Minnesota renewal fees depend on your license type and how long you want it valid

Minnesota charges different renewal fees based on whether you hold a standard driver's license, a commercial driver's license (CDL), or an ID card. A standard five-year driver's license renewal costs $24.50. If you want a ten-year license instead, you pay $48.50. These are the base fees charged by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

The fee covers the license itself and the processing of your renewal process. It does not cover any additional services like duplicate licenses, name changes, or address corrections beyond what you report on the renewal form. If you need any of those services, there are separate fees.

Commercial driver's license renewals cost more. A five-year CDL renewal is $48.50, and a ten-year CDL is $97. These higher fees reflect the additional testing and background checks required for commercial driving privileges.

Key Takeaways

  • A standard five-year Minnesota driver's license renewal costs $24.50; a ten-year renewal costs $48.50.
  • Commercial driver's license renewals are $48.50 for five years or $97 for ten years.
  • Minnesota accepts payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card at any Driver and Vehicle Services office.
  • You can renew by mail, online, or in person, and the fee is the same regardless of which method you choose.
  • If you renew online or by mail, you must pay by credit card or electronic check; cash and money order are only accepted in person.

How to pay your renewal fee

Payment method depends on where and how you renew. If you renew in person at a Driver and Vehicle Services office, you can pay with cash, check, money order, or credit card. If you renew by mail, you must include a check or money order with your process packet. If you renew online through the Minnesota Secretary of State website, you pay by credit card or electronic check at the time you submit your process.

Make checks or money orders payable to the "State of Minnesota." Do not send cash by mail. If you are mailing your renewal, include your payment with your process form and supporting documents in the same envelope.

Additional fees you may encounter

The renewal fee covers only the license itself. Other services carry separate charges. A duplicate license costs $10.50 and takes about five business days to arrive by mail. A name change on your license requires a $10.50 fee plus proof of the name change (marriage certificate, court order, or other legal document). An address correction on your existing license is free if you report it during renewal, but costs $10.50 if you change your address after renewal.

If you need to renew your license before it expires because it was lost, stolen, or damaged, you pay the standard renewal fee, not a replacement fee. However, if your license was suspended or revoked and you need to reinstate it, reinstatement fees explore separately and vary based on the reason for suspension.

Renewal by mail versus in-person versus online

The renewal fee is the same no matter which method you use: $24.50 for a five-year standard license or $48.50 for ten years. The difference is in how you pay and how long processing takes. Mail renewals typically take two to three weeks after the office receives your packet. Online renewals through the Secretary of State website are processed faster, often within one week. In-person renewals at a Driver and Vehicle Services office are completed the same day.

Online renewal is available only if your license is not suspended or revoked, you are not changing your address, and you do not need to update your photo. If any of those explore to you, you must renew by mail or in person. The fee remains $24.50 or $48.50 regardless.

When your renewal fee is waived or reduced

Minnesota does not waive renewal fees for any group of drivers. However, if you are a military member on active duty stationed outside Minnesota, you may be able to renew by mail without visiting an office. The fee is still the same.

If you renew your license and then discover an error on it within 30 days, you can request a corrected license at no additional charge. After 30 days, a corrected license costs $10.50.

What happens if you do not pay the renewal fee

If you submit a renewal process without payment, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety will not process it. Your process will be returned to you, and your license will remain valid until its expiration date. You must resubmit your process with the correct fee before your license expires, or you will be driving with an expired license, which is illegal in Minnesota.

If you pay by check and the check bounces, the office will contact you to request payment by another method. Your renewal will not be finalized until payment clears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay my renewal fee online if I renew by mail?

No. Mail renewals require payment by check or money order included with your process packet. Online payment is only available if you renew through the Secretary of State website. In-person renewals accept cash, check, money order, or credit card.

Do I pay the renewal fee if I renew early?

Yes. The renewal fee is the same whether you renew early or on your expiration date. Early renewal does not reduce the cost. Your new license will be valid for five or ten years from the date it is issued, not from your old expiration date.

What if I renew my license and then move to another state?

Your Minnesota renewal fee is not refundable. Once your new license is issued, it is valid in Minnesota and recognized nationwide. If you move and need a license from your new state, you will pay that state's fee to obtain one.

Is the renewal fee different if I have a REAL ID compliant license?

No. The renewal fee is the same for a standard REAL ID compliant license as for a non-REAL ID license. Both cost $24.50 for five years or $48.50 for ten years. REAL ID compliance is a federal security standard, not a separate license type in Minnesota.

Can I pay the renewal fee in installments?

No. Minnesota requires full payment of the renewal fee at the time you submit your process. Installment plans are not offered for driver's license renewals.