Storing a driver's license in a digital wallet, such as Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, can offer more privacy than showing a physical card in some situations. A mobile driver's license, or mDL, is a digital version of a traditional ID that uses secure, standardized technology. This format allows the information to be verified by a compatible reader, ensuring it came from an official source. The design allows for more selective sharing of information, such as confirming someone is over 21 without revealing their full birth date. Additionally, the phone's security features—like Face ID or Touch ID—can protect access to the ID. However, using a smart device for identification raises concerns about tracking, how long data is stored, and what happens if the phone is lost or broken. When presenting a physical driver's license, all the information printed on it—like birth date, address, and license number—is visible to the person checking it. In contrast, an mDL can limit the information shared. For example, it can confirm age without showing the exact birth date. Both Apple and Google have added extra privacy protections. Apple allows users to review requested information before sharing and requires authentication through Face ID or Touch ID for in-person use. Google stores its U.S. driver's licenses and state IDs locally on the phone, not in the user’s Google account, and also shows requested information before sharing it, requiring authentication. These features help keep sensitive information secure and prevent the need to unlock the phone or hand it over to the verifier. The 2021 ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard outlines two methods for sharing digital IDs. In the "device retrieval" method, the information is sent directly from the phone to the reader. In the "server retrieval" method, the information is retrieved from the issuing authority's server instead. Privacy advocates are concerned about the latter, as it could allow the issuing agency to track when and where the ID is used. The Center for Democracy & Technology refers to this as the "phone home" problem, arguing that a digital ID should not report every use back to the issuing authority. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) banned server retrieval in 2025, and its guidelines from 2026 continue this prohibition. While controlling what leaves the phone is important, it's only part of the privacy issue. Once an organization receives information from the digital ID, the digital wallet can't control what that organization does with it afterward. This makes data retention a key concern. Before sharing information, Apple Wallet and Google Wallet both inform users about what data is being requested and whether the organization plans to retain it. Legal protections also vary by location. For example, New Jersey’s digital ID law includes rules that prevent organizations from requiring someone to hand over their device when using a digital ID, and presenting a digital ID doesn’t automatically allow access to other information on the phone. There is also a broader concern about how digital IDs might be used in the future. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warns that easier access to government-backed digital IDs could encourage more online services to require identity or age verification, potentially reducing the ability to browse anonymously. However, this is more about how the system might be used as it becomes more widespread, not evidence that current digital licenses are tracking online activity. As Google expands its digital ID and age-verification features in parts of the European Union, including ways to confirm age without sharing full personal details, this debate becomes more concrete. Losing a phone with a digital driver's license is different from losing a physical card. A physical card can be read immediately by anyone who finds it, but a digital ID in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet requires biometric or screen lock authentication to access. If a phone is lost, users can remotely erase it through services like Apple's Find My or Google’s account, removing the digital ID. However, if the phone is damaged or outdated, the user may not be able to present the digital credential at all. For now, a digital driver's license is best used alongside a physical one. While it can limit what is revealed and protect access with device authentication, once information leaves the wallet, the recipient's handling of it and the relevant laws become just as important.