Florida Abruptly Yanks Its ‘Smart ID’ Digital Driver’s License From App Stores
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Florida has pulled its “Smart ID” digital driver’s license application from both the iOS and Android app stores. This means that Florida drivers will have to go back to using a physical license, at least for now.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has announced that it has ended support for its “Florida Smart ID” digital driver’s license. The agency has removed the app from both the iOS App Store and Google Play Store on Android and instructed Florida drivers to delete it from their devices, as it will no longer function.
The app’s sudden removal from the app stores was completely unexpected and is the result of an issue the Florida DHSMV has with a vendor. A completely different application developer will update and improve the Smart ID.
The FLHSMV provided a short statement to users of the digital ID app.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is working to enhance services to its customers. The agency will be revising the Florida Smart ID application. Once a new vendor is selected, improvements will be made to the Florida Smart ID application.
At this time, FLHSMV is removing the current Florida Smart ID application from app stores. If you have downloaded the app, please delete it from your device, as it will no longer be functional. Please note, your data remains secure with the Department.
We expect the new app to be developed by early 2025 and will notify you by email at that time.
The FLHSMV aims to have the new version of the app ready for drivers by early 2025. Users of the app are encouraged to send an email to FloridaSmartID@flhsmv.gov to receive notifications once the new version of the app is in the app stores.
Florida’s Smart ID app appeared in app stores in 2021 and became fully functional a month later. While other states with digital IDs embraced Apple Wallet support on the iPhone, Florida offered its own standalone solution for digital driver’s licenses.
Apple’s Wallet app allows users to save their driver’s licenses and digital IDs. So far, only four states allow users to add their licenses or identification cards to the Wallet app: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, and Maryland. Arizona became the first state to kick off the program in March 2022.
Although Florida opted for its own driver’s license app, Apple had announced in October 2021 that it was working with the southeastern state to bring support for its upcoming digital driver’s licenses to the iPhone’s Wallet app. iOS 15 was the first version of iOS to have support for digital identification cards and driver’s licenses in the Wallet app.
While Florida was initially left off Apple’s initial list of partner states that the Cupertino firm was working with to bring digital ID support to Wallet, Florida officials had contacted Apple in the hopes of being added to the list.
In November 2021, CNBC obtained documents that showed Apple had tight control over the Digital ID feature’s rollout. This may have contributed to Florida’s decision to go its own way.
For example, the documents said that states must “allocate reasonably sufficient personnel and resources (e.g., staff, project management, and funding) to support the launch of the Program on a timeline to be determined by Apple.”
States are also required to perform quality testing to ensure that the digital ID feature works “in accordance with Apple’s certification requirements” and must also “prominently feature the Program in all public-facing communications relating to Digital Identity Credentials.” Apple must also have “prior review and approval” of all related marketing materials.
