Apple Wallet driver’s licenses keeps expanding to more US states, but two states recently indicated they won’t launch support anytime soon—if at all.
Florida and Rhode Island won’t be getting Apple Wallet driver’s licenses anytime soon, per key leaders
The number of US states offering Apple Wallet driver’s licenses keeps growing, and we even have a good idea of three states launching support soon.
Plenty of states likely intend to support digital driver’s licenses at some point, and haven’t gotten around to it. But there are two who recently indicated they have no plans to launch support.
Those two states are:
- Florida
- Rhode Island
Last week, Florida rolled out a brand new driver’s license and ID card. Many states take such occasions to launch digital versions too, but the state made zero announcements around digital ID.
That’s no coincidence, as Governor Ron DeSantis actively opposes the idea of digital driver’s licenses. He posted the following on X last November:
Florida previously did offer a digital ID but abruptly ended support in 2024. Perhaps the next governor will take a different stance.
In Rhode Island, Walter “Bud” Craddock was on a podcast last week discussing mobile driver’s licenses (“MDL”). Craddock is currently Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) International Board of Directors.
Top comment by Doug
So Apple creates a standard way to support digital ID's that is privacy protecting and easy to implement. Who cares beyond that. There is little or no down side and admittedly little upside, because few locations outside TSA support it. But we are in the chicken egg place so lets get things rolling.
I figure once more than half the states support it, the rest will fall quickly.
Here’s what he said:
“I want to see more universal adoption or need for an MDL. I had one of my senators approach and try to talk me into doing it. I had to give him the old Heisman move and push him back…the main user right now is TSA. Up until recently, there was no airport in New England area that could accept an MDL. So why would I spend the money in the development of it? And also, I’m looking to do a solution that is across all platforms. Instead of just doing one for Apple or the Google Wallets, I don’t want to replicate and duplicate efforts.”
Like DeSantis, Craddock’s position of leadership is slated to end in the next few months. So depending on his successor’s stance, perhaps Rhode Island could get Apple Wallet driver’s licenses sometime in 2027.
Here’s the full list of US states currently offering Apple Wallet driver’s licenses, and three expected to launch next.
Do you use a digital driver’s license or are you still waiting for your state to launch support? Let us know in the comments.
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