Illinois launches mobile driver’s license and state ID program

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., (KBSI) — Illinois is launching a mobile driver’s license and state ID program that will allow residents to store their identification on an eligible iPhone or paired Apple Watch beginning Thursday, according to Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’s office.

The rollout starts with Apple Wallet and is expected to expand to Google and Samsung wallet platforms in the future.

To add a mobile ID, users will open the Wallet app, tap the “+” symbol, select “Driver’s License or State ID,” scan their physical card and complete selfie and head-movement verification steps.

State officials say the digital ID is designed for convenience and added privacy. When used in settings such as airports or bars, only the necessary information—such as age verification—will be shared, rather than a full address or other personal details.

The mobile ID does not replace the physical card.

Law enforcement agencies and businesses may not accept the digital version in all situations, and residents are advised to continue carrying their physical license or ID, especially when driving or interacting with officers.