How Long Is a Maine Driver’s License Good For?

A Maine driver’s license is good for six years if you’re under 65 when it’s issued, and four years if you’re 65 or older, under Title 29-A, Section 1406-A of the Maine Revised Statutes.¹ Your license expires on your birthday at the end of that cycle, and you can renew online or at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch office.

How the Expiration Date Is Set

Maine ties the length of your license to your age on the day it’s issued. A noncommercial license issued to someone under 65 expires on the sixth birthday after issuance. Issued at 65 or older, it expires on the fourth birthday after issuance.¹ The shorter cycle for older drivers reflects the fact that vision and health can shift more quickly later in life.

There’s one situation where age doesn’t control the answer. If you’re not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, your Maine license expires on the same date your authorized stay in the country ends, regardless of how old you are.

Commercial Licenses Run on a Different Clock

If you hold a CDL, the term is five years when issued under age 65, and four years at 65 or older.¹ CDL renewals also come with federal layers a passenger-car driver doesn’t face. You self-certify one of four federal operating categories at each renewal, and depending on the category you may need a valid medical examiner’s certificate on file.² Medical certificates are typically valid for two years, though drivers with conditions like hypertension or diabetes may only receive a one-year card.³ Maine’s BMV also checks the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before issuing a CDL renewal, and an unresolved violation blocks issuance.⁴

What Renewal Costs

Fees track age, license type, and whether you want a REAL ID-compliant card. For a noncommercial (Class C) license:

Under 65, standard: $30 for six years
Under 65, REAL ID: $55 for six years
65 or older, standard: $20 for four years
65 or older, REAL ID: $40 for four years

Commercial fees run higher: $34 for a five-year CDL under 65 and $27 for a four-year CDL at 65 or older, with REAL ID versions at $59 and $47.⁵ Expedited issuance is an extra $10, granted at the Secretary of State’s discretion.¹

Since May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant license (or an alternative like a U.S. passport) is required to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. A standard Maine license without the star will not clear a TSA checkpoint on its own.⁶ Acceptable alternatives include a passport, passport card, military ID, or a DHS trusted traveler card such as Global Entry or NEXUS. Children under 18 don’t need ID for domestic flights.⁷

How To Renew

The Secretary of State mails a renewal notice before your license expires.¹ You can renew online if you qualify, or in person at any BMV branch office. Eligibility for online renewal isn’t spelled out fully on the main renewal page, so if you’re unsure, check the BMV’s Renewal FAQ.⁸

You’ll need to provide:

Proof of Maine residency, if your current address isn’t already on file
Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, such as a passport, birth certificate, or immigration document
Your Social Security number on file (if you don’t have one, an unexpired immigration document or a written statement from the Social Security Administration)
A vision screening, which is typically required for in-person renewals

If you want a REAL ID card, bring identity documents (birth certificate, passport, or permanent resident card), proof of your Social Security number, and proof of Maine residency such as a utility bill or bank statement.⁵ Maine law also requires you to notify the Secretary of State within 30 days of any change in name or address, and you can combine that update with your renewal instead of paying twice.⁹

If You Let It Expire

Driving on an expired Maine license is a problem that gets worse fast. Within the first 90 days after expiration, it’s a traffic infraction under Section 1251, and an officer who stops you can issue a temporary permit so you can drive home or straight to a BMV office to renew.¹⁰

Past 90 days, you may fall under the broader prohibition on operating without a license, which is a Class E crime rather than a traffic infraction.¹⁰ That’s a criminal charge. Driving without a valid license can also complicate insurance coverage if you’re in an accident, because many policies require a valid license as a condition of coverage. If you realize yours has lapsed, renew right away rather than risk the jump from infraction to crime at the 90-day mark.

Active-Duty Military Members

If you’re a Maine resident on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, your license does not expire while you’re serving, and you’re exempt from license fees during active service, as long as you carry proof of military membership. Under Section 1255, those privileges continue for 180 days after discharge or release, giving you a six-month window to renew without penalty.¹¹

1
Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 29-A – Section 1406-A Expiration
2
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Medical
3
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. For How Long Is My Medical Certificate Valid
4
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse – Department of Transportation. FAQ Topics
5
State of Maine – Secretary of State. Drivers License and Examination Fees
6
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
7
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
8
State of Maine – Secretary of State. I Need to Renew My License
9
State of Maine – Secretary of State. Driver’s License and ID Card Online Renewal and Replacement Service
10
Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 29-A – Section 1251 License Required
11
Maine State Legislature. Maine Code Title 29-A – Section 1255 Members of the Armed Forces