Which states issue mobile driver licenses (mDLs) compliant with REAL ID?
Executive summary
As of the latest federal and TSA materials, 11 states have received TSA waivers allowing their mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) to be accepted at participating airport security checkpoints despite REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025; those states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio and Utah (TSA lists 11 states and 27 participating airports) [1]. Federal rulemaking makes clear that absent waivers or a future comprehensive mDL rule, mDLs cannot be treated as REAL ID-compliant for federal “official purposes” after May 7, 2025 [2].
1. What the TSA actually approved — a temporary waiver program, not blanket REAL ID compliance
TSA’s October 2024 final rule does not declare state mDLs inherently REAL ID-compliant; it creates a temporary waiver process that allows states to demonstrate cybersecurity, encryption and privacy safeguards so their mDLs can continue to be used at TSA checkpoints while broader federal mDL regulations are developed [1] [3]. The Federal Register explains that until TSA issues comprehensive mDL regulations, mobile licenses cannot be engineered to meet REAL ID requirements and therefore require waivers or agency-specific acceptance to be used for official purposes [2].
2. Which states are on the TSA waiver list right now
TSA’s public materials and press release identify 11 states whose mDL programs were approved for federal checkpoint use: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio and Utah. TSA also reported these mDLs are accepted at 27 participating airports, and that the agency intends to post a live list on tsa.gov/digital-id [1] [4].
3. How limited acceptance works in practice — airports, reader tech and backups
Acceptance is not nationwide or automatic: TSA’s program covers specific airports and lanes equipped to read mDLs, and travelers are strongly advised to carry a physical REAL ID-compliant card or passport as backup in case of dead batteries, incompatible readers, or operational issues [1] [5]. Industry reporting underscores that the rollout depends on hardware at checkpoints and interoperability across proprietary state solutions [3] [5].
4. Why federal law still treats mDLs differently until new rules arrive
The REAL ID regulations require that identification used for federal “official purposes” meet explicit technical issuance and data standards. The Federal Register and eCFR show the default rule: after May 7, 2025, federal agencies shall not accept a license unless it is REAL ID-compliant, and mDLs lack uniform regulatory specifications until DHS/TSA finalize them — hence the waiver approach as a stopgap [2] [6].
5. Competing viewpoints and the policy tug-of-war
TSA frames the waiver program as pragmatic — preserving traveler convenience while agencies and industry finalize standards [1]. Critics and some lawmakers have urged Congress or DHS to set national standards rather than rely on state-by-state waivers because of divergent, sometimes proprietary mDL implementations and potential privacy/security variability [3] [7]. Civil-rights and immigrant-advocacy perspectives warn about surveillance and data-sharing risks tied to digital IDs; the National Immigration Law Center materials note DHS has not yet issued final mDL regulations and that agency acceptance policies vary [8].
6. How to verify before you travel and what sources to trust
TSA maintains the authoritative, up-to-date list at tsa.gov/digital-id indicating which states’ mDLs are accepted at which airports; TSA’s own press release and the Federal Register explain the waiver basis and legal framework [4] [1] [2]. Independent coverage (Nextgov, industry outlets) confirms TSA’s count of 11 states and emphasizes the 27-airport footprint, but travelers should consult TSA directly before relying on an mDL for travel [7] [1].
7. Limitations and remaining unknowns
Available sources make clear this is a transitional policy: comprehensive, binding mDL technical standards are not yet finalized and acceptance remains contingent on waivers or agency-specific policies [2] [3]. Sources do not list whether additional states have applied or the timetable for full national rollout under future regulations; those specifics are not found in current reporting (not found in current reporting).
Bottom line: TSA has allowed a limited set of state mDLs to be accepted at selected airports via waivers — currently 11 named states — but that is a temporary, conditional arrangement pending comprehensive federal mDL rules; travelers should check tsa.gov/digital-id and carry a physical REAL ID or passport as insurance [1] [4] [2].