Driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet will soon be available in North Carolina, but there is a caveat.
North Carolina is gearing up to launch a mobile ID program, with support for Apple Wallet anticipated after the initial rollout.
After California and Ohio, Apple Wallet is set to include another driver’s license, as North Carolina prepares to implement digital IDs on iPhones. The state is in the process of creating its mobile ID program; however, residents will not be able to add their licenses to Apple Wallet at the outset. Initially, North Carolina will introduce its own NC Wallet app, with plans to offer support for Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet anticipated in early 2027.
Apple Wallet support will come later
The first phase of the NC mobile ID launch is expected to take place before the major wallet integrations. North Carolina's DMV is working on a mobile driver’s license solution as part of its technology modernization, stating that the digital credential will offer residents an additional way to verify their identity without the need for a physical card.
The Apple Wallet version is expected to function similarly to Apple’s current digital IDs. Once implemented, users will be able to authenticate themselves on their iPhones, with Apple’s system designed to allow users to manage what information they share instead of providing the entire license. Currently, Apple supports digital driver’s licenses and state IDs in a growing number of locations across the U.S., but North Carolina is not yet among the states that have Apple Wallet ID support.
The physical license will remain
It is crucial to note that a digital license serves as an optional addition rather than an immediate substitution for the physical card. North Carolina’s mobile ID initiative is being developed alongside the existing physical credential, meaning residents won't be required to leave their plastic licenses behind.
This makes the future Apple Wallet integration more practical than transformative. For individuals who already carry their iPhones everywhere, having their driver’s license available alongside payment cards, boarding passes, and other credentials is a natural progression, although the physical driver’s license should not be put away just yet.
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Driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet will soon be available in North Carolina, but there is a caveat.
North Carolina is set to introduce digital driver's licenses, with support for Apple Wallet anticipated in early 2027 following an initial launch via the state's NC Wallet app.
