What You Need to Do to Renew an Expired Alabama License

You can renew an expired Alabama driver's license in person at any Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver License office, or by mail if your license expired fewer than five years ago and you meet other conditions. The in-person route takes about 30 minutes at the office; the mail route takes two to three weeks. You will need your expired license, proof of residency (utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within 60 days), and your Social Security number. If your license expired more than five years ago, you must renew in person and may need to retake the written test and vision screening.

Alabama does not offer online renewal for expired licenses. You can renew online only if your license is still valid and you are renewing before expiration. Once a license expires, the state requires either an in-person visit or a mail process that follows specific rules about how long ago it expired.

Key Takeaways

  • Expired licenses can be renewed by mail only if they expired within the last five years; licenses expired longer than five years require an in-person visit.
  • You must bring your expired license, proof of residency dated within 60 days, and know your Social Security number to renew in person.
  • The renewal fee is $25.50 for a four-year license or $38.25 for an eight-year license, paid at the DPS office or included with a mail process.
  • If your license expired more than five years ago, you will need to pass a vision test and may need to retake the written knowledge test.
  • DPS offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some locations offering extended hours; call ahead to confirm wait times.

Renewing In Person at an Alabama DPS Office

Walk into any Alabama Department of Public Safety Driver License office with your expired license, proof of residency, and your Social Security number. You do not need an appointment. The office will check your vision, take a new photo, and issue your renewed license on the spot. The entire process usually takes 20 to 40 minutes, depending on how busy the office is that day.

Bring a document that shows your current address and was issued or dated within 60 days of your visit. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, bank statement, or government mail with your name and address. A driver's license or state ID card from another state does not count as proof of residency. If you have moved and your expired license shows an old address, bring the residency proof to show your current one.

You will pay the renewal fee at the office: $25.50 for a four-year license or $38.25 for an eight-year license. Alabama accepts cash, debit, and credit cards at most offices, but call ahead to confirm payment methods at your specific location. You will receive your new license when ready, printed on a plastic card.

Renewing by Mail If Your License Expired Within Five Years

If your license expired fewer than five years ago, you can mail a renewal process to the Alabama DPS. read the Driver License Renewal by Mail form from the Alabama DPS website, or call your local DPS office and ask them to mail it to you. Fill out the form completely, including your name, date of birth, license number, and current address.

Enclose a copy of your expired license (front and back), a copy of your proof of residency dated within 60 days, and a check or money order for the renewal fee ($25.50 for four years or $38.25 for eight years). Do not send cash. Mail the packet to the address listed on the form — typically the Alabama DPS central office in Montgomery. The DPS will process your process and mail your new license to the address you provided, which takes two to three weeks after they receive it.

The mail route works only if your license expired within the last five years. If it expired longer ago, you must renew in person. Also, if you have had any traffic violations, suspensions, or other issues with your driving record since your license expired, the DPS may contact you or deny the mail renewal and require you to come in person.

What Happens If Your License Expired More Than Five Years Ago

You must renew in person at a DPS office. Bring your expired license, proof of residency, and your Social Security number. The DPS will require you to pass a vision screening. You may also be asked to retake the written knowledge test, depending on how long your license has been expired and the discretion of the DPS officer. If you are asked to take the written test, you will take it at the office on the same day.

The vision screening checks your ability to see clearly and identify colors and objects at a distance. If you wear glasses or contacts, bring them with you. If you fail the vision test, you will not be able to renew that day and will need to see an eye doctor, get a vision correction form signed, and return to the DPS office with it.

The written test covers Alabama traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices. You can study using the Alabama Driver's Manual, available free on the DPS website. The test has 30 questions, and you must answer at least 24 correctly to pass. If you fail, you can retake it the same day or return another day.

Alabama DPS Office Locations and Hours

Alabama has Driver License offices in most counties. The main office is in Montgomery, and there are satellite offices in larger cities and towns. All offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some locations offer extended hours on certain days; check the Alabama DPS website or call ahead to confirm hours at the office nearest you.

Wait times vary by location and time of day. Offices in rural areas usually have shorter waits than those in Birmingham, Montgomery, or Mobile. Early morning (8 to 10 a.m.) and mid-week (Tuesday through Thursday) typically have shorter lines than late afternoon or Fridays. If you want to know the current wait time before you go, call the office directly — most will tell you.

You can find the office nearest you and get its phone number on the Alabama DPS website. Search by county or city. If you cannot get to an office during regular hours, some locations offer Saturday hours once a month; call your local office to ask about Saturday availability.

Fees, Payment Methods, and What You Receive

The renewal fee depends on how long you want your new license to be valid. A four-year license costs $25.50. An eight-year license costs $38.25. You choose which term you want when you renew. At an in-person office, you can pay with cash, debit card, or credit card. If you renew by mail, you must send a check or money order — the DPS does not accept credit cards by mail.

Your new license will be a plastic card with your photo, name, date of birth, address, license number, and expiration date printed on it. If you renew in person, you receive it when ready. If you renew by mail, it arrives in a standard envelope, usually within two to three weeks of the DPS receiving your process. Your old expired license is no longer valid once you receive the new one.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Renewing

Do not bring an expired license as your only form of ID. You must also bring proof of residency — an expired license alone is not enough. Many people show up with just their expired license and have to leave and come back with a utility bill or other residency proof.

Do not send cash if you renew by mail. The DPS will not accept it, and your process may be delayed or rejected. Use a check or money order instead. Also, do not forget to include a copy of your expired license and proof of residency with your mail process — the DPS needs both to process it.

Do not assume you can renew by mail if your license expired more than five years ago. You cannot. Many people try to mail in an process for a very old expired license and have it returned. If your license has been expired for more than five years, you must go to an office in person.

Do not forget to bring your proof of residency dated within 60 days. If your document is older than 60 days, it will not be accepted. If you have moved recently and do not have a new utility bill or lease yet, ask the DPS office what other documents they accept — some will take a letter from your landlord or a recent bank statement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive with an expired license while I wait for my renewal to arrive by mail?

No. Once your license expires, it is no longer valid for driving. If you renew by mail, you should not drive until your new license arrives. If you need to drive before your mail renewal arrives, you must go to a DPS office in person and get your new license the same day.

What if I lost my expired license and do not have it to renew?

You can still renew in person without your expired license. Bring your proof of residency and Social Security number, and tell the DPS officer that your license is lost. The officer will look up your record in the system and process your renewal. You will pay the same renewal fee.

Do I have to retake the written test if my license expired five years ago?

Not necessarily. The DPS has discretion on whether to require the written test for licenses expired five to ten years. Some officers will waive it; others will not. Call your local DPS office and ask what their policy is before you go in, so you can study if needed.

Can I renew my license if I have an outstanding traffic ticket or suspended license?

No. If your license is suspended or revoked, or if you have unpaid traffic fines or court costs, the DPS will not renew it. You must resolve the suspension or pay the fines first. Contact the court or the DPS to find out what you owe and how to clear it.

How long is my new license valid after I renew it?

Your new license is valid for either four or eight years from the date you renew it, depending on which term you chose and paid for. The expiration date is printed on the front of your license card.