If you need a St. Johns County driver’s license, every transaction — new license, renewal, replacement, name or address change — runs through the St. Johns County Tax Collector’s Office, which handles driver licensing on behalf of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The county has four service centers, the fees are set by state law, and the documents you bring matter more than anything else you do to prepare.
Where to Go
Four St. Johns County locations handle license applications, renewals, replacements, and ID cards:
- St. Augustine: 4030 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Dupont Center: 6658 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine, FL 32086
- Julington Creek: 725 Flora Branch Blvd., Julington Creek, FL 32259
- Ponte Vedra Beach: 151 Sawgrass Corners Drive, Suite 100, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
All four handle the same services.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. St. Johns County The office strongly encourages booking an appointment online before visiting, and road tests must be scheduled in advance. Check sjctax.us for current appointment availability and walk-in policies.2St. Johns County Tax Collector. St. Johns County Tax Collector
Documents You Must Bring
Florida law requires original documents — no photocopies — proving your identity, your Social Security number, and your residential address. Gathering these before your visit is the single best way to avoid a wasted trip.
For proof of identity, bring one of these:
- Certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate
- Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
- Certificate of naturalization
- Valid permanent resident card (green card)
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad or an employment authorization card also qualifies under Florida Statutes Section 322.08.3The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.08 – Application for License; Requirements for License and Identification Card Forms
For proof of your Social Security number, bring your Social Security card, a non-handwritten W-2, a pay stub showing your full SSN, or an SSA-1099 or other 1099.
For proof of residential address, you need two documents showing your St. Johns County address. One must be a primary household document: a deed, mortgage statement, property tax bill, or lease. The second can be a utility bill, bank statement, insurance document, or similar record dated within the last 60 days.4Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. FLHSMV Form 71120 – Certification of Address
Every name on your documents must match exactly. If your birth certificate says “Katherine” and your Social Security card says “Kate,” you’ll need legal documentation bridging the difference before the clerk can process your application.
Minors need a parent or legal guardian to sign FLHSMV Form 71142, with the signature notarized or witnessed by an examiner at the office.5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. HSMV 71142 – Parental Consent for a Driver Application of a Minor
REAL ID Compliance
Federal REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025. A standard Florida license without the gold star in the upper-right corner is no longer accepted for boarding domestic flights, entering federal buildings, or accessing military bases.6Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID If your current license doesn’t have the star, you have to visit an office in person with the identity, Social Security, and address documents listed above to upgrade.7Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. What to Bring Once you’ve provided REAL ID documents at any Florida office, you won’t need to bring them again unless your name or address changes.
First-Time Applicants: Courses and Exams
You don’t just show up and take a test. Applicants 18 and older must first complete a four-hour Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education (TLSAE) course, sometimes called the Drug and Alcohol course, available online from state-approved providers. Then you take the Class E knowledge exam in person at any Tax Collector office or FLHSMV location: 50 multiple-choice questions on traffic laws and road signs, with 40 correct (80%) required to pass.8Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Licensing Requirements for Teens, Graduated Driver License Laws and Driving Curfews Retakes cost $10 for the knowledge exam and $20 for the driving skills test.9The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.12 – Examination of Applicants
Teens ages 14 to 17 take a six-hour Driver Education Traffic Safety course instead of the TLSAE, and can take the knowledge exam online through state-authorized providers. The 50-question format and 80% threshold still apply.
At the office, the process starts with vision screening — bring your glasses or contacts if you wear them, since the examiner will note a corrective lens restriction. A hearing check is also part of the Class E exam. After vision and knowledge, you take the road skills test in a vehicle you provide. Applicants transferring a valid license from another state or a Canadian province can have the knowledge and skills tests waived, though the vision screening is still required.9The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.12 – Examination of Applicants
Once everything checks out, staff takes your photo, verifies your documents, and issues a temporary paper license. The permanent card arrives by mail within a few weeks. Keep the temporary with you when driving until the card shows up.
Fees
Florida Statutes Section 322.21 sets these amounts statewide:
- Original Class E license: $48
- Renewal: $48
- Replacement (lost or stolen): $25
- Original commercial driver license (CDL): $75
Renewing within 12 months after your license expires adds a $15 delinquent fee, bringing a standard renewal to $63.10The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.21 – License Fees; Procedure for Handling and Collecting Fees
The Tax Collector accepts cash, personal checks, and major credit cards. Credit card payments usually include a convenience fee from the payment processor. If you pay by check, bring matching photo ID.
Veterans with a 100% total and permanent service-connected disability rating are exempt from all driver’s license fees. Bring a VA identification card or a VA letter confirming your rating. Florida also offers a free veteran designation on licenses and ID cards for any honorably discharged veteran, regardless of disability status.10The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.21 – License Fees; Procedure for Handling and Collecting Fees
Renewing Your License
A standard Florida Class E license is valid for eight years. Drivers 80 or older receive a six-year license.11The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.18 – Original Applications, Renewals, and Expiration of Licenses
Florida allows online renewal every other cycle, so if you renewed online last time, your next renewal must be done in person. You also can’t renew online if your license isn’t REAL ID compliant, if you need a name change, or if you hold a commercial license.12Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Renew or Replace Your Florida Driver License or ID Card
Drivers 80 and older must pass a vision test with every renewal. Online renewal is still possible, but only if a licensed physician or optometrist submits your vision test results to FLHSMV electronically before you apply. Otherwise, you take the vision test at an office.13Florida Senate. Florida Code 322.18 – Original Applications, Renewals, and Expiration of Licenses
Don’t Let It Expire
Beyond the $15 delinquent fee, driving on an expired license is a traffic infraction if the license has been expired six months or less.14The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.065 – Driver License Expired for 6 Months or Less; Penalties Longer than that, the state can charge you under the broader “driving without a valid license” statute, which is a second-degree misdemeanor on a first offense, with fines up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail.15The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.03 – Drivers Must Be Licensed; Penalties
Updating Your Name or Address
Florida gives you 30 days to update your license after a legal name change or an address change. Missing that window is a nonmoving traffic violation with a fine.16The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.19 – Cancellation Upon Change of Name or Address
For a name change after marriage or divorce, update your Social Security card first, then wait 24 to 48 hours before visiting the Tax Collector’s office. Bring the original or certified copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order granting the name change. Church-issued marriage certificates are not accepted — only state-recognized certificates. Name changes have to be done in person; this is one transaction you can’t handle online.
Address changes are simpler and can often be completed online through FLHSMV’s GoRenew portal or in person at any St. Johns County office. Either way, a replacement license reflecting your new address costs $25.10The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.21 – License Fees; Procedure for Handling and Collecting Fees