I’m Kayla, and I’m clumsy with my wallet. Cards fall. Receipts fly. So when Michigan rolled out a digital way to log in and prove who I am for state stuff, I jumped on it. I used it for a full month. Little things. Big things. Some wonky things. You know what? It mostly works.
Let me explain.
So…what is “Michigan Digital ID,” really?
For me, it’s the MiLogin account that ties into a bunch of Michigan state sites. Think the Secretary of State (for tabs and licenses), the DNR (for fishing and parks), and Treasury (tax stuff). It’s your digital identity for state services.
If you’re curious about the open standards that make secure single sign-on possible, the plain-language guide at OpenID Book is a quick, free read.
One key point: it’s not a full phone version of your driver’s license yet. I still can’t tap my phone at a bar or at TSA at DTW and skip the plastic card. I tried. They still asked for the physical ID. Neighbors are hitting the same wall—when a Chicago-based tester tried Illinois’ digital ID (ILogin), they also had to keep the card handy for in-person checks.
I wish that part existed. But the sign-in and verify-me part online is real, and I used it a lot.
Setup: Easy…until it wasn’t
I made my MiLogin on my couch in Grand Rapids. It took about 10 minutes.
- It asked for my name, email, phone, and some ID info.
- I turned on two-factor. That’s the text code that pings your phone. Safer, but also one more step.
- Then I linked my Secretary of State profile. Here I hit my first snag: my middle initial. I had it on one page and not the other. It kicked back an error. I fixed it, and it matched.
Little tip: make sure your name and address match what’s on your license. One extra space can mess things up. Silly, but true.
Real things I did with it
I didn’t want to “test” it in a lab way. I used it like a normal week in Michigan.
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Rainy Sunday night, 11:30 p.m.: I renewed my plate tabs for my old Ford Escape. Two text codes came through. I paid. Got the email right away. Tabs came in the mail a bit later. No line. No small talk. Just me and my sleepy dog. My friend in Toledo had a near-clone experience when she tested Ohio’s digital-ID rollout—minus the dog.
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Moving day cleanup: I changed my address online after I moved to Eastown. It asked me to confirm past addresses. That part felt nosy, but it’s for security. My new license arrived without me stepping in a branch.
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Spring fishing itch: I bought my annual fishing license on the DNR site with the same login. Printed the little slip for my tackle box. I also saved a PDF in my phone, just in case it rains…which it did.
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Tax season nerves: I checked my Michigan refund status. I also pulled a 1099-G from last year. It’s not fun. But it was fast.
And then the in-person test: I tried to show my “digital ID” at Meijer when I grabbed a bottle of rosé for a cookout. The cashier was nice, but she shook her head. “Plastic, please.” Okay. Fair.
I also asked a bouncer at Founders if a phone ID would work. He laughed and said not yet. So yeah, keep your card on you. And if you’re curious how well phone-only ID flies with TSA, this reviewer took digital ID for a spin at the airport—short answer: it’s getting there, but pack the plastic.
Day-to-day feel
It’s simple when it’s simple. But if you lock yourself out, the site has a hold timer. I got locked out once after fat-fingering my password on a tiny screen. I had to wait 15 minutes. I made tea. I came back. It worked.
The look of the site is clean in some spots and a bit dated in others. That mix is fine, but it can feel like you stepped from 2025 into 2012 and back again. Function over flash, I guess.
Security stuff (in plain talk)
- Two-factor texts: do it. It’s one extra tap, but it helps a lot.
- Authenticator app: I switched to this after week two. It’s faster than waiting for texts, and it worked even when my cell bars dropped near the lake.
- Timeouts: the site logs out if you leave it open. Annoying, but safer.
- Data checks: sometimes it asks those “which of these streets have you lived on” questions. They’re odd, but normal.
If you’d like the nerd-level details on how Michigan hardened MiLogin with FIDO standards, an Identity Week write-up breaks it down in plain English.
Just for fun, if you want to see the total opposite of government-verified identity—where anonymity and playful screen names rule the day—take a peek at this Kik Sluts directory where you can browse no-strings, pseudonymous Kik usernames and experience how friction-free chatting looks when privacy and flirting trump paperwork. Similarly, if you’re curious about how lightly regulated classified ads handle identity—often relying on burner numbers and screen names—spend a minute exploring the West-Coast escort board at Listcrawler Davis where you can see firsthand how convenience and anonymity trade places with verification and accountability.
What I liked
- One login for many state tasks. Tabs, address, fishing, tax. Less hunting for passwords.
- Two-factor that actually works. Text or app codes both did the job.
- Clear receipts and emails. I could search my inbox and find proof in seconds.
- Late-night access. I did most things after the kids went to sleep. No lines. No hold music.
What bugged me
- Still need the physical ID for bars, stores, and flights. I hoped for phone-only. Not there yet.
- Name-matching errors. If you have a hyphen or a middle initial, be careful.
- Lockouts after a few wrong tries. I get it, but still a pain.
- Weekend maintenance once. Sunday morning I saw a “service not available” banner. Coffee had to wait.
Little tips that saved me time
- Set it up before you need it. Don’t do this five minutes before your tabs expire.
- Use an authenticator app. Faster than SMS, especially Up North where service drops.
- Match your info to your license. Middle initials, apartment numbers, all of it.
- Add a backup email. If you lose your phone, you’ll be glad.
- Screenshot your confirmation page. I toss it into a notes folder. Easy to find later.
Who will love this
- Busy folks who hate lines at the Secretary of State.
- Campers and anglers who buy DNR stuff each year.
- Anyone who wants clean records for taxes and payments.
Who might grumble
- People who want a true phone driver’s license right now. It’s not live for bars or TSA.
- Folks who change phones often. Re-adding two-factor takes a minute.
My bottom line
Michigan’s digital ID (through MiLogin) makes state chores faster. It cut my time, cut my stress, and saved me a drive. I still carry my plastic license, because I have to. But for renewals and records, the digital side is my first stop now.
Would I keep using it? Yep. I already am.
If Michigan adds a real phone license that works at stores and airports, I’ll be first in line. Until then, this is a solid step. I’d give it a 4 out of 5—useful, a little fussy, and very worth it. Want a peek at how seamless it could feel in a few years? A playful future diary called “My Week With Digital ID by 2028” imagines the fully card-free life.
You can also read the full annotated version of this test run on OpenID Book right here.