What You Need to Bring to the DPS Office
To renew your Texas driver's license, you need to bring proof of identity, proof of residency, and your current license. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) accepts a limited list of documents for each category, and bringing the wrong papers will send you home to get the right ones.
For proof of identity, bring your current Texas driver's license, passport, military ID, or certified birth certificate. If you're renewing in person, your current license usually counts as both identity and residency proof, which simplifies the process. If you're renewing by mail or online, you'll need a separate residency document.
For proof of residency, DPS accepts a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or property tax bill dated within the last 60 days. A bank or credit card statement also works. The document must show your current Texas address and your name.
If your name has changed since your last license—through marriage, divorce, or legal name change—bring the court order or marriage certificate that documents the change. Without it, you cannot renew under a different name.
Key Takeaways
- Bring your current Texas driver's license, which serves as both identity and residency proof for in-person renewals at a DPS office.
- If you renew by mail or online, you need a separate residency document dated within the last 60 days, such as a utility bill or lease agreement.
- Texas offers three renewal methods—in person, by mail, or online—and which one you can use depends on your license type and how long it has been expired.
- Standard renewals cost $16 for a two-year license or $32 for an eight-year license, and you can pay by cash, check, or card at DPS offices.
- If your license has been expired for more than two years, you cannot renew by mail or online and must go to a DPS office in person.
In-Person Renewal at a DPS Office
Walking into a DPS office with the right documents is the most straightforward path. You bring your current license and proof of residency, fill out form DL-43 (the renewal process), and the staff member will take a new photo and process your renewal on the spot. The entire visit usually takes 15 to 45 minutes, depending on how busy the office is.
You can renew in person if your license is expired or still valid. DPS offices are open Monday through Friday, and some locations have Saturday hours. You do not need an appointment at most offices, though some busy locations now use an online check-in system to manage wait times. Check the DPS website to find your nearest office and see if it uses check-in.
When you finish, you'll receive a temporary paper license valid for 30 days while DPS mails your plastic card. Your new license will arrive within two to three weeks. If you need to drive before the plastic arrives, keep that temporary license with you.
Renewing by Mail
Texas allows mail renewal if your license is not expired and you meet certain conditions. You must have held your current license for at least two years, have no medical restrictions, and not have changed your name or address since your last renewal. If all three explore, you can skip the office visit.
To renew by mail, request an process packet from the DPS website or call 1-888-589-6789. Fill out form DL-43, include a copy of your proof of residency (dated within 60 days), and mail both with a check or money order to the address DPS provides. Do not send cash through the mail.
Processing takes four to six weeks from the day DPS receives your packet. Mail renewal costs the same as in-person renewal—$16 for two years or $32 for eight years—but you lose the temporary license you get at the office. Plan ahead so your license does not expire while you're waiting.
Renewing Online
Online renewal is the fastest option if you're may be able to access. You can renew online if your license is not expired, you have not changed your name or address, you have no medical restrictions, and you held your current license for at least two years. The process takes about 10 minutes.
Go to the DPS website, select "Renew Your Driver License," and follow the prompts. You'll need your current license number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and a valid credit or debit card to pay the $16 or $32 fee. DPS will mail your new license within two to three weeks.
Online renewal does not give you a temporary license, so if you need to drive before your new card arrives, you'll have to go to a DPS office instead. If you're unsure whether you're may be able to access, the online system will tell you before you pay.
When Your License Has Been Expired Too Long
If your license has been expired for more than two years, you cannot use mail or online renewal. You must go to a DPS office in person and may have to retake the written test and road test, depending on how long it has been expired.
If your license expired between two and five years ago, you can renew in person without retesting. Bring your expired license, proof of residency, and form DL-43. If your license expired more than five years ago, DPS treats it as a new process, and you'll need to pass the written test and road test again, just as a first-time driver would.
This is why letting your license expire is costly: you lose the convenience of mail and online renewal, and you may have to study and test again. If you're close to the expiration date, renewing early—even a few months ahead—keeps your options open.
Cost and Payment Methods
A standard two-year Texas driver's license renewal costs $16. An eight-year renewal costs $32. These are the only two options; you cannot choose a different term. If you renew in person, you can pay with cash, check, or debit or credit card. By mail, send a check or money order only. Online, use a debit or credit card.
Some DPS offices charge an additional fee if you need a duplicate license the same day—for example, if your license was lost or stolen and you need a replacement before your renewal arrives. That fee is separate from the renewal cost.
If you're renewing because your license was lost or stolen, you're not technically renewing; you're getting a replacement. The process and cost are different, and you should contact DPS directly or visit an office to find out what you need.
What Happens After You Renew
After you renew in person, you'll get a temporary paper license valid for 30 days. This temporary license has the same legal weight as your plastic license—you can drive with it, and police will accept it. Keep it with you until your new plastic card arrives.
Your new license will be mailed to the address on file with DPS. If you've moved recently and updated your address, it will go to your new home. If you haven't updated your address yet, it will go to your old address, and you'll have to pick it up or request a remail. Update your address before you renew to avoid this problem.
Your new license will have a new expiration date eight years from the date you renew (or two years if you chose the shorter term). Check the expiration date when it arrives to make sure DPS processed it correctly. If there's an error, go back to the DPS office with your temporary license and the new card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew my license if it's already expired?
Yes, but how you renew depends on how long it has been expired. If it expired less than two years ago, you can renew in person, by mail, or online. If it expired two to five years ago, you can only renew in person. If it expired more than five years ago, you must go in person and retake the written and road tests.
What if I moved and haven't updated my address yet?
Update your address with DPS before you renew. You can do this online, by mail, or in person at a DPS office. If you renew before updating, your new license will be mailed to your old address, and you'll have to request a remail or pick it up in person.
Do I need a new photo for my renewal?
Only if you renew in person. DPS will take a new photo at the office. If you renew by mail or online, DPS uses your photo from your current license. You cannot request a new photo for mail or online renewal.
What if my name changed since my last license?
You cannot renew by mail or online if your name has changed. You must go to a DPS office in person and bring the document that proves the change—a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order for a legal name change. DPS will take a new photo and process the renewal at the office.
How long does it take to get my new license after I renew?
If you renew in person, your new plastic license arrives within two to three weeks. You'll get a temporary paper license valid for 30 days while you wait. If you renew by mail or online, it takes four to six weeks from the day DPS receives your process.