To get a state ID in Alabama, you visit an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) examining office in person, bring documents proving your identity, Social Security number, and Alabama address, and pay $36.25 plus a one-time $5 examination fee if it’s your first card. Any Alabama resident who doesn’t currently hold a valid driver’s license can apply, at any age. Before you go, decide whether you want a standard ID or the REAL ID-compliant Star ID, because the Star ID has stricter document rules and can only be issued the first time at an ALEA office.
Who Qualifies
You need to live in Alabama, be able to show legal presence in the United States, and not hold a valid Alabama driver’s license.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 32-6-4 State law does not let you hold both a license and a non-driver ID, so if you currently have a license, you’d have to surrender it. There’s no minimum age, though a minor needs a parent or guardian involved.
What to Bring
ALEA works from a layered document list, and you’ll need items from several categories.2ALEA. License and ID Cards
- One primary document proving your name and date of birth. A certified U.S. birth certificate or an unexpired U.S. passport is the usual choice.
- Your original Social Security card. Photocopies are not accepted.
- A third form of ID if your primary document has no photo. This comes from ALEA’s primary or secondary lists and includes items like a certified marriage certificate or official school records.
- Two separate proofs of your Alabama address, dated within the last 90 days. Utility bills, a lease, or a voter registration card all work, as long as the address is current.3Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 32-6-4.1
Every document has to be an original or a certified copy. Photocopies get rejected on the spot.
You’ll also complete Form DL-1, ALEA’s standard application, which asks for your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Giving false information on that form is a criminal offense.
Standard ID or Star ID
Alabama issues two versions of the non-driver ID. The standard card works for everyday identification. The Star ID is Alabama’s REAL ID-compliant version, and it’s the one accepted for boarding domestic flights and entering certain federal facilities.4ALEA. Star ID Since May 7, 2025, travelers 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant document or another federally accepted ID such as a passport to fly domestically.5Transportation Security Administration – TSA.gov. About REAL ID
If you might ever board a plane or enter a federal building on your state ID, get the Star ID. The Star ID document requirements are similar to the standard ID but organized into four verification categories:6ALEA. Star ID Document List
- Identity and date of birth: one document, such as a valid U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate from a state vital statistics office.
- Social Security number: one document showing your full SSN, like your Social Security card or a W-2 from the current or previous year.
- Alabama address: two documents, such as a utility bill less than 90 days old or a voter registration card.
Photocopies aren’t accepted for a Star ID application. One practical point worth planning around: the first-issue Star ID can only be done at an ALEA Driver License examining office, not at a county-operated license office. County offices handle Star ID renewals and duplicates once you’ve been issued one.
Cost and Payment
A non-driver ID card costs $36.25. First-time applicants pay an added $5 document examination fee, so your first card totals $41.25. Renewals go back to $36.25 because the examination fee is one-time only.2ALEA. License and ID Cards
If you’re 62 or older, the fee drops to $5.50, and the card doesn’t expire.7Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-6-4.2
ALEA offices accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Credit and debit card payments carry a 4% convenience fee. Personal checks aren’t accepted.
The In-Person Visit
You have to appear at an ALEA Driver License examining office. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can also schedule an appointment through ALEA’s online portal, which usually cuts the wait considerably during busy hours.8ALEA. Schedule a Driver License Appointment
At the counter, an examiner reviews your Form DL-1 and documents, then takes your photo, an electronic signature, and a thumbprint. You pay, and you leave with a paper receipt that works as valid identification until your plastic card arrives.
The permanent card comes by mail, generally within about 30 days. Check that your mailing address is correct before you leave, because a wrong address means a lost card and a duplicate request.
Applying for a Child
A minor of any age can get an Alabama non-driver ID, but a parent or legal guardian has to sign an ALEA verification form. A grandparent can sign with the parent’s consent.9Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 32-6-7.2 The adult signing should bring their own government-issued photo ID. The minor still needs the same identity and residency documents an adult brings.
Renewals and Replacements
A standard non-driver ID is valid for eight years if you’re under 62. You can renew up to 180 days before it expires. If you’ve been issued an Alabama photo ID or license within the last four years, you can renew by mail using Form DL-100 sent to ALEA’s Driver License Division in Montgomery.10ALEA. Application for Renewal or Duplicate of Alabama Driver License or Non-Driver ID If it’s been longer than four years, or your photo needs updating, you’ll have to go in person.
For a lost or stolen card, you can request a duplicate by mail or in person at an ALEA or county license office. The replacement fee is $36.25, or $5.50 if you’re 62 or older.
If You Only Need ID to Vote
If your only reason for wanting a state ID is to vote, Alabama offers a free photo voter ID card through the Secretary of State’s office. To qualify, you have to be a registered Alabama voter without any other form of photo ID that’s accepted at the polls.11Alabama Secretary of State. How to Get a Free Photo Voter ID Card The card is valid only for voting. It won’t work at a bank, at airport security, or anywhere else a standard state ID is expected.