The Texas Department of Public Safety allows drivers to renew their licenses up to one year before they expire, but you can still renew up to two years after the expiration date. The department offers several renewal options. At the time of publication, the renewal fee is about $30.
Expiration Date
Texas state driver's licenses are valid for six years and expire on your birthday. If you are unable to renew by this date, you can do so up to two years after, but you can't drive until you do. Licenses that have been expired for longer than two years cannot be renewed. In such a case, you must apply for a license like a new applicant, which involves taking vision, written and driving skills tests.
Ways to Renew
You can renew your license in Texas by phone, online or mail or in person. To renew online or by phone, you must meet the following conditions:
- Have a class C or CM license.
- Be a U.S. citizen aged 18 through 78.
- Have a Social Security number.
- Have stable vision, mental and physical conditions -- that is, unchanged since your last renewal.
- Renewed your license in person last time.
Requirements to Renew
To renew your license, you need the following:
- Current license.
- Credit card.
- Last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Fee payment.
If you are not eligible to renew by telephone, online or mail, you must renew in person at your local DPS office.
In-Person Renewal
Minors
Those who must renew their licenses in person include minors under 18 years and minors with provisional licenses. The provisional license is for teenagers under the age of 18 who have had a learner's permit for six months. Minors must show a Verification of Enrollment form, high school diploma or GED.
Drivers With Limited-Term Licenses
If you have a limited-term license, you must show proof of your legal residence. When you renew in person, you complete an application form, have your photo taken, pay the renewal fee and possibly take a vision test.
Renewing While Out of State
Contact the department to renew your expired license if you are a permanent Texas resident but currently reside out of state, such as being on active military duty or away at school. Download and complete the out-of-state or out-of-country form from the DPS website and send it with a check or money order to: Texas Department of Public Safety, P.O. Box 149008, Austin, TX 78714-9008. If you did not renew in person last time, include an Explanation for Eye Specialist form, which you can download from the website.
Warnings
The department will not send you a temporary license if you renew online, so you must print it out when you complete the online process. You will not receive a receipt for the telephone option.
Texas drivers licenses expire on the license holders birthday. The number of years that a license is valid depends on the age of the license holder.
- If the license holder is below 18 years of age then the license expires on their 18th birthday
- If the license holder is between 18 years and 84 years old then the license is valid for 6 years.
- If the license holder is above 85 years old then the license is valid for 2 years
- Temporary Driver's licenses are valid for the duration of your legal stay or 1 year
Renewing your Valid Driver's License in Texas
What do you need to renew your license in Texas? If you have a valid Texas drivers license you can renew up to 1 year before the expiration date or 2 years after the expiration date.
You can renew your Driver’s License online, by phone, by mail, or in person
If you have not renewed your license since October 2008 and have not verified your citizenship with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) then you will need to do so before you can renew your license. Below is a list of accepted documents to show citizenship or legal status:
- Birth Certificate or Birth Record
- US passport or passport card
- US Citizenship Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization
- US Citizen Identification Card
- Permanent resident card
- Passport or I-94 stamped “Approved I-551” or “Processed for I-551”
- Employment Authorization card (I-766)
- US travel document (I-327 or I-571)
- I-94 stamped “Sec. 208 Asylee” or “Sec. 207 Refugee”
- Machine Readable Immigrant Visa with temporary I-551 language and ADIT stamp
- Temporary I-551 stamp in foreign passport
- DS-2019 exchange visitor (J-1) certificate
- I-20 Non-immigrant student (F-1)
- Student documents with Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) number
- Non-student documents with alien number or I-94 number
Requirements for online drivers license renewal or renewal by phone
- You must have renewed your license in person the last time
- Class C or CM driver license
- You are 18 years or older with a normal license (not a provisional license or learner license)
- You are less than 79 years old
- You vision has not changed since your last renewal
- Your physical and mental condition has not changed in a way that could affect your ability to drive in a negative way.
- Your license is valid
- Your Social Security Number is already on file
- You are a U.S. Citizen
If you meet all of those requirements go to this link and follow the instructions!
You can also renew your drivers license in Texas by phone by calling 1-866-DL-RENEW (1-866-357-3639)
You will need the following items for both online and/or by phone credentials for your Texas license renewal:
- A valid Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express)
- Your current TX Driver license or ID card
- Your Social security Number
In-person Texas Driver License Renewal
You will HAVE to renew in person if you fit one of the below categories:
- Under 18 years old
- 79 years old or older
- A non-U.S. citizen living in Texas temporarily
- Renewing a learner's or provisional license
Below you will find the documents needed for the Texas DMV license renewal:
- Proof of identification
- Proof of Social Security Number
- Proof Of Texas residency
- Proof Of U.S. Citizenship
- Current Driver’s License
For a list of accepted documents check the bottom of the page
Once at the office the following will happen
- You will need to complete the Application For Renewal/Replacement/Change Of A Texas Driver License or Identification Card form (they should have copies of the form at the DPS office)
- You have to pay the renewal fee
- You will have your picture taken
Expired Driver’s License
If your license has been expired for less than 2 years than you can still renew your Texas drivers license
If you license have been expired for more than 2 years then you cannot renew your license. You will need to apply for a new Texas drivers license.
Suspended Driver License
If your license has been suspended, then you cannot renew your license. You will need to reinstate it with the DPS.
Acceptable Documents to prove your Texas Residency:
- Current deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet, or a residential lease
- Current homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policy or statement
- Electric, water, natural gas, satellite television, cable television, or non-cellular telephone statement dated within 90 days of the application date
- Medical or health card
- Valid, unexpired registration: Texas voter registration card, motor vehicle registration or title, boat registration or title
- Current automobile insurance policy or statement
- Current automobile payment booklet
- Texas high school, college, or university report card or transcript for the current school year
- Preprinted paycheck or pay stub dated within 90 days of the application date
- W-2 or 1099 tax form from the current year
- Mail from a financial institution; including checking, savings, investment account, or credit card statements dated within 90 days of the application date
- Mail from a federal, state, county, or city government agency dated within 90 days of the application date
- Current documents issued by the US Military indicate residential address
- Selective Service card
- Concealed handgun license
- TDCJ document indicating recent release or parole
- Current Form DS-2019, I-20, or a document issued by USCIS
Acceptable Documents to prove your Social Security Number:
- Social Security Card
- W-2
- SSA-1099 Form
- A non-SSA-1099 form,
- or Paystub with the applicant’s name and SSN on it.
If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, the following can be accepted:
- Military identification (active, reserve, and dependent status)
- Certificate of release or Discharge of Active Duty (DD-214)
- Certified college/university transcript designating number as SSN
- Documents such as health insurance cards, Veteran's Administration cards, and pilot's licenses with identifiable SSN may be accepted.
Acceptable documents for Proof Of Citizenship or Lawful Presence:
- Birth Certificate or Birth Record
- US passport or passport card
- US Citizenship Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization
- US Citizen Identification Card
- Permanent resident card
- Passport or I-94 stamped “Approved I-551” or “Processed for I-551”
- Employment Authorization card (I-766)
- US travel document (I-327 or I-571)
- I-94 stamped “Sec. 208 Asylee” or “Sec. 207 Refugee”
- Machine Readable Immigrant Visa with temporary I-551 language and ADIT stamp
- Temporary I-551 stamp in foreign passport
- DS-2019 exchange visitor (J-1) certificate
- I-20 Non-immigrant student (F-1)
- Student documents with Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) number
- Non-student documents with alien number or I-94 number