To renew your driver’s license in Texas, you need proof of identity, one document proving U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, two documents showing your Texas residential address, your Social Security number on file with DPS, and the renewal fee, which is $33 for most adults.1Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID If you’re renewing online or by phone, you won’t physically present those documents because DPS already has them from your last in-person visit; you’ll just confirm the last four digits of your SSN and pay by credit card.
Gather everything before you start. The most common reason people get turned away at a DPS office is a missing document.
The Four Things DPS Requires
Proof of Identity
Your current or recently expired Texas driver’s license is enough. If you don’t have it, a valid U.S. passport or passport card works.2Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence
If DPS hasn’t verified this on a prior transaction, bring one document that proves it. U.S. citizens can use an unexpired passport or an original or certified birth certificate. Lawful permanent residents can use a valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551).3Department of Public Safety. U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence Requirement If your citizenship has already been verified, you don’t need to bring anything new for this category.
Two Documents Showing Your Texas Address
Both must be printed and show your name and residential address. Common examples include a current deed, mortgage statement, residential lease, or a utility bill dated within 180 days of your application.4Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards
Social Security Number
Your SSN must be on file with DPS. If it isn’t, bring your Social Security card.1Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID
When You Can Skip the Documents
Online and phone renewals don’t require you to present these documents in person. DPS has them from your last in-person visit and verifies eligibility electronically. To use the remote options, you must be 78 or younger, hold a Class C, M, or CM license (or a CDL without a hazmat endorsement), and have completed your last renewal in person.5Texas.gov. Texas Driver License and ID Cards Online Services Eligibility Suspended, revoked, or canceled licenses are not eligible, and neither are licenses with outstanding warrants or unpaid traffic tickets.6Department of Public Safety. Section 1 – Applying for or Renewing a Driver License, Identification Card, or Commercial Driver License
If you renew online or by phone, you’ll need your current license number, the last four digits of your SSN, and a credit card. A trip to the DPS office is required if you’re 79 or older, under 18, need citizenship verified for the first time, or otherwise don’t qualify for remote renewal.7Department of Public Safety. Senior Drivers – Age 65 or Older – Section: Senior Drivers – Age 79 or Older Schedule an appointment through the DPS website before going; walk-in waits can be long. In-person renewals also include a vision screening (20/40 or better in each eye for an unrestricted license, correctable to 20/50 with glasses for a restricted one), so bring your glasses or contacts if you use them.8Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Admin Code 15.51 – Vision Tests
Does REAL ID Change What You Need?
As of May 7, 2025, TSA requires a REAL ID-compliant license or an acceptable alternative such as a passport to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings.9Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025 Texas issues REAL ID-compliant cards on renewal when DPS already has your citizenship and identity documents on file.10Texas.gov. Texas REAL ID A compliant card has a gold star in the upper-right corner.
If your citizenship has not been verified on a prior transaction, you’ll need to renew in person with the documents listed above, even if you’d otherwise qualify for online renewal.6Department of Public Safety. Section 1 – Applying for or Renewing a Driver License, Identification Card, or Commercial Driver License If you don’t need REAL ID for flying (because you carry a passport) and you only use your license for driving, none of this changes what you have to bring.11Transportation Security Administration. Are You REAL ID Ready?
Fees and How Long Your License Lasts
- Ages 18 to 84: $33, valid for eight years.
- Age 85 and older: $9, valid for two years.
- Under 18 (provisional): $16, expiring on the holder’s 18th birthday.12Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
Non-citizens who are lawful permanent residents receive licenses valid for up to eight years. Those with temporary lawful status get a license tied to their authorized stay or six years, whichever is shorter.13State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code Chapter 521 – Section: 521.271 Mail renewals have the $1 administrative fee waived.12Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
When You Can Renew
You can renew a standard license up to two years before it expires or within two years after. If your license has been expired for more than two years, DPS treats you as a new applicant, and you’ll have to start over with the full application, knowledge test, and driving exam.1Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID A commercial driver’s license has a narrower window: only one year before expiration, and DPS must have a current medical examiner’s certificate on file.14Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Medical A CDL with a hazmat endorsement must be renewed in person.
If Your Name Has Changed
A legal name change requires an in-person visit within 30 days. Bring the original or certified copy of the document that made the change: a marriage license, divorce decree, or annulment order for marriage-related changes, or a certified court order or amended birth certificate otherwise.15Department of Public Safety. How to Change Information on Your Driver License or ID Card You can combine the name change with your renewal in a single visit.
Military Members and Veterans
Active-duty military personnel stationed outside Texas and veterans discharged within the last 90 days with an expired out-of-state license may be exempt from the written and skills tests when applying for a Texas license, provided they present a valid military ID.16Department of Public Safety. Driver License and Identification Services for Veterans Texas also generally extends the expiration date of a license for active-duty service members deployed out of state, so contact DPS if you’re approaching expiration during a deployment.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Expired
Driving in Texas with an expired license is a misdemeanor. A first offense carries a fine of up to $200, and later offenses within a year can add jail time. A judge can dismiss the charge if you renew within 20 working days or before your first court date, whichever is later, though the court may charge a reimbursement fee of up to $20.17State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.026 – Dismissal of Expired License Charge Since DPS opens the renewal window two years before expiration, there’s no reason to cut it close.