To transfer your driver’s license to Alabama, visit an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Driver License Examining Office in person within 30 days of establishing residency, bring proof of identity, your Social Security card, and two proofs of Alabama residency, and pay $41.25. If your out-of-state license is still valid, you’ll only take a vision screening, and you’ll walk out with a temporary paper license the same day.
The 30-Day Deadline
Alabama law gives new residents 30 days after establishing residency to get an Alabama driver’s license.1Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Driver License Information Your valid out-of-state license works during that window. After day 30, you’re driving without a valid license and can be cited. There’s no grace period and no extension, so it’s worth handling early in the move.
What to Bring
ALEA requires four categories of documentation. Missing anything means a wasted trip.
- Your valid out-of-state license. It must not have been expired for more than one year.
- Proof of identity and legal presence: a certified U.S. birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport.2Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 760-X-1-.20 – Proof of Identity, Authorized Presence
- Your original Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration.
- Two proofs of Alabama residency, each showing your full name and physical Alabama address. Utility bills less than 90 days old (water, gas, or electric), a current lease or rental agreement, a residential mortgage contract, vehicle registration showing your Alabama address, the previous year’s tax return, and a voter registration card all qualify.3Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements And Fees
Every document must be an original or a copy certified by the issuing agency.2Alabama Administrative Code. Alabama Administrative Code 760-X-1-.20 – Proof of Identity, Authorized Presence Phone photos won’t be accepted. Names must match exactly across every document; if yours has changed through marriage, divorce, or a court order, bring the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or name-change order to bridge the names.3Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Document Requirements And Fees Non-citizens must present immigration documents establishing authorized presence, which ALEA verifies through the federal SAVE system.
Fees and Payment
The total is $41.25, broken into a $5 transfer fee and a $36.25 issuance fee. ALEA offices accept cash, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Personal checks are not accepted, and credit card payments carry an additional 4% convenience fee.4Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. License and ID Cards Cash or a money order avoids the surcharge.
Testing: Just a Vision Screening in Most Cases
If your out-of-state license is still valid, or has been expired for less than a year, Alabama waives both the written knowledge exam and the road skills test. You only need to pass a basic vision screening at the office.1Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Driver License Information If you don’t pass, you’ll need to see an eye doctor and return with corrected vision or a completed vision form.
What Happens at the ALEA Office
Transfers are done in person at an ALEA Driver License Examining Office, not at a county courthouse and not online. ALEA offers online appointment scheduling, which saves substantial time over walking in.5Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Schedule a Driver License Appointment
The examiner reviews your documents, verifies everything matches, and then takes your out-of-state license. Surrender is required: Alabama won’t issue a new license while you hold active driving privileges in another state. You’ll do the vision screening, provide a digital signature, and have your photo taken. After payment, you leave with a temporary paper license that’s valid for driving immediately. Keep it in your vehicle. The permanent plastic card is mailed to your Alabama address and takes roughly 30 days to arrive. If it hasn’t shown up after four weeks, contact the ALEA Driver License Division to track it.
If Your Out-of-State License Expired More Than a Year Ago
The streamlined process only applies if your out-of-state license is still valid or has been expired for less than one year. Beyond that, you’ll take the written knowledge test and the road skills test in addition to the vision screening.1Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Driver License Information If yours is close to expiring, transfer sooner to avoid the extra tests.
Commercial Driver’s Licenses
CDL holders have added requirements. ALEA queries the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) database to verify your medical certification when you transfer. If the certification is missing, expired, or inaccurate, your CDL will not be issued until it’s fixed.6Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. CDL Frequently Asked Questions You’ll also self-certify the type of commercial driving you do. Drivers classified as Non-Excepted Interstate or Non-Excepted Intrastate must keep a valid medical examiner’s certificate from a provider on the FMCSA National Registry; letting it lapse downgrades your CDL to a standard Class D. Confirm your examiner has submitted your information to FMCSA before you visit, because that gap can’t be closed from the waiting room.
STAR ID: A Decision to Make While You’re There
Federal REAL ID enforcement took effect May 7, 2025. A standard Alabama license won’t get you through TSA security for a domestic flight or into certain federal facilities unless you also carry a valid U.S. passport.7Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Alabama’s REAL ID-compliant credential is the STAR ID. Non-STAR licenses issued after April 2022 are printed with “Not for Federal Identification” across the top.8Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Star ID
You can request a STAR ID during your transfer at the same $41.25 fee. It requires slightly more documentation, including verification of your Social Security number, but most of that overlaps with what you’re already bringing.9Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. STAR ID Document List If you ever fly domestically and don’t want to carry your passport, adding the STAR ID upfront is cheaper than paying for a duplicate license later.
Vehicle Registration Is a Separate Errand
Transferring your license doesn’t register your car. Alabama also requires new residents to register their vehicle within 30 days of bringing it into the state, and that’s handled through your county licensing official, not ALEA.10Alabama Department of Revenue. I Just Acquired a Vehicle. How Many Days Do I Have to Title and Register This Vehicle? Before you can register, you need Alabama liability insurance in place. The state minimum is 25/50/25: $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.11Alabama Department of Insurance. Automobile Insurance FAQs You’ll apply for an Alabama certificate of title, register the vehicle, and pay the associated fees and ad valorem taxes. Set up your Alabama policy before either visit so nothing stalls at the counter.