Apple Wallet IDs are now accepted in 16 states and Puerto Rico, but two holdouts are drawing a clear line. Florida and Rhode Island have both declined to participate, and their reasons could not be more different.
Florida’s Political Objection
DeSantis’s opposition is political rather than technical, leaving the door open for a future administration to reverse course.
Florida recently unveiled a redesigned physical driver’s license and state ID with no Apple Wallet component, according to 9to5Mac. Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly argued that digital ID convenience does not outweigh the risk of government abuse.
Florida previously ran a digital ID service and discontinued it in 2024, per 9to5Mac reporting. No confirmed launch plan exists for Apple Wallet integration under the current administration.
Rhode Island’s Cost-Benefit Skepticism
The state’s top motor-vehicle administrator questioned whether the cost justifies limited adoption.
Walter “Bud” Craddock, chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ International Board of Directors, told 9to5Mac that Rhode Island was not pursuing a mobile driver’s license. His stated reasoning: TSA acceptance is limited in New England, and overall adoption remains thin enough to question the return on a full state build, according to 9to5Mac’s account of his comments.
Craddock also favored a single cross-platform solution over building separate pipelines for Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. His term was nearing its end at the time of the report, leaving Rhode Island’s position open to change under future leadership.
Where Apple Wallet IDs Work and What They Cannot Do
Sixteen states and Puerto Rico have confirmed support, but acceptance remains partial and your physical license still matters.
Confirmed Apple Wallet ID support currently covers Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico, per Apple’s support page and 9to5Mac. North Carolina is targeting early 2027 for its own rollout, according to MacRumors reporting.
Even in supported states, the credential is not a full replacement for a physical ID. Apple explicitly states that a physical ID may still be required in some law-enforcement contexts, and TSA acceptance depends on checkpoint signage at your specific airport.
Minimum hardware is an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 16.5 or later, per Apple’s support page. Apple Watch Series 4 or later with watchOS 9.5 or later is also supported, though individual states, including Arkansas, California, and Puerto Rico, may set different device or software requirements.
Treat the digital license like a mobile boarding pass: useful at the right reader, irrelevant when the terminal is offline or the agent defaults to paper.
What This Means for You
Keep the physical card in your wallet until acceptance catches up with availability.
If you live in a supported state, check whether your departure airport’s TSA checkpoint accepts digital IDs before leaving your physical card at home. Residents of Florida and Rhode Island have no Apple Wallet ID option at this time, with no confirmed timeline for either state.
The practical advice is straightforward: carry both. The digital version is a convenience layer, not a replacement.
