DC DMV will mail you a renewal notice 60 days before your current DC DMV driver license expires. If you have provided DC DMV with your email address or you have opted in to receive text notifications, we will email or text you this notice. DC DMV offers online, by mail, and in-person renewals. If you request your REAL ID OR Limited Purpose Driver License renewal by mail, it will be processed within 7–10 business days from receipt. Please allow up to 15 business days to receive your product before contacting DC DMV; more information is available below.
Note: You may not drive or operate a vehicle with an expired license.
If your DC DMV driver license has been expired for more than 365 days, you must take and pass the knowledge test OR take the District's online traffic school course to waive taking the knowledge test. Information on both the knowledge test and the online traffic school course is available at the links below:
If your DC driver license has been expired for more than 545 days, you must take and pass both the knowledge test and the road skills test (by appointment only). More information on the road skills test is available at the link below:
Note: If your DC DMV provisional license has been expired for more than 365 days but less than 545 days and you have not received any traffic violation or GRAD Program violation points for 12 consecutive months, you must take and pass the knowledge test and submit your 10-hour night driving certification form to receive a full license with conditions. If your DC DMV provisional license has been expired for more than 545 days, you will be required to take and pass the knowledge test and road skills test and to submit your 10-hour night driving certification of eligibility form in order to receive your full license with conditions. The night driving certification form is available at the link below:
If you are 70 years or older, you may renew your driver license in-person by visiting a DC DMV service center or renew online, if eligible. Online driver license renewals will require the Mature Driver Fitness to Drive Certification form to be completed by a licensed medical practitioner. The form is available at the link below:
For in-person renewals, you must have your medical practitioner complete the certification on the driver license application. If you have a medical condition that may impair your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, you must provide the medical and vision report form, available at the link below.
Please be sure to review the requirements for in-person renewals, below.
Online Renewals
If you currently have a DC DMV REAL ID driver license (with a star printed in the upper right corner) or a Limited Purpose driver license, or a REAL ID provisional license, you may renew your driver license online as long as you meet all of the requirements for online renewals. DC DMV complied with federal regulations regarding the use of credit cards, so to utilize the online services and pay with a credit card, use browsers with minimum version requirements, such as:
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Apple Safari
Please review these requirements for the online process; if you cannot meet all of them, you must renew your license in person at a DC DMV Service Center.
The requirements for online renewal are available at the link below:
Currently, you cannot update your address during the online driver license renewal process; however, we are working to bring back this online enhancement. Therefore, if you need to change your address, please refer to the link below:
If you are renewing online at the last minute, DC DMV will provide you a temporary license certificate that you can use for up to 45 days, until you receive your official license in the mail.
By-Mail Renewals
If you currently have a DC DMV REAL ID driver license (with a star printed in the upper right corner) or a Limited Purpose driver license, or a REAL ID provisional license, you may renew your license by mail. If you are eligible to renew by mail, you will receive a renewal notice 60 calendar days in advance of the expiration of your driver license that tells you that you may renew by mail. The notice will have instructions and information on the mail-in renewal process. If you request your REAL ID OR Limited Purpose Driver License renewal by mail, it will be processed within 7–10 business days from receipt. Please allow up to 15 business days to receive your product before contacting DC DMV.
In-Person Renewals
Current DC DMV driver licenses that are expiring will be renewed with either a REAL ID driver license or a Limited Purpose driver license, depending on which you qualify for based on the links below:
If you do not meet the requirements noted at the links above for online renewals, you must visit a DC DMV service center and bring documents that verify your identity, residence in the District, and Social Security number, as well as your current DC driver license. More information on the documents you must bring is available at the links below:
You will also have to pay the applicable fees. DC DMV fees are available at the link below:
DC DMV will NOT be able to accept documents that are not listed at the links above.
You may visit any DC DMV service center to renew any type of DC DMV driver license. A list of the DC DMV service centers is available at the link below: