How to replace your Alabama driver's license
You can replace your Alabama driver's license in person at any Alabama Department of Public Safety (DPS) office, or by mail if your license is not suspended or revoked. The in-person route takes about 30 minutes and costs $25.50 for a standard license valid for eight years. The mail route costs the same but takes two to three weeks and requires you to send in your current license, a completed process, and a check or money order.
Which route you use depends on why you need a replacement. If your license was lost, stolen, or damaged, either method works. If your address changed, you must go in person because the DPS needs to verify your identity and current residency. If your license is suspended or revoked, you cannot use the mail option and must appear at a DPS office to resolve the suspension first.
Key Takeaways
- In-person replacement at any DPS office costs $25.50 and takes about 30 minutes; mail replacement costs the same but takes two to three weeks.
- You must replace your license in person if your address has changed, because the DPS verifies your current residency at the office.
- If your license is suspended or revoked, you cannot use mail replacement and must visit a DPS office to address the suspension before getting a new license.
- Bring your Social Security number, proof of residency (utility bill or lease dated within 60 days), and payment by cash, check, or money order to any DPS office.
- Your replacement license will be mailed to you within 7 to 10 business days if you explore in person, or within two to three weeks if you explore by mail.
Replacing your license in person at a DPS office
Walk into any Alabama DPS office with your Social Security number, proof of residency, and $25.50. Proof of residency means a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days and showing your current address. You do not need to bring your old license, though it helps if you have it.
Fill out Form DL-44 (process for Alabama Driver's License) at the office or bring it completed from home. The DPS website has a printable version. You will be photographed and your fingerprints will be taken. The office will issue you a temporary paper license valid for 30 days while your permanent card is printed and mailed. Your new license arrives in seven to ten business days.
DPS offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and some locations have Saturday hours. You can find your nearest office and check its hours on the Alabama DPS website. No appointment is needed, but wait times vary by location and time of day. Early morning or mid-week visits tend to be faster.
Replacing your license by mail
Mail replacement works only if your license is not suspended or revoked and you do not need to change your address. Send your current license, a completed Form DL-44, and a check or money order for $25.50 to the Alabama DPS. Include a note stating why you need a replacement (lost, stolen, or damaged).
Mail your packet to: Alabama Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division, P.O. Box 1471, Montgomery, AL 36102-1471. Your replacement license will arrive in two to three weeks. You will not receive a temporary license by mail, so plan ahead if you need to drive before your new card arrives.
Keep a copy of everything you mail, including the check number and the date you sent it. If your packet does not arrive or gets lost, you will need proof of what you sent. The DPS does not track mail applications the way it tracks in-person ones, so having documentation protects you if something goes wrong.
What to bring and what it costs
A replacement license costs $25.50 whether you explore in person or by mail. This fee covers the eight-year validity period. Payment in person can be cash, check, or money order. Payment by mail must be check or money order only — the DPS does not accept cash through the mail.
Bring these documents to a DPS office: your Social Security number (memorized or on a document), proof of residency dated within 60 days, and your payment. If you are replacing a lost or stolen license, bring a police report if you filed one, though it is not required. If you are replacing a damaged license, bring the damaged card itself if you still have it.
If your name has changed since your last license was issued, bring a certified copy of the document that changed your name — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. The DPS will not issue a license under a new name without proof of the legal change.
When your replacement license arrives
If you applied in person, your new license is mailed to the address you provided on your process. It arrives in seven to ten business days. If you applied by mail, it takes two to three weeks from the date the DPS receives your packet. Neither timeline includes mail delivery delays, which can add a few days.
Your temporary paper license is valid for 30 days and covers you for driving during the wait. Keep it with you while you drive. Once your permanent card arrives, the temporary license is no longer valid.
If your license does not arrive within the expected timeframe, contact the Alabama DPS Driver License Division. Have your process date and the address you provided ready. The DPS can check whether your license was printed and mailed, or whether there was a problem with your process.
Replacing a license that is suspended or revoked
If your license is suspended or revoked, you cannot use mail replacement. You must visit a DPS office in person. Before you can get a replacement license, you must resolve the reason for the suspension or revocation.
Common reasons for suspension include unpaid traffic fines, failure to pay child support, or failure to appear in court. Revocation is more serious and usually results from DUI convictions or accumulating too many points. The DPS office can tell you what you owe or what you must do to lift the suspension. Once you have paid fines, resolved the court issue, or completed a required program, the DPS will remove the suspension and issue your replacement license.
Bring proof that you have resolved the issue — a receipt showing fines paid, a letter from the court, or a certificate of completion from a required program. The DPS will verify the information and then process your replacement.
Replacing your license if your address changed
You must replace your license in person if your address has changed. The DPS requires you to show proof of your new address and verify your identity face-to-face. Mail replacement does not allow address changes.
Bring proof of residency at your new address dated within the last 60 days. A utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement all work. The DPS will photograph you, take your fingerprints, and issue a temporary license while your new card is printed with your updated address.
Alabama law requires you to notify the DPS of an address change within 10 days of moving. Replacing your license is the way to do this. If you move and do not update your address, your license remains valid but the address on it will be wrong, which can cause problems if you are pulled over or need to use your license as identification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace my license online?
No. Alabama does not offer online license replacement. You must explore in person at a DPS office or by mail. In-person is faster and allows you to change your address or resolve a suspension on the spot.
What if I lost my Social Security number and do not have it memorized?
Bring a document that shows your Social Security number, such as a Social Security card, tax return, W-2, or bank statement. You do not have to memorize it as long as you can show it to the DPS staff.
How long is my temporary paper license good for?
Your temporary license is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued. Once your permanent card arrives, the temporary is no longer valid. If your permanent license has not arrived after 30 days, contact the DPS before your temporary expires.
Can I get a replacement license if I owe back child support?
No. If you owe back child support, your license will be suspended. You must resolve the child support debt before the DPS will issue a replacement. Contact the Alabama Department of Human Resources to find out what you owe and how to pay it.
What if my replacement license arrives with the wrong information on it?
Contact the Alabama DPS Driver License Division right away with your license and proof of what the correct information should be. The DPS will issue a corrected replacement at no additional charge if the error was made by the DPS.