How digital driver's licenses work

North Carolina is introducing digital driver's licenses by summer 2025, with the option being given to residents as a replacement for the traditional, physical license.

Those opting in will have their digital ID stored in a secure app on their phone, as reported by ZDNET. The license will hold all the same information as a physical ID, and can be updated as needed. Some states allow the IDs to be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet on a mobile device.

The state joins a growing list of states that have active or developing digital license programs: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, and Utah. A dozen other states are planning to bring the program to life, with programs in early stages of development or soon to be implemented.

Louisiana was the first to introduce the program in 2018, and by 2023, 66 percent of eligible adults opted for a digital ID. The convenience of the ID is likely its broadest appeal, though people may have questions about security. IDScan.net says that these digital IDs require biometric access to set up the feature, and additional verification follows.