TSA Now Accepts Digital IDs From These Nine States

To use a digital driver's license at TSA checkpoints, travelers must meet the following requirements:

1. The digital driver's license must be issued by one of the nine states whose mobile IDs are compliant with TSA technology. These states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, and Utah.
2. The flight must be departing from one of the more than two dozen U.S. airports where the TSA's Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2) readers are available at security checkpoints.
3. Travelers need to scan their mobile ID with the CAT-2 reader to validate their identity.

It is important to note that not any digital driver's license works, and travelers cannot simply store a photo of their physical driver's license in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet and head to the airport4.

Using a mobile driver's license (mDL) over a physical ID during airport security screening offers several benefits:

1. Convenience: With an mDL, you no longer need to carry a physical card, reducing the risk of losing it or having it stolen. You also don't need to dig through your wallet or purse to find your physical document, making the process of identity verification faster and more efficient.

2. Control over personal data: mDLs give you greater control over what personal data you share. Unlike a physical ID, which typically contains all your information, an mDL allows you to choose what information to share during each specific encounter.

3. Security: mDLs use cryptographic techniques to ensure that the data being shared is authentic and accurate. This reduces the risk of identity fraud and makes it easier for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to authenticate your ID.

4. Privacy: mDLs are stored on your smartphone, which is owned and controlled by you. This gives you more control over your personal information compared to physical IDs.

5. Interoperability: mDLs are designed to be used across different jurisdictions and platforms. This means that, in the future, you may be able to use your mDL not just for airport security screening, but also for other identity verification purposes, such as opening a bank account or renting a car.

6. Ease of use: mDLs can be updated remotely, reducing the need for in-person visits to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent agency. This can save you time and effort.

Remember, to use a digital driver's license at a TSA checkpoint, your flight must be departing from one of the airports where the agency's CAT-2 readers are available at security checkpoints.