Vermont Driver’s License Renewal: Requirements, Fees, and Methods

A Vermont driver’s license renewal can be done up to six months before your license expires on the eve of your birthday, and you have three ways to do it: online, by mail, or in person at a DMV office. A standard Class D renewal costs $39 for two years or $62 for four years, and most drivers who don’t need a new photo or a credential change can finish the whole thing online in a few minutes.¹

When Your License Expires and How Long You Have

Vermont licenses expire on the eve of your birthday, every two or four years depending on the term you chose last time. Whenever you renew, the new license starts on your next birthday and runs for the full two or four years from there, so renewing early doesn’t shorten the term.² The DMV sends a renewal notice by mail or email at least 30 days ahead, so keep your address current.

If you renew with full years still remaining on your current license, those years are credited toward the new fee (rounded down to whole years).¹

Standard Class D holders get a 14-day grace period after expiration during which it’s still legal to drive. Commercial license holders (CDL A, B, or C) get no grace period at all: the moment the license expires, it’s invalid.³

If you let a license lapse well past the grace period, you may have to retake the vision screening and possibly the knowledge and road exams before the DMV will reissue. The DMV doesn’t publish a specific cutoff for when retesting kicks in, so if yours has been expired more than a few months, call before you go.

How to Renew

Three options, and your eligibility depends mostly on your photo age and license type.

Online

Online is the fastest route, but your current photo has to stay valid for the entire length of the new term. DMV photos are good for up to nine years from the date taken. If that window would run out before your new license does, the online option isn’t open to you and you’ll need to come in for a new photo.¹ CDL holders can’t renew online, and the online system also won’t let you change endorsements, remove restrictions, or upgrade a standard license to an Enhanced Driver’s License.

Online renewal does not produce a temporary license. You’ll get a printable confirmation receipt, but that receipt is not valid as proof of driving privileges or ID. The permanent card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days, so time your submission to leave your current card valid in the meantime.¹

By Mail

Mail-in follows the same photo-validity rule as online. Send your renewal notice or a completed Form VL-021 with a check or money order to the Vermont DMV at 120 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05603-0001.⁴ If you’re temporarily living out of state, you can list a special mailing address on the form so the new card follows you.¹

In Person

In-person renewal is required if your photo needs refreshing, you’re switching credential types, or you hold a CDL. Appointments are recommended for most services and required for exams; schedule through mydmv.vermont.gov or by calling 888-970-0357.⁵ The upside of going in: you walk out with a temporary paper license that covers you until the permanent card arrives in 7 to 10 business days.¹

Renewal Fees

Standard driver’s license, 2 years: $39.00
Standard driver’s license, 4 years: $62.00
Enhanced Driver’s License, 2 years: $75.00
Enhanced Driver’s License, 4 years: $98.00

Real ID and non-Real ID standard licenses cost the same; there is no extra charge for Real ID.⁶ If you renew early with time left on your current license, full years remaining are credited toward the new fee.

What You Need to Bring

For a straight renewal with no changes, paperwork is minimal: the renewal notice or a completed Form VL-021 and your payment.⁷ Form VL-021 covers both new licenses and renewals; you check the renewal box and sign under penalty of perjury, so the information needs to be accurate.⁸

If you’re getting a Real ID for the first time, or updating documents on an existing one, federal rules require the DMV to verify original or certified documents in four categories: identity and date of birth, Social Security information, Vermont residency and current address, and lawful status in the United States.⁹ A valid unexpired passport or a birth certificate works for identity, and you’ll need documentation of your Social Security number.¹⁰ For residency, the DMV publishes a separate list of accepted documents (utility bills, tax records, and the like); check it before you go.

For a standard (non-Real ID) renewal with nothing changing, the document checks are less strict, though the DMV can still ask for originals in some situations.

Changing Your Name at Renewal

A name change can’t be handled through a routine online or mail renewal. You have to come in with a completed Name/Address Change Form (VL-040) and an original or certified copy of the legal document that establishes the new name: a marriage certificate, civil union certificate, divorce decree, or court order.¹¹

Church or chapel certificates are not accepted. Marriage certificates must come from a state office of vital statistics with a certified seal, and court orders must show both your prior and new legal names. If your license is Real ID-compliant, the DMV verifies the change through the Social Security Administration’s online system, so update your name with the SSA first.¹¹

Commercial Driver’s License Renewal

CDL renewal is stricter. You must renew in person; online and mail aren’t options for CDL classes A, B, or C. There’s no grace period, so plan ahead.¹ Federal rules also require CDL holders to self-certify their type of commercial driving on Form VL-033.¹²

If you carry a Hazardous Materials Endorsement, the renewal includes a federal security threat assessment, FBI fingerprint check, and criminal history background check under the USA Patriot Act. Complete the threat assessment at universalenroll.dhs.gov at least two weeks before your DMV appointment, and expect to retake the hazmat knowledge test. If you don’t pass that test, you can still renew the CDL itself without the endorsement.¹³

Enhanced Driver’s License

Vermont is one of a handful of states that issues an Enhanced Driver’s License, which is Real ID-compliant and also works as a travel document for re-entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean countries by land or sea. It is not accepted for flights.

Getting an EDL for the first time means an in-person visit with all the Real ID documents plus proof of U.S. citizenship: a U.S.-issued birth certificate, unexpired passport, Certificate of Citizenship, or Certificate of Naturalization.¹⁴ You can’t upgrade from a standard license or Real ID to an EDL online. The EDL runs $75 for two years or $98 for four years.⁶

If You’re on Active Duty

Vermont automatically extends a driver’s license up to four years past its normal expiration for active-duty service members. You don’t need to do anything while deployed. After discharge, you have 30 days to renew, and you’ll need to bring proof of continuous active service since the expiration date: either a statement on Armed Forces letterhead signed by a commissioned officer other than yourself, or a copy of your discharge papers.¹⁵

What Happens if You Drive on an Expired License

Once the 14-day grace period runs out for a standard Class D license, driving on an expired license violates 23 V.S.A. § 601. A first offense is a traffic violation. A second offense within two years is a criminal charge carrying up to 60 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.² The step from a ticket to possible jail time is sharp, which is reason enough to put the renewal on the calendar well before your birthday.

1
Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License, Renewal
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Vermont General Assembly. Vermont Code 23 VSA 601 – License Required
3
Department of Motor Vehicles. Is There a Grace Period for Renewing a Driver’s License
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Department of Motor Vehicles. What Is the Mailing Address for DMV
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Department of Motor Vehicles. Locations
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Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License Fees
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Department of Motor Vehicles. License/Permit Application
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Department of Motor Vehicles. Application for License/Permit VL-021
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Department of Motor Vehicles. Real ID
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Department of Motor Vehicles. Identity Documents
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Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License, Name Change
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Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles. CDL Medical Certification
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Department of Motor Vehicles. HazMat Endorsements
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Department of Motor Vehicles. Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL)
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Department of Motor Vehicles. Military Veterans