Where to renew your license in Rochester

In Rochester, you renew your driver's license at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services office. The Rochester location is at 4949 Hadley Avenue South, Rochester, MN 55901. You can walk in during business hours without an appointment, though wait times vary by time of day and season.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It closes for state holidays. If you cannot visit in person, Minnesota allows online renewal for some drivers — see the section below on whether you may have access to.

Parking is available on-site. The building is accessible to people with mobility limitations. If you have questions before you go, you can call the Rochester office at (507) 529-5720, though wait times to speak with someone can be long during mid-morning hours.

Key Takeaways

  • You can renew in person at 4949 Hadley Avenue South, Rochester, or online if your license is not suspended and you have not changed your name or address.
  • Bring your current driver's license, proof of Minnesota residency (utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within 30 days), and payment by cash, check, or card.
  • A standard renewal costs $48 for an eight-year license; a Real ID-compliant license costs $30 more and requires proof of citizenship or lawful presence.
  • Processing takes about 10 minutes in person; your new license arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days.
  • If your license is suspended or revoked, you cannot renew until the suspension is lifted and you have paid any required fees.

What documents you need to bring

Bring your current Minnesota driver's license. If you do not have it, bring a state ID card or passport instead. The office will not renew without proof of who you are.

You also need proof of Minnesota residency dated within the last 30 days. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, bank statement, or insurance bill in your name and current address. A piece of mail from a government agency also works. Bring the original or a copy — either is fine.

If you are renewing a Real ID-compliant license (the kind with a gold star in the upper right corner), bring proof of citizenship or lawful presence. This means a birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers, or visa. If you are renewing a standard license without Real ID, you do not need this document.

Bring payment. The office takes cash, check, or card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover). A standard eight-year renewal costs $48. A Real ID license costs $78 total. If you are 65 or older, renewal costs $24.

Online renewal: who can use it and how

Minnesota lets you renew online at mn.gov/dvs if all of these are true: your license is not suspended or revoked, you have not changed your name or address since your last renewal, you are not renewing a Real ID license for the first time, and your license is not expired by more than five years.

If you meet those conditions, go to mn.gov/dvs, select "Renew Your Driver's License," and follow the steps. You will need your current license number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Payment is by card only. The fee is $48 for a standard eight-year renewal.

Your new license arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can continue driving on your current license until the new one arrives. Online renewal takes about 10 minutes.

If you do not meet the conditions above — for example, if you changed your address or want to upgrade to Real ID — you must renew in person at the Rochester office.

Real ID compliance and what it costs

Real ID is a federal security standard. A Real ID-compliant license has a gold star in the upper right corner and is required to board a domestic flight or enter a federal building starting May 7, 2025. If your current license does not have the star, you will need a Real ID license by that date to fly.

A Real ID renewal costs $78 (compared to $48 for a standard license). You must renew in person and bring proof of citizenship or lawful presence — a birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or visa. The office will not accept a photocopy of a birth certificate; it must be an official certified copy or the original.

If you already have a Real ID license and are straightforward renewing it, you can renew online if your address and name have not changed. If you are upgrading from a standard license to Real ID for the first time, you must go to the Rochester office in person.

What happens after you renew

After you complete your renewal in person or online, the office processes it when ready. Your new license is printed and mailed to the address on file within 7 to 10 business days. You do not need to do anything else.

Your current license remains valid until your new one arrives. You can drive legally on the old license during that time. Once the new license arrives, the old one is no longer valid — you can throw it away or keep it for your records.

If your new license does not arrive within 10 business days, call the Rochester office at (507) 529-5720. They can check the status and reissue if needed. Reissuing a lost or delayed license costs $20.

If your license is suspended or revoked

You cannot renew a suspended or revoked license. The office will reject your renewal request at the counter or online.

To find out whether your license is suspended, go to mn.gov/dvs and select "Check Your Driving Record," or call the Rochester office. A suspension can be due to unpaid traffic fines, failure to appear in court, unpaid child support, or a DUI conviction. The reason matters because it determines what you must do to lift the suspension.

Once you have resolved the underlying issue — paid the fine, appeared in court, or completed a DUI program — contact the office that issued the suspension to request removal. This is usually the court that handled your case or the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. After the suspension is lifted, you can renew your license normally.

Renewing before your license expires

You can renew your license up to one year before it expires. The expiration date is printed on the front of your license. Renewing early does not cost extra — you still pay the standard $48 or $78 fee.

Many people renew early to avoid the rush near the expiration date. If you renew early, your new license will have a new expiration date eight years from the date you renew (or until age 97 if you are over 65).

You cannot renew if your license has been expired for more than five years. If that is the case, you must explore for a new license instead of renewing, which requires a written test and vision test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my license by mail?

No. Minnesota does not offer mail-in renewal. You must renew in person at the Rochester office or online at mn.gov/dvs if you meet the conditions for online renewal. Online renewal is the closest option to mail-in.

What if I changed my address since my last renewal?

You must renew in person at the Rochester office. Bring proof of your new address dated within 30 days — a utility bill, lease, or bank statement. You cannot renew online if your address has changed.

How long does it take to renew in person?

The office usually processes your renewal in about 10 minutes. Wait times to see a clerk depend on how busy the office is. Mornings and early afternoons are typically slower than late afternoons. Your new license arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days.

Do I need an appointment to renew in person?

No. The Rochester office accepts walk-ins. You do not need to schedule ahead. Arriving early in the day usually means a shorter wait.

What if my name changed since my last renewal?

You must renew in person and bring proof of your name change — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. You cannot renew online if your name has changed.