Lost WV Driver’s License: Documents, Fees, and REAL ID

To replace a lost West Virginia driver’s license, apply either in person at a DMV regional office or online through the state’s “Skip the Trip” self-service portal, pay the $7.50 duplicate fee ($17.50 if you want a REAL ID–compliant card), and drive on the 60-day temporary permit the DMV issues while your new card is printed and mailed. Which route you choose matters: the in-person card arrives in 10 to 15 business days, while the online order takes 30 to 45 days.¹²

Apply in Person or Online

You can walk into any West Virginia DMV regional office with your documents and apply on the spot. The clerk reviews your paperwork, takes a new photograph if needed, and hands you a temporary permit before you leave. In-person is the only option if you want to update your name, address, or photo at the same time.¹ A list of locations is on the DMV website.³

If nothing on the card needs to change, the DMV’s “Skip the Trip” portal handles the request online. You’ll need your license number, last name, date of birth, the last four digits of your Social Security number, your current zip code, and your citizenship status. The system checks eligibility before letting you pay.¹

The DMV Now kiosks around the state handle renewals and vehicle registration, but they don’t process duplicate licenses.⁴

Documents You’ll Need

West Virginia issues two kinds of license: a standard card marked “Not for Federal Identification” and a REAL ID card marked “For Federal Identification.” Since May 7, 2025, the REAL ID version is the one required for domestic air travel and entry to federal facilities, so most people replacing a lost card will want it.⁵

For a Standard Duplicate

Bring one proof of identity and one proof of West Virginia residency showing your name and address. If your address has changed since your last license was issued, bring two residency documents instead of one.²

For a REAL ID Duplicate

The REAL ID version takes more paperwork:²

One proof of identity, such as a certified birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport.
One proof of Social Security number: your Social Security card, an original W-2 showing your full SSN and employer ID, or a 1099 showing your full SSN.
Two proofs of West Virginia residency, each showing your name and physical street address. Utility bills must be no more than 60 days old, and the two documents cannot come from the same company. Vehicle registration, mortgage or lease documents, and bank statements are also on the DMV’s accepted list.
Proof of any legal name change, if your current name differs from your identity document.

What It Costs

The statutory fee for a duplicate West Virginia driver’s license is $7.50.⁶ A REAL ID–compliant card adds a $10.00 central-issuance processing and shipping charge, for a total of $17.50.²

Driving While You Wait

Once your application is accepted, the DMV issues a paper temporary permit that serves as your license while the permanent card is printed and mailed. It’s valid for 60 days, which covers you even if you ordered online and the card takes the full 30 to 45 days.² Keep the temporary permit with you every time you drive, and shred it once the plastic card arrives.

If You Need to Fly Before the Card Arrives

The paper temporary license is not accepted by the TSA at airport security checkpoints.⁷ With REAL ID enforcement in effect, you’ll need a REAL ID–compliant license, a valid U.S. passport, a military ID, or another document on the TSA’s accepted list to board a domestic flight.⁵ A passport is the safest backup when your license is in the mail.

Starting February 1, 2026, the TSA will offer a $45 identity-verification service called ConfirmID at the checkpoint for travelers without acceptable ID. If verification succeeds you continue through screening; if it fails you won’t be allowed past.⁸

West Virginia also offers a digital Mobile ID that lives in a smartphone app or in Apple Wallet or Samsung Wallet, secured by Face ID or Touch ID. The digital credential stays valid even when the physical card is lost, which makes it a useful backup if you set it up ahead of time, though acceptance varies and the TSA does not universally recognize mobile credentials.⁹

If You Think Your License Was Stolen

A stolen license carries your name, date of birth, address, and license number, which is enough for someone to open credit in your name. The West Virginia Attorney General’s office recommends placing a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting any one of the three major credit reporting companies; the bureau you call is required to notify the other two.¹⁰

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

Watch your bank and credit card statements for unfamiliar charges, and order free copies of your credit reports to look for accounts you didn’t open. If you file an identity theft report with law enforcement, you qualify for an extended fraud alert lasting seven years, which also removes your name from prescreened credit offer lists for five years.¹⁰

A credit freeze goes further. It blocks new creditors from pulling your file at all, making it very hard for anyone to open accounts in your name. You’ll need to contact each bureau separately and keep the PIN or password each one issues so you can lift the freeze later when you apply for credit yourself.

1
West Virginia Department of Transportation. Driver License Duplicate
2
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s Licenses and ID Cards
3
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. Regional Offices
4
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. WV DMV Now Kiosk
5
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
6
West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 17B-2-11 – Duplicate Permits and Licenses
7
Transportation Security Administration. Temporary Driver’s License Identification
8
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
9
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. Mobile ID
10
West Virginia Attorney General. Identity Theft Protection and Prevention