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These US states just said ‘no’ to Apple Wallet driver’s licenses
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.
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.
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:
The convenience of a digital drivers license is outweighed by the potential for government to abuse it. Not gonna happen in FL. No digital ID. https://t.co/YD7J6PtBgR
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.
“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.