Quick Summary
- Digital driver licences and mobile IDs are spreading fast, but most US rental suppliers still insist on seeing a physical plastic licence at pick up.
- Mobile IDs can help with airport security checks and as a back up, yet they rarely replace the need to carry your original licence when you collect the keys.
- Hola Car Rentals recommends travelling with the physical licence that matches your booking, plus a clear photo stored safely on your phone or in the cloud in case of loss.
What US rental desks accept right now
In late 2025 several US states now offer digital licences or mobile IDs inside Apple Wallet and similar apps, and the Transportation Security Administration is starting to accept them at selected airport checkpoints. That can make security lanes smoother, but it does not mean every travel company will accept a phone screen in place of a card.
Major suppliers still state clearly that customers must present a valid, physical driving licence in their own name when they arrive. Enterprise, for example, notes that digital licences are not accepted for rentals in the United States, and other brands use almost identical language in their US driver requirement pages.
In practice, that means you should expect the agent at a busy airport such as Los Angeles to ask for the hard plastic card before they finalise any car rental agreement, even if you already used a mobile ID to clear security at the terminal.
How mobile IDs can still help
Mobile IDs have real advantages. Some states allow you to show them instead of your physical licence in bars or shops, and TSA pilots now accept them at hundreds of checkpoints for domestic flights. New digital ID tools from Apple and others aim to reduce how often you need to take your wallet out, with sensitive data stored securely on your device.
Hola Car Rentals still advises every driver to carry their plastic licence when they travel, but a digital version makes a great back up. If you misplace your wallet after landing in San Francisco, having a secure copy of your ID on your phone can help you prove who you are when you call your embassy, insurer or card provider, and it may speed things up at San Francisco Airport locations when you return later with a replacement card.
For more detail we have a dedicated Q and A on digital driver licences on your phone, which tracks how individual states and suppliers treat mobile IDs and why the safest answer is still to bring the original licence as well.
Practical checklist for pick up day
Before you travel, check the expiry date on your licence and make sure the name matches your passport and payment card exactly. If you have recently moved, update the address if possible or bring proof of your new address in case the supplier requests it.
Save a clear colour photo of both sides of your driving licence to secure cloud storage, and consider keeping a printout in your luggage in case your phone is lost. When you land in Florida for a trip starting at Orlando MCO collection bays, keep your licence, passport and card together in an easy to reach pouch so you are not rummaging at the counter.
Hola Car Rentals shows which supplier will handle your booking and what documents they ask for in plain language before you confirm. Flexible rates often include free cancellation up to 48 hours before pick up, so if you realise that your physical licence will not be ready in time you can adjust your dates rather than risk being turned away.
FAQ
Can I rent a car in the US with only a mobile ID? At the moment you should assume the answer is no. A handful of states and the TSA accept mobile IDs for identity checks, but big rental brands still expect a physical licence at the counter. Treat your digital ID as a helpful extra, not as a replacement for the plastic card.
What if my state only issues a digital licence? Some states are piloting digital first approaches, but most still issue a physical card as well. If yours does not, talk to the licensing authority and your Hola Car Rentals support team well before travel so you can confirm which locations will accept you and whether extra documentation is needed.
Can I show a photo of my licence instead of the real thing? A sharp photo of your licence is useful as a backup and for replacing documents, but it rarely satisfies rental company rules on its own. Think of it as an emergency copy, not as something you can rely on at the moment of pick up.
Do I need an International Driving Permit as well? If your licence is not in English or uses a non Latin alphabet, many US suppliers ask for an International Driving Permit to accompany your home licence. Hola Car Rentals will flag this requirement during booking when it applies, so you can arrange the permit before you fly.
To keep your trip relaxed, pair your physical licence with a clear digital copy and a flexible Hola Car Rentals booking, so you are covered whether security staff are scanning phones or agents are checking card details at the counter.
