How To Renew A Driver License

Overview

Renew your license before it expires, or you could face fines

If you drive with an expired license and get a traffic ticket, you will receive fines and penalties

60 days or less after the expiration date: $25 to $40 plus state and local surcharges
more than 60 days after the expiration date: $75 to $300 plus state and local surcharges

You can renew up to 1 year before and 2 years after your license expires

Renewing your license anytime within this period will not affect the expiration date of your new driver license or the fees.

If your license is expired for 2 years or more, you must apply for an original license. You must pass the vision test and the written test, complete a pre-licensing course and pass a road test.

If you are turning 21 soon

If you renew more than 40 days before your 21st birthday, your license will still display "UNDER 21." If you renew fewer than 40 days before your 21st birthday, your license will not display "UNDER 21."

Your address must match the one on the records left in your local DMV office

You may first change your address online and then renew. There is no guarantee that the U.S. Postal Service will forward your DMV documents to your new address.

Ways to renew

Online

If you already have an Enhanced or REAL ID, or you want to keep your Standard, you can renew online (unless you have a commercial license). Your document type will stay the same.

You will need to pass an eye test by an approved provider

find an approved provider near you

have a medical professional complete a Vision Test Report (MV-619) and then enter the report information in the online transaction
you do not need to mail or bring your local DMV office the report if you renew online
approved professionals include physician, physician's assistant, ophthalmologist, optometrist, optician, registered nurse, or nurse professional

If your license expired from March 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021, you can renew online now by self-certifying that your vision is acceptable. However, you must have your vision tested and submit your results to the DMV within one year of the date of your license renewal. You can submit these results through

an approved vision test provider
by sending a Vision Test Report (MV-619) by mail or electronically, or
by getting your eyes tested at a local DMV office

Download and print a temporary license in PDF format to use until your new license arrives. Due to a greater than normal volume of renewals, there may be a delay in receipt of your permanent document. Your temporary document is valid for 60 days.

By mail

If you already have an Enhanced or REAL ID, or you want to keep your Standard, you can renew by mail. Your document type will stay the same.

Complete the renewal notice you received and return it with

a completed Vision Test Report (MV-619) - or get tested by an approved vision registry provider
a check or money order payable to 'Commissioner of Motor Vehicles'

If you did not receive a renewal notice, you can use the Application for Permit, Driver License, or Non-Driver ID Card (MV-44)

At a DMV office

You must renew at a DMV office if you

are changing from a standard ID to an Enhanced or REAL ID - see how to get an Enhanced or REAL ID
want to update your photo
want to change your license class

To renew a Standard document type

Complete the renewal notice (MV-2) you received in the mail. If you did not receive a renewal notice, use an Application for Permit, Driver License, or Non-Driver ID Card (MV-44)
Submit to a DMV office

your current Standard license
your renewal notice or application
payment: by credit/debit card or a check or money order made out to Commissioner of Motor Vehicles

Fees and payment

Your renewal fee is displayed before you pay online, or you can refer to your local DMV office for payment details.

The additional fee for an enhanced driver license (EDL) is $30.00. The fee is added to the renewal fees for the driver license. There is no additional fee for a REAL ID, just the normal renewal fee will be charged.

If you apply by mail or at a DMV office, you can pay by credit/debit card or a check or money order made out to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. To apply online, you must use a credit/debit card. The DMV accepts:

American Express® Card
Discover Card®/Novus®
MasterCard®
MasterCard® Debit card without personal identification number (PIN)
VISA® Card
Visa Debit Card without personal identification number (PIN)

Additional information

Veterans or active military

If you are a qualified U.S. military veteran who was honorably discharged, you can have the word "Veteran" printed on the upper left hand of your photo document.

If you are active in the military, please refer to your local DMV office for more information on renewing, as the process details may vary from state to state - and thank you for your service!

How to renew if you are out of the state or country

Renew by mail

Send your local DMV office

the renewal notice you received (MV-2) or if you don't have it, use the Application for Permit, Driver License, or Non-driver ID (MV-44)
a Vision Test Report (MV-619) completed by an eye care professional
a check or money order payable to 'Commissioner of Motor Vehicles'
a pre-addressed priority mail return envelope with your application.

Renew online only if you

have a valid domestic driver license
have had an eye exam from the last 12 months saved to the DMV Vision Registry.

However, if you renew online, your license will not be forwarded to you out-of-state or out of the country.

Temporary visitors and international students who have a REAL ID

As long as the Temporary Visitor status that DMV has on file is not expired you can renew your license online, through the mail, or in an office.

If your Temporary Visitor status has been extended, you must go to a DMV office with your updated paperwork from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Changing license class when renewing

You cannot change the class when you renew online. You can make the following changes when you renew by mail or at a DMV office. Other changes require a written test and a road test.

If you renew

by mail, include a note about your class change in your renewal envelope
at a DMV office, tell the DMV representative about the change

You will need to pay the renewal fee for your new driver license class.

Important: If your license expires from March 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021, you can renew online right now by self-certifying that your vision is acceptable. You must submit a vision test to the DMV within one year of your renewal. If you do not, the DMV will take action against your license. In addition, the federal REAL ID enforcement deadline has been extended until May 3, 2023.