An Alabama driver’s license is issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). A standard Class D license costs $36.25, is valid for four years, and requires passing a vision screening, a knowledge test, and a road skills exam at an ALEA examining office.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-6-4 – Issuance of License or Identification Card; Selective Service Registration First-time applicants also pay a $5.00 testing fee. Show up with the right paperwork and the process is straightforward; show up missing one document and you go home.
What Documents to Bring
Everything must be original or certified. Photocopies and printouts are not accepted.2Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. License and ID Cards
Proof of Identity
You need at least one primary identification document. Primary documents include a certified U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport, a certificate of naturalization, or a certificate of citizenship.2Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. License and ID Cards If any of your documents include a photo, you need one primary document plus one additional form of ID. If none carry a photo, you need one primary document plus two additional forms.3Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 760-X-1-.20 – Proof of Identity, Authorized Presence
Social Security Card
Every applicant who has been assigned a Social Security number must present the original card. A printout from the SSA website or a tax form showing the number will not substitute.2Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. License and ID Cards Lost cards should be replaced through the Social Security Administration before your ALEA visit. A non-citizen who has never been assigned a number must bring proof from the SSA confirming ineligibility.3Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 760-X-1-.20 – Proof of Identity, Authorized Presence
Two Proofs of Alabama Address
You must provide two documents showing your current Alabama address. Accepted items include a utility bill (water, gas, or electric) less than 90 days old, a residential mortgage contract, a current lease agreement, a voter registration card, vehicle registration in your name, or the previous year’s tax returns showing your address.4Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements and Fees Bank statements are not on the accepted list.
School Form for Applicants Under 19
Applicants between 15 and 18 need a school enrollment form signed by a school official, showing current attendance or graduation. The form must come from the school; it cannot be completed at the ALEA office.
Non-U.S. Citizens
Non-citizens must show proof of authorized presence. Depending on status, that may be a valid foreign passport with a U.S. visa, Form I-94, a resident alien card, or an employment authorization document.5U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Applying for a Driver’s License or State Identification Card ALEA verifies status through the federal SAVE system, which can add processing time.6U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. SAVE CaseCheck
Testing at an ALEA Office
Appointments can be booked through ALEA’s portal at alabamadl.alea.gov, and booking ahead is worth the effort because walk-in availability varies.7Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Schedule a Driver License Appointment The examination has three parts, taken in order.
Vision Screening
The examiner checks your visual acuity first. Bring your glasses or contacts if you use them. Failing the vision screening ends the appointment before the written test, so update your prescription beforehand if needed.
Knowledge Test
The computerized, multiple-choice test covers Alabama traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving practices, drawn from the Alabama Driver’s Manual on the ALEA website. Anyone applying for an initial Alabama license, or whose Alabama license has been expired for more than three years, must pass it.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-6-4 – Issuance of License or Identification Card; Selective Service Registration
Road Skills Test
You supply your own vehicle for the road test. The examiner inspects it before you start: the car needs current registration, valid liability insurance, and working signals, brake lights, and mirrors at minimum. Bring the registration and insurance card, or you will not be allowed to test. The examiner rides along and evaluates turns, stops, lane changes, and speed control in real traffic. Fail any portion and you will need to wait before retesting.
Fees
A standard Class D license costs $36.25, plus a $5.00 testing fee for first-time applicants. ALEA offices accept cash, checks, and credit cards.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-6-4 – Issuance of License or Identification Card; Selective Service Registration A duplicate license, needed if yours is lost, stolen, or damaged, costs $32.50.
Veterans can add a “VETERAN” designation at no extra cost when applying for a first-time license or during renewal. Adding it between renewal dates costs the $32.50 duplicate fee. Bring your DD-214 or NA13038 showing honorable or general-under-honorable-conditions discharge.8Mobile County License Commissioner. Veteran Driver License
Getting the Card After You Pass
After you clear all three tests and pay, the examiner issues a temporary paper receipt. Carry it every time you drive; it is your legal driving permit. The permanent plastic card arrives by mail within about 30 days. ALEA does not forward mail, so confirm your mailing address on the application. If the card does not arrive in that window, contact ALEA directly rather than letting the temporary receipt lapse.
Standard License or STAR ID
Alabama offers two versions of the driver license: the standard card and the STAR ID. The STAR ID meets federal REAL ID requirements, which took effect on May 7, 2025.9Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025 Without a STAR ID or a valid U.S. passport, you cannot board a domestic commercial flight or enter certain federal facilities.10Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Star ID
Both versions work for driving and everyday identification. The STAR ID requires the two proofs of Alabama address described above; the standard card does not. Since the federal enforcement deadline has passed, most first-time applicants choose the STAR ID to avoid an upgrade trip later.
Teen Drivers: The Three Stages
Alabama uses a three-stage graduated licensing system for drivers under 18, and the holding periods are enforced.11Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Graduated Driver License
- Stage I (Learner’s Permit, age 15+): Driving allowed only with a parent, legal guardian, or licensed driver age 21 or older in the front passenger seat. A licensed or certified driving instructor in the front seat also qualifies. The permit is valid for four years.12Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Driver License Information
- Stage II (Restricted License, age 16+): Applicants under 18 must hold the Stage I permit for at least six months first. No driving between midnight and 6 a.m. unless with a parent or guardian, heading to a school or religious event, commuting to work, or responding to an emergency. Only one non-family passenger.
- Stage III (Unrestricted License, age 17+): Requires holding a Stage II license for at least six months. Applicants 18 or older can apply directly for an unrestricted license but still must pass the road skills exam.
The six-month Stage I holding period applies to anyone under 18, even if the teen is already 16 when applying.
Renewing Your License
Alabama driver licenses are valid for four years from the expiration date of the previous license.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-6-4 – Issuance of License or Identification Card; Selective Service Registration You can renew online through ALEA’s portal at alabamadl.alea.gov, which also handles duplicate requests and reprints of temporary receipts. If your license has been expired for more than three years, online renewal is not an option and you must retake the full examination in person.
The renewal application will present a voter registration section under the National Voter Registration Act; registering is optional.13Department of Justice. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 Males aged 18 through 25 will also be prompted for Selective Service registration.
Changing Your Address
Update your address with ALEA promptly after a move within Alabama. ALEA does not forward correspondence, so an outdated address means missed renewal notices and driving-record communications.14Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Change of Address Form The change automatically updates your voter registration unless you opt out. Voter registration updates are frozen during the 14 days before any Alabama election, so time the change around that window if it matters.
If Your License Is Suspended or Revoked
A suspended or revoked license does not resolve on its own. You must pay a reinstatement fee and satisfy any underlying conditions before ALEA restores your privileges. The fees are:
- Standard suspension or cancellation: $100
- Revocation: $175
- Alcohol- or drug-related suspension or revocation: $275, plus a $25 drug-related surcharge if applicable
- Ignition interlock issuance: $150
- Failure to surrender license within 30 days: $50
- Failure to pay child support: $50
ALEA does not accept personal checks for reinstatement. Bring a money order, cashier’s check, cash, or credit card.15Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Driver Records, Crash Reports, and Driver License Reinstatements Depending on the offense, you may also need to complete a substance abuse program, provide SR-22 proof of insurance, or wait out a mandatory suspension period before reinstatement is available.
Out-of-State Records
When you apply, ALEA checks your history against the National Driver Register, a federal database maintained by NHTSA. The system flags any out-of-state revocation, suspension, or cancellation, along with serious traffic convictions.16National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. National Driver Register Clear any unresolved issues in another state before applying in Alabama, or expect processing delays or a blocked application.