How Much Does It Cost to Renew a License in Texas?

The cost to renew a Texas driver’s license is $33 for a standard Class C license covering eight years, for most adults between 18 and 84. What you actually pay depends on your license class, your age, and whether you renew online, by mail, or in person.¹

Renewal Fees by License and ID Type

The Texas Department of Public Safety sets one fee per license class. For adults 18 through 84:¹

Class C driver’s license (standard passenger vehicle): $33 for eight years.
Class C with motorcycle authorization: $44 for eight years.
Class M motorcycle-only license: $44 for eight years.
Commercial driver’s license (Class A, B, or C CDL): $97 for eight years.
Provisional license for drivers under 18: $16, expiring on the holder’s 18th birthday.
Texas identification card, ages 59 and younger: $16 for six years.
Texas identification card, age 60 and older: $6 for six years.

If you hold both a Texas driver’s license and a separate Texas ID card, DPS requires you to surrender one before it will process any renewal. You cannot keep both at the same time.

What Drivers 85 and Older Pay

Texas issues shorter licenses to the oldest drivers, and the fees drop to match. A Class C renewal for a driver 85 or older is $9 and covers two years. A CDL renewal for the same age group is $26, also for two years.¹

Drivers 79 and older cannot renew online or by mail. Every renewal in that age bracket has to happen in person at a DPS office.²

The $1 Difference Between Mail and Everything Else

The prices above include a $1 administrative fee that DPS applies to online and in-person transactions. Mail renewals do not carry that dollar, so your payment is $1 less than the listed amount. A Class C mail renewal, for instance, costs $32 rather than $33. The underlying statutory fees before the administrative add-on are set by Texas Transportation Code Section 521.421.³

Mail renewal is only available when DPS sends you a renewal invitation notice, so this small discount is not something you can simply opt into.

Replacements, Name Changes, and Address Updates

Replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged license costs $11, and your existing expiration date does not change. The same $11 fee covers a name or address update outside your normal renewal cycle.⁴

Free Renewal for Qualifying Disabled Veterans

Texas waives all driver’s license and ID card fees for veterans who meet three conditions: an honorable discharge, a service-connected disability rating of at least 60 percent, and current federal disability compensation. If you qualify, your renewal, replacement, and examination fees are fully waived.⁵

Does Upgrading to Real ID Cost More?

No. Upgrading to a Real ID-compliant license during your regular renewal does not add anything to the standard fee. What it adds is paperwork: original documents proving your identity (such as a birth certificate or passport), your Social Security number (the card or a W-2), and two proofs of Texas residency (utility bills, bank statements, or a lease). If your current license already shows a gold star in the upper right corner, it is already compliant and you do not need to bring those documents at renewal.⁶

Federal agencies began enforcing Real ID at airports and certain federal buildings in May 2025. A passport or another federally accepted document works in place of a compliant license.⁷

What Happens to the Cost if Your License Has Expired

You can still renew online or by phone if your license expired less than two years ago and you meet the other online eligibility rules.⁸ Past the two-year mark, you will likely need to visit a DPS office in person and may be treated as a new applicant, which means retaking the written and driving exams. Those examination steps can change what your renewal ends up costing in both time and additional fees.

Driving on an expired license is a traffic offense in Texas and can bring a citation and fine, so the $11 replacement option is worth it if your card is lost or damaged between renewal cycles.

Payment Methods DPS Accepts

Online and phone renewals require a credit card: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. In person, DPS accepts credit card, personal check, cashier’s check, money order, or cash. For mail renewals, send a check or money order made payable to the Texas Department of Public Safety, and include proof of auto insurance with the form.⁹

1
Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
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Department of Public Safety. Senior Drivers – Age 65 or Older
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State of Texas. Texas Code Transportation Code 521.421 – License Fees; Examination Fees
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Department of Public Safety. Section 4 – Lost or Stolen Driver License/ID Card
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Cornell Law School – Legal Information Institute. 37 Tex. Admin. Code 15.38 – Fee Exemption
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USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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Texas.gov. Online Services Eligibility for Texas Driver License and ID Cards
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Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID