The cost to renew your Texas ID card is $16 if you’re 59 or younger and $6 if you’re 60 or older. Both prices include a $1 administrative fee that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) waives when you renew by mail, so mail renewals run $15 or $5.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
Renewal Fees by Age
DPS uses a two-tier price:
- Age 59 and younger: $16
- Age 60 and older: $6
A renewed card is valid for up to six years, so the fee covers you for a while.2Department of Public Safety. Driver License
DPS offices take cash, checks, money orders, and major credit cards. Online and phone renewals require a credit card — Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.3Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas Driver License, Commercial Driver License, Motorcycle License, or ID
How the Renewal Method Changes the Price
The base fee is the same across methods, but two adjustments can move it.
Renewing by mail drops the $1 administrative fee, so you pay $15 (under 60) or $5 (60 and older). Mail renewal is only available if DPS sends you a renewal notice with instructions; not everyone receives one.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
Renewing online may add a small convenience fee on top of the $16 or $6.3Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas Driver License, Commercial Driver License, Motorcycle License, or ID
In-person and phone renewals cost the standard $16 or $6, with no discount and no convenience surcharge.
Is There a Free Texas ID?
There is no income-based fee waiver for the regular ID card. The reduced $6 price for people 60 and older is the closest thing to a discount that DPS offers on the standard card.1Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
Texas does issue one free photo ID, the Election Identification Certificate (EIC), but it’s only good for voting. To qualify you must be a U.S. citizen, eligible to vote in Texas, at least 17 years and 10 months old, and without an unexpired (or recently expired) Texas driver license, ID card, license to carry, U.S. passport, or U.S. military ID. You apply in person at a DPS office.4Department of Public Safety. Election Identification Certificate (EIC)
The EIC won’t work as everyday identification. If you need a regular Texas ID, the $16 or $6 fee applies.
When You Can’t Renew at the Renewal Price
You can renew at the standard fee if your ID either expires within the next two years or has been expired for less than two years, and if DPS already has your Social Security number on file and you’re a U.S. citizen.5Texas.gov. Online Services Eligibility for Texas Driver License and ID Cards
If your card has been expired for more than two years, you can’t renew. You’ll have to apply for a new ID from scratch, which changes what you pay and what documents you’ll need.
Some people must renew in person even if they qualify online: anyone 79 or older, and applicants under 18 with provisional credentials. Online and phone renewal also require that your last renewal was done in person at a DPS office.3Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas Driver License, Commercial Driver License, Motorcycle License, or ID The fee is the same, but it rules out the mail discount and any online convenience fee.
Does REAL ID Cost Extra?
No. If you’re renewing anyway, upgrading to a REAL ID-compliant card (the one with the gold star in the corner) adds nothing to the standard renewal fee. You just need to bring the required documents proving identity, date of birth, Social Security number, lawful status, and Texas residency.6Department of Public Safety. Federal REAL ID Act
Since May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant card is required to board domestic flights or enter secure federal buildings. If you don’t fly and don’t visit federal facilities, a standard Texas ID still works everywhere else, and the price is the same either way.6Department of Public Safety. Federal REAL ID Act
What to Have Ready to Pay
For online or phone renewal at $16 or $6, keep these at hand:
- Your most recent Texas ID card and its audit number, printed on the front near the photo or ID number
- The last four digits of your Social Security number
- A valid credit card
For an in-person visit, bring your payment method plus your identity documents and a completed DL-14A application form.7Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application Scheduling an appointment ahead of time cuts the wait considerably compared with a walk-in.
For a mail renewal at $15 or $5, follow the instructions on the renewal notice DPS sends you and include payment as directed.