To get a replacement driver’s license in Alabama, you have three options: apply through ALEA’s online portal at alabamainteractive.org, visit an ALEA Driver License office or a county probate or license commissioner’s office in person, or mail in a DL-100 application if you qualify as out of state. The fee runs roughly $31 to $33, and your permanent card arrives by mail within a few weeks.
What You Need to Apply
Alabama requires you to verify your identity, your Social Security number, and your Alabama residency. Photocopies are not accepted for identity documents; bring originals.
For identity, bring one of the following:
- A certified birth certificate issued by a state Bureau of Vital Statistics
- A valid, unexpired U.S. passport
- An unexpired permanent resident card (Form I-551) issued by the Department of Homeland Security
For your Social Security number, bring your Social Security card or another document displaying the full number, such as a W-2 from the current or previous year or a DD-214 military separation form.
For residency, bring two documents showing your current Alabama address. ALEA accepts utility bills less than 90 days old, a current lease or rental agreement, a residential mortgage contract, vehicle registration, and voter registration cards, among others. Both documents must show the same current address.1Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements and Fees
The duplicate fee ranges from about $31 to $33 depending on whether you apply at an ALEA office, a probate office, or a license commissioner’s office, since some counties add a small local surcharge. Call your local office first: some locations accept only cash or local checks and won’t take out-of-county checks or credit cards.
Applying Online
ALEA’s online portal is the fastest route for a straightforward duplicate. You can request a replacement for a standard driver’s license, a non-driver ID, or a STAR ID through the same system.2Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. ALEA’s Online Driver License Renewal a Useful Tool You enter your personal details, confirm eligibility, and pay by credit or debit card. If everything matches what ALEA has on file, your permanent card ships to the address on your record.
Not everyone qualifies for the online option. If your license has been expired for a long time, you need to change your name or address, or you’re applying for a first-time STAR ID, you’ll need to visit an office in person. The online system only handles direct replacements where nothing on your record needs updating.
Applying In Person
Three types of offices handle replacement licenses: ALEA Driver License examining offices, county probate offices, and county license commissioner’s offices. Probate and license commissioner offices process renewals and standard duplicates, but they typically cannot handle first-time STAR ID issuances, out-of-state transfers, reinstatements, or endorsement changes. Those go through ALEA offices only.3Baldwin County Commission. Drivers License
ALEA offices let you schedule an appointment online before your visit, which can save a significant wait.4Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Online Services County offices may also offer appointments. Bring your identity, Social Security, and residency documents. Staff will take a new photo, verify your paperwork, collect payment, and hand you a temporary paper license before you leave.
Applying by Mail
Mail-in replacement is reserved for people who genuinely cannot visit an Alabama office. You qualify if you fall into one of these categories and can supply supporting documentation:
- Active-duty military members and dependents stationed out of state, with copies of orders and military photo ID
- Full-time students attending school out of state, with current enrollment verification
- Employees on temporary out-of-state assignment, with a letter on company letterhead (offer letters don’t count)
- Missionaries, with a letter on church or sponsor letterhead
- People medically unable to travel or caring for an out-of-state relative, with a letter on the doctor’s letterhead or notepad
You must also have obtained an Alabama license with your photo and signature within the last four years.5Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Application for Renewal or Duplicate of Alabama Driver License or ID Card
Download the DL-100 form from ALEA’s website, fill it out completely, and mail it with photocopies (not originals) of your supporting documents and payment. ALEA accepts only money orders or cashier’s checks made payable to “ALEA Driver License Division.” No cash, no personal checks. Send everything to:
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Driver License Division
PO Box 1471
Montgomery, AL 36102
If ALEA determines you don’t qualify or your application is incomplete, they’ll return the entire package, payment included. Mail applications take longer than the other two methods, so plan accordingly.
If Your License Was Stolen
A stolen license puts your personal information in someone else’s hands. File a police report with your local police department or sheriff’s office, even though Alabama doesn’t make it a strict legal requirement for the replacement application itself. Having that report on file gives you documentation if someone later uses your identity, and some licensing offices may ask about it during the application process. Beyond the police report, the replacement steps are identical to a lost or damaged card.
Your Temporary Paper License and the Permanent Card
When you replace your license in person, the office hands you a temporary paper license before you walk out. It’s valid for 30 days and serves as legal proof of your driving privilege while ALEA produces and mails your permanent card. Keep it with you whenever you drive.
The permanent card ships to the address ALEA has on file, so if you’ve moved, update your address during the replacement process. If you applied online, you won’t receive a temporary paper license, so hold onto any expired card or other ID while you wait.
One thing the temporary paper license will not do: get you through airport security. TSA does not accept temporary driver’s licenses at the checkpoint.6Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you have a flight before your permanent card arrives, bring your passport or another federally accepted ID. Without one, you’ll face a $45 TSA ConfirmID fee.
Driving While You Wait
Alabama law requires every licensed driver to carry their license and display it on request from law enforcement.7Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-6-9 – Possession and Display of License If you’re pulled over without it, you can be cited. The charge is dismissible: if you later produce a valid license at the arresting officer’s office or in court, the conviction goes away. Still, the citation itself is an avoidable hassle. Apply promptly and carry your temporary paper license every time you drive until the permanent card arrives.
Should You Upgrade to a STAR ID at the Same Time?
If you’ve been putting off Alabama’s STAR ID, replacing a lost license is a natural time to add it. Federal REAL ID enforcement took effect in May 2025, meaning you need a STAR ID or another federally accepted document like a passport to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.8Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
Upgrading requires four documents: proof of identity and date of birth, Social Security number, and two documents establishing your principal residence. If your name has changed since the identity document was issued, bring certified proof, such as a marriage certificate or court order.9Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. STAR ID Document List
Important limitation: you cannot add a STAR ID by mail. First-time STAR ID issuance requires an in-person visit to an ALEA Driver License office, a county probate office, or a license commissioner’s office.5Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Application for Renewal or Duplicate of Alabama Driver License or ID Card If you already have a STAR ID and just need a duplicate, the online and county office options remain open.
Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens
If you aren’t a U.S. citizen, you’ll need additional immigration documents beyond the standard list. Bring a valid foreign passport with an acceptable visa or a resident alien card, plus a document authorizing your presence in the United States for more than 30 days. Acceptable authorization documents include:
- An employment authorization document with a valid Social Security card
- A valid visa with supporting documents authorizing presence exceeding 30 days
- A valid I-94 arrival/departure record from the Department of Homeland Security
- An original I-797 notice of action showing approval of a status change or extension of stay
If you don’t have a Social Security number, bring a letter from the Social Security Administration confirming your non-eligibility.1Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements and Fees If you’re applying by mail, include front and back photocopies of all authorized-presence documents. ALEA processes foreign national applications through the federal SAVE verification system, which may add processing time.