How Do I Renew My Expired Ca Drivers License
You may renew your adult driver license or ID card at any time prior to the expiration date - you shouldn't wait until it expires. Check eligibility to renew online Please note that when you renew your driver license or identification card online, your printed receipt and the old/expired credential will serve as your temporary credential.
Your license always expires on your birthday, usually five years after it was issued. It is your responsibility to renew your license before the expiration date. Approximately two months before the license is due to expire, the DMV sends a renewal notice with instructions for how to renew. You will not receive a renewal notice if your mail is forwarded, if your license is suspended or if you moved and did not notify the DMV of your new address. You do not have to wait for a renewal notice in order to renew your license. You can renew your license in person up to six months prior to the expiration date. If you are interested in obtaining a REAL ID compliant driver license at your next renewal, please visit our REAL ID webpage for more information.
Renew Online
If you are eligible to renew your license online, you will receive a renewal notice containing a 'Renewal Identification Number (RIN)'. If you received a notice containing a RIN and you wish to renew your license online, go to:
Ca Dmv License Renewal
If you did not receive a renewal notice, misplaced your notice or if your notice does not list a RIN, you are not eligible to renew online and you must renew in person at a DMV office. Commercial drivers are not eligible for online renewal and should review Renew a Commercial Driver License.
Renew In Person
To renew a New Hampshire driver license in-person, go to any DMV office with:
- Your current New Hampshire license.
- An Application for a Driver License.
You must pass a vision test, pay a renewal fee and have a new photo taken. The DMV will issue you a 60-day, temporary paper license, and the permanent license will be mailed to your New Hampshire mailing address within 60 days.
Proof of Identity
You must have your current driver license with you when you renew. If you cannot locate your current driver license, you must provide proof of identity. If your image is on file at the DMV, you may use the image on file as proof of identity. If your image is not on file at the DMV, you must bring positive proof of identification and NH residency to renew the type of license you hold (REAL ID compliantor non-compliant).
Expired Licenses
How Do I Renew My Expired Driver S License
Your license expiration date is listed on the front of the license in red. If your license expires, you can not legally drive until you renew it. The requirements for renewing an expired license will depend on how long it has been expired:
- Expired for less than one year, renew as usual at any DMV office (if you are a Non-US Citizen, please visit Renew a Driver License for Non-US Citizens.
- Expired for longer than one year but less than three years, bring proper identification and residency documentation for the license type that you hold (REAL ID compliantor non-compliant) to any DMV office.
- Expired for three years or more, bring proper identification and residency documentation for the license type that you hold (REAL ID compliantor non-compliant) to any DMV office and you must pass a vision test, knowledge test and road test to renew your license.
Related Links
Each state allows residents to renew their driver's licenses several months earlier than the expiration date. The process is similar to renewing at the normal time, though there are some differences for particular groups of people. Requirements and time frames for renewals vary by state, so contact your state's motor vehicle department for specific information.
Renewal Period
The renewal period for driver's licenses varies by state. It can range from three months to as much as a year before the expiration date, and up to two years after the expiration date. There are usually no restrictions on renewing early unless you are under the age of 21. In some states it's best to wait and renew on or after your birthday if you will be turning 21 during the renewal period. For example, Massachusetts issues 'vertical' licenses for those under 21. These licenses state that the driver is under 21. If you renew earlier than your 21st birthday, you will receive a vertical license instead of the regular version.
Renewal Options
Many states offer multiple methods of renewing your license. These include renewing online, by telephone, by mail or in person. Others require that you complete the process in person, whether you are early, on time or late. Some states, including Texas, also require an in-person renewal if you renewed in a different way last time. This is necessary to update your vision test, signature, thumbprint and picture. In most states, non-citizens must renew in person at a motor services department branch to show proof of legal residence.
Requirements to Renew
If you choose to renew online or by phone, you must verify your identity with information such as your full name, driver's license number, date of birth and Social Security number. You might also need a printer for the online option to print a temporary license to use until the new one arrives, if this is a requirement in your state. In some states, you are only eligible for these renewal options if you don't need a vision test. In other states, like Maryland, you can renew this way even if you need a vision screening, but you have to submit an electronic report from an approved vision certification provider. When renewing by mail, include a completed license application form, a report of vision screening from an eye doctor and a check or money order for the fee. If you renew in person, take your current license, your renewal notice if you have received one, and your glasses or contacts for the vision test, if applicable. Non-citizens must bring documentation that proves their legal presence, such as a work permit or a federal I-94 travel document.
Out of-State Renewals
You can apply for an early renewal by mail if you are out of the state or country and will not return before your license expires. Write a letter to your state's motor services department to explain your situation and request a renewal. Include a completed license application, a vision screening report, a check or money order for the fee, your address both in the state and out of state and a self-addressed stamped envelope for your license.