What Is a Digital Driver’s License?

A digital driver’s license, also known as a mobile driver’s license (mDL), is an electronic version of your state-issued driver’s license that is stored securely on your smartphone. It serves as a digital form of identification and is increasingly accepted across the United States.

How Does a Digital Driver’s License Work?

Digital driver’s licenses are typically accessed through a state-issued app or a digital wallet application. They use encryption and biometric verification to ensure security. Unlike a photo of your license, a true digital driver’s license is a cryptographically signed credential that can be verified electronically.

Which States Offer Digital Driver’s Licenses?

As of 2025, a growing number of states offer or are piloting digital driver’s licenses, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, and others. The availability and acceptance of digital IDs continues to expand as states modernize their identification systems.

Digital IDs and Vital Records

To obtain a digital driver’s license, you first need a valid physical driver’s license, which itself requires identity documents such as a birth certificate. Having your vital records in order is the foundation for obtaining any form of government-issued identification, whether physical or digital.