We recently covered how Virginia now offers digital driver's licenses. But what does this mean for you? Let’s dig a little deeper. Here’s a brief guide on what is currently known about this change.

What does this mean?

I’m always using my credit card on my phone, so I don’t have to carry it around and worry about losing it. Now you can do the same with your ID.

Virginia has joined the short list of states that allow a digital driver's license, which means you can have your ID right on your phone.

Are digital IDs more secure than physical ones?

According to the Transportation Security Administration, this digital version is more secure as it reduces the chance of counterfeit IDs.

TSA also states that this option is more private because you only share the information they need to verify your identity.

Where is the digital ID accepted?

This new ID form is accepted in numerous places and will hopefully increase in acceptance over time.

You can currently use your digital ID at the following locations:

TSA checkpoints at more than 250 airports across the US
Virginia State Police offices
All DMV Customer Service Centers statewide
Select ABC stores — currently nine locations in the Richmond area (Not yet in NOVA)

How to get your ID on your phone?

It’s super easy to set this up on your phone. Just download the free Virginia Mobile ID app. Once you have the app installed, you just scan your ID, set up face verification, and boom, you’re good to go.

It’s still recommended that you carry around your physical ID, especially when driving. In case your phone dies or has an issue.

What’s next?

The world is growing more and more digital every day.

Apple is introducing new ways to securely store important documents, such as your passport, on your iPhone. The company recently announced that users can now create a digital ID directly on their device using information from their physical passport.

The hope is that more locations will adopt this new technology, allowing users to streamline the way they manage their IDs.