s hand when being verified by a retailer or by law enforcement, making Florida Smart ID a contact-free and convenient way to display proof of identity or age.
As it stands right now, several different states will support the Wallet app storing digital I.D. cards and driver’s licenses when the feature launches later this year. Those are: Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Kentucky, Iowa, Utah, Oklahoma, and Maryland. Apple has previously confirmed that it’s working with additional states to add support in the future, and this report seems to confirm as much.
We still don’t know when the feature is going to arrive, but Apple has said it will launch before the end of 2021.