Utah Digital ID: I Used It All Over Salt Lake City

I’m Kayla. I live in Salt Lake City, and I actually used Utah’s Digital ID for a month. I wanted to see if it’s handy or just hype. Short answer? It works. But not everywhere, and not every time.
OpenIDBook recently ran its own field test—Utah Digital ID: I Used It All Over Salt Lake City—and a lot of their findings line up with mine.

So… what is it, really?

It’s your driver license on your phone. I used the GET Mobile ID app, since that’s what Utah supports. I scanned my plastic card. I took a selfie with a head turn. It felt silly, but it checked I was me. I got approved the same day.
For the official rundown—eligibility, setup steps, and privacy details—you can check the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Mobile Driver License page.

One nice part: I can share only what I need. Like, I can show “21+” without my address. That felt safer.

Real stops, real tries

Here’s the thing. I didn’t just test it at my kitchen table. I took it out a lot. Some wins. Some flops. Here are my real stops.

1) State liquor store (DABS, Sugar House)

I bought a bottle of wine for a dinner party.
I opened the app, tapped “Age Verify,” and it showed a QR code.
The clerk scanned it with their tablet. It pinged green. No address shown. Just 21+.
Time saved? Maybe 30 seconds. But you know what? It felt cool and private.

Small hiccup: My screen protector had glare. The scanner fussed. I tilted my phone, and it read fine.

2) Bar in Sugar House (Friday night)

The bouncer had a line of people and a small scanner.
I showed the QR. He tried once. No scan. Then twice. Still no. He shrugged and asked for plastic.
I pulled out my wallet and got waved in.

So yes, it can be smooth. But crowds and older scanners? Not always. For a similar tale from the desert, see how Arizona’s mobile ID behaved in packed bars in this review.

3) Harmons (beer run, 7 pm)

The cashier said the lane scanner didn’t read phone IDs yet.
I used my card. She did say they’re “looking into it.”
I liked the chat. I didn’t like the no.

4) Airport try (SLC, TSA)

I asked if I could use my Digital ID at the checkpoint.
The agent said they needed my physical card. So I used that.
I keep both now. Phone is plan A. Wallet is plan B.

The program is expanding, though—the Transportation Security Administration keeps an updated list of participating states and airports that accept digital IDs.

5) Credit union (account update)

I asked if they take digital ID for identity checks.
The clerk said, “Not yet for account changes.” She scanned my plastic card.
I showed her the app anyway. She liked the yes/no share idea for age, but said they need rules first.

6) Quick lunch at a new bar (weekday, downtown)

The bartender had the state checker on a phone. We tried the QR.
It worked on the first scan. He said it hides my address, which he loved.
That felt like the future. Simple, quick, done.

The setup and day-to-day stuff

Sign-up took me about 12 minutes.
My approval came the same afternoon.
Face ID is needed each time I open it. Good for safety. Annoying if my hands are full.
One time the app froze at the door of a club. I force-closed it, reopened, and it worked. Not ideal.

Battery note: My phone died once while I stood in line at DABS. I had to step aside and dig out my card. I learned fast—keep your phone charged.

What I liked

I can share less. “21+” without my home address felt smart.
It’s fast when the scanner is new and the place is trained.
No extra swipes. No clerk reading every detail on my card.
Face ID lock gives me peace of mind.

What bugged me

Not every store takes it. Some say “not yet.”
Glare and cracked screen covers can mess with scans.
Crowded lines make folks rush, and then staff often ask for plastic.
Low battery = no ID. Yikes.
Folks testing Oklahoma’s app ran into the same glare problem—see their full six-week rundown here.

Little surprises I didn’t expect

Rural stop: On a weekend drive out near Heber, I tried it. The clerk had never seen it. She was sweet, but said no. We both laughed.
Over in Arkansas, early adopters hit similar small-town “never seen it” moments, as this hands-on review shows.
Sports game: A beer cart at the arena? The scanner worked. The guy said he liked the green “21+” box. No guessing. No long looks.
Phone case drama: My chunky case made the QR sit deep. I had to hold it flat and close. Then it read fine.

Privacy and trust

I care about who sees my address. I’ve had packages walk off my porch before, so I’m cautious. The app lets me share just what’s needed, and that helped. Still, I kept my plastic card on me. Not fear. Just a backup. North Carolina’s pilot leans heavily on that selective-share concept too, as detailed in this write-up. If you’re interested in the open standards that power secure mobile credentials, check out OpenIDBook for a friendly primer.

Online dating sites wrestle with the same trust-versus-privacy dilemma: users want proof that profiles are real without oversharing sensitive details. A candid deep dive—Is WellHello Legit? Honest Review—explores the hookup platform’s verification steps, safety measures, and whether its community lives up to the hype, giving you a clear picture before you sign up.

Thinking beyond swipe-based apps, some adults rely on classified-style listings to arrange meet-ups. If you’re curious how identity checks and safety play out in that scene, one reviewer breaks down the process in Del Rio on Listcrawler—you’ll find practical tips on spotting genuine ads, vetting providers, and staying secure before taking anything offline.

Tips if you try it

Keep your plastic card anyway. Some places still want it.
Set the app on your home screen for quick tap.
Tilt your phone if the QR won’t scan—cut the glare.
Charge your phone before you go out. A tiny power bank saved me once.
Be kind to staff. Some are still learning the system.

Who it fits

Bar hoppers and concert folks who want fast checks and less data shared.
People who hate handing over their address.
Tech fans who don’t mind trying new tools.

Who should wait? If your nights out are busy and you hate hiccups, you might want to wait until more places have better scanners.

My take, after a month

I’m keeping it. It’s not perfect. It’s not magic. But it’s useful, mostly safe, and getting better. I still carry my card. I open the app first. If it works, great. If not, I smile and hand over the card. If you’re more curious about non-driver versions, Illinois’s iLogin program gets a candid review right here.

One last bit? The moments that sold me weren’t flashy. It was small things. A quick scan at the bar. A clerk not seeing my address. A line that moved just a little faster. That’s enough for me—for now.

—Kayla Sox