Why Your Physical Driver’s License Might Be Obsolete Soon

In many places across the U.S., you can use your smartphone to legally prove who you are. Twenty-one states have already launched mobile driver’s licenses, allowing residents to board flights, purchase alcohol, and present proof of identity to law enforcement using just their phones. While physical IDs have been standard for decades, states are now racing to make them obsolete, and the technology to replace them is already on millions of Americans’ smartphones.

What Are Digital IDs?

Digital IDs are electronic versions of physical identity documents. Normally, you carry a driver’s license, passport, or state ID around with you. With digital IDs, these cards or documents are instead stored securely on a smartphone, either a stand-alone app or in your Google, Samsung, or Apple wallets.

The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators calls mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) the “future of licensing and proof of identity,” arguing that they are harder to lose, steal, damage, and counterfeit than physical IDs.

Proponents of mobile IDs say they’re more secure. While thieves can steal a smartphone just as easily as a wallet or other personal belongings, accessing the ID that way becomes harder as most phones are protected by passwords or biometrics.

Other upgrades over regular IDs include the following:

• Convenience: Digital IDs are stored on devices people always carry around. That could mean using your phone to board a plane, purchase alcohol, interact with law enforcement, and so on.
• Privacy: When you hand over an ID, the recipient can view all your personal information displayed on it. With digital IDs, the recipient should, in theory, only be able to view the information required, such as your date of birth, if you’re purchasing alcohol.
• Real-time updates: If, say, your driver’s license gets suspended, the ID will be updated to reflect that—giving you a headsup in case you didn’t know.
• Savings for state governments: Turning IDs digital makes issuing, verifying, and updating faster and cheaper. 

Digital IDs Vary

MDLs aren’t uniform across the country. Some states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, Utah, and Virginia, have their own official apps to store digital ID cards. Others, meanwhile, support either Google, Apple, or Samsung Wallet, all three, or a combination of either a state app and a commercial alternative.

Why Physical Licenses Aren’t Yet Obsolete

There are still hurdles preventing digital IDs from being used and accepted everywhere:

• Infrastructure not yet there: Even in states that support digital IDs, most bars, stores, and traffic stops can’t verify them. You’re still required to carry your physical license everywhere—defeating the purpose. For now, many with digital IDs are those seeking the convenience or early adopters.
• Legal hurdles: Critics worry about government tracking, data breaches, and what happens when your phone dies at the worst moment. Plus, requiring smartphones for basic services excludes millions of Americans who can’t afford them or choose not to use them.
• Privacy concerns: Some people worry about how the data could be stored, shared, or possibly exposed.
• Nobody agrees on the rules: Without national standards, businesses can’t invest in verification systems that might be obsolete next year.

The Bottom Line

Physical driver’s licenses will likely be around for years, but their days seem to be numbered. The incentives are too strong: states save millions on printing costs, tech companies strengthen the use of their wallet apps, and younger generations expect everything digital.

If you’re under 40, your next license renewal might be your last physical card.