To update the address on your Texas driver’s license, you have 30 days from the day you move to notify the Department of Public Safety and get a replacement card showing the new address.1State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.054 – Notice of Change of Address or Name Most drivers can do it online in a few minutes for $11, and the new card arrives in the mail within two to three weeks.2Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
What to Have Ready Before You Start
Any of the three methods asks for the same core information. Pull these together first:
- Your eight-digit driver license number from the front of the card.
- The audit number, a longer string (usually 11 to 20 digits) printed on the card. It is easy to miss because it does not sit with the other large numbers on the face; look along the right edge or near the bottom.
- Your Social Security number.
- Your new Texas street address. A P.O. box will not work.
The audit number is what proves you physically hold the most recent card, so finding it before you sit down saves a hunt mid-application.
Updating Online
Online is the fastest option and covers more license types than people assume. DPS allows online address changes for regular driver licenses, commercial driver licenses, ID cards, and motorcycle licenses.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License You qualify if you are at least 18, your card is not expired, and you do not hold a provisional or learner permit. If your card is expired, you can still change the address online by renewing at the same time.4Texas.gov. Online Services Eligibility for Texas Driver License and ID Cards
Go to the Texas DPS Driver License Services portal, enter your license number, audit number, and Social Security number, confirm the new address, and pay the $11 fee by credit card.2Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees You can print a temporary receipt immediately.
Updating by Mail
Mail eligibility is narrower. You must hold a non-commercial license (Class C, CM, or Class A or B non-CDL), be at least 18, have a valid license that is not suspended or revoked, and be a U.S. citizen.5Department of Public Safety. How to Change Information on Your Driver License or ID Card CDL holders cannot change an address by mail.
Download Form DL-64, Application for Change of Address or Replacement, from the DPS website and fill in your old address, new address, license number, and signature.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Application for Change of Address or Replacement Send the form with the $11 fee by check or money order (do not mail cash) to:
Texas Department of Public Safety
PO Box 149008
Austin, TX 78714-90086Texas Department of Public Safety. Application for Change of Address or Replacement
Updating in Person
Visit a DPS driver license office if you do not qualify for online or mail service, or if your license is suspended or revoked and needs reinstatement. Offices run by appointment only; book one through the DPS website before you go. If you arrive without an appointment, a lobby self-service kiosk may let you grab a same-day slot if one is open, or book a later one.7Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments
Bring your current license and the $11 fee. DPS offices accept credit cards, checks, money orders, and cash.2Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees The staff processes the change on the spot and gives you a paper receipt to carry until the new card arrives.
If You Hold a CDL
CDL holders use the same online portal as regular license holders for an address change.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License If you prefer not to use the online option, you must go in person. Mail is not available.5Department of Public Safety. How to Change Information on Your Driver License or ID Card A CDL replacement must still carry a Texas address, even if you are currently out of state.8Department of Public Safety. Renew or Replacing Your DL or ID While You Are Out-of-State
What Happens If You Miss the 30 Days
The 30-day clock starts the day you move in. Driving with an outdated address is a citable offense, and officers do check during routine stops. A court can dismiss the charge if you fix the address within 20 working days of the citation and pay a reimbursement fee of no more than $20, and the court can waive that fee when circumstances justify it.
The citation is only part of the problem. An old address also means missed vehicle registration notices, delayed jury summonses, and insurance mail that never reaches you.
Getting Your New Card
Whichever method you use, you walk away (or print off) a temporary paper receipt. Carry it with your old plastic card until the new one shows up; together they serve as valid identification. The permanent card is printed centrally and mailed to your new address, usually within two to three weeks.9Department of Public Safety. Where’s My Driver License or ID Card You can check production and shipping status on the DPS tracking tool using your license number and date of birth.10Texas Department of Public Safety. DL Status Search
One trap worth knowing: DPS marks outgoing license mail “Do Not Forward.” If USPS has a forwarding order on your old address, the new card will be returned to DPS instead of following you. Submit the change before or right after your move, not at the end of the 30-day window.
What Does Not Update at the Same Time
Updating your license does not update your vehicle registration. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles keeps those records separately, and if you skip this step, your annual renewal notice goes to the old address and your tags can lapse without warning. You can change the registration address online at TxDMV.gov or by sending Form VTR-146, Change of Address for Texas Motor Vehicle, to the Vehicle Titles and Registration Division.11Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Change of Address for Texas Motor Vehicle There is no fee, and it takes about five extra minutes.
Your voter registration, on the other hand, does move automatically. Under the National Voter Registration Act, an address change submitted through a state motor vehicle office also updates your voter record unless you specifically opt out, whether you file online, by mail, or in person.12Department of Justice. The National Voter Registration Act Of 1993 (NVRA) If you do not want your registration moved, you have to say so on the form.
Real ID and Your Address Change
Real ID enforcement began in May 2025, so you now need a Real ID-compliant license (or another accepted document like a passport) to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.13Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID If your card already carries the gold star, a straightforward online or mail-in address change keeps that status. You do not need to re-prove identity or bring residency documents.
If your license is not yet Real ID-compliant and you want to upgrade while you change the address, you will need to visit a DPS office in person with original identity and residency documents. Handling both at the same appointment is efficient, but plan for the extra paperwork.