Illinois residents are working to get digital driver’s licenses and IDs on their phones, and while some have encountered problems, a new era has begun in the state.
The excitement surrounding the new program peaked on Wednesday, the first day they were available. In fact, it was so popular that the process became the equivalent of a digital DMV as it created a queue for people applying for one.
Fortunately for residents, the backlog has now been cleared and you can transfer your physical driver’s license to your iPhone with a minimum of fuss. It’s not as simple as adding a credit card to ApplePay, but it’s similar.
For now, only Apple users can take advantage of the new digital IDs. If you live in the Google Wallet or Samsung Wallet universe, you’ll have to wait for these services to come online.
What do you need? Basically your iPhone, your driver’s license and a face… that’s it.
For the first step, iPhone, launch the “Wallet” app and touch the “plus” icon in the top right corner. From the available choices, choose “Add a driver’s license or digital ID” and Illinois is now included in the dozens of choices.
– Then residents can touch the Abraham Lincoln icon and you will be taken to a screen that says ‘scan the front of your ID’. Frame your current driver’s license in the rectangle and follow the instructions. Your phone should take the photos for you and notify you with a tone and a vibration. Take the photo of the front and do the same for the back of your driver’s license.
Your iPhone asks you to take a live selfie and a series of photos of your head with different facial expressions and looking in different directions: with your head forward, with your eyes closed, and with your head pointed up or to one side.
Now you want to verify your information. You do this via face ID or touch ID. They must be engaged for the process to continue.
Finally, click ‘send’.
Now you wait. It will take a few minutes for your new digital ID to be verified.
Once this is the case, you will receive a notification when your ID is ready to use.
To use it, double-click the side button or the “home” button and point your phone at the reader. The state is rolling out its own app to read the encrypted data from your digital ID so stores and locations can verify the information. The digital driver’s license is not valid everywhere where you would have a real driver’s license with you. Residents are therefore asked to keep their card as a backup plan.
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