To renew a Missouri driver’s license or nondriver ID, you need proof of identity, proof of your Social Security number, and proof of Missouri residency. A REAL ID-compliant renewal requires two residency documents from two different sources; a non-compliant renewal requires one.1Missouri Department of Revenue. Documents for Driver License, Nondriver ID, and Instruction Permit All documents must be valid, unexpired originals. Photocopies are not accepted for a REAL ID application.
Most people renew in person at a Missouri license office. Online renewal exists but has narrow eligibility, and mail-in renewal is limited to active-duty military stationed outside the state.
Documents You Need
Proof of Identity
Bring one document showing your full legal name and date of birth. Common choices include a certified U.S. birth certificate issued by a vital records agency (hospital-issued certificates don’t count), a valid U.S. passport, or a current REAL ID-compliant Missouri license or ID.2Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 12 CSR 10-24.448 – Documents Required for Issuance of a Driver License, Nondriver License, or Instruction Permit
For a non-REAL-ID renewal, an expired Missouri license or ID can still work as identity proof if it expired within the last 184 days.1Missouri Department of Revenue. Documents for Driver License, Nondriver ID, and Instruction Permit
Non-citizens must present valid, unexpired immigration documents at each application, such as a Permanent Resident Card or an unexpired foreign passport stamped and processed for an I-551.2Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 12 CSR 10-24.448 – Documents Required for Issuance of a Driver License, Nondriver License, or Instruction Permit Non-citizens with USCIS-issued documents cannot renew online and must apply in person.3Missouri Department of Revenue. Driver Licensing Checklist
Proof of Social Security Number
Bring a document that shows your name and full Social Security number. Your Social Security card is the simplest option, but a W-2, a 1099, or a pay stub that includes both your name and SSN works too.2Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 12 CSR 10-24.448 – Documents Required for Issuance of a Driver License, Nondriver License, or Instruction Permit If a verified SSN is already on file from a previous Missouri license, you can provide it verbally at the office.1Missouri Department of Revenue. Documents for Driver License, Nondriver ID, and Instruction Permit
Proof of Missouri Residency
For a REAL ID-compliant card, bring two documents from two different sources showing your name and Missouri residential address. For a non-compliant card, one document is enough.1Missouri Department of Revenue. Documents for Driver License, Nondriver ID, and Instruction Permit Utility bills, bank statements, voter registration cards, and similar official correspondence are commonly accepted. Each document should be the most recently issued version.2Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 12 CSR 10-24.448 – Documents Required for Issuance of a Driver License, Nondriver License, or Instruction Permit
Name Change Documents
If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your identity document, bring a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, amended birth certificate, or other court order to bridge the gap.2Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 12 CSR 10-24.448 – Documents Required for Issuance of a Driver License, Nondriver License, or Instruction Permit
Should You Get a REAL ID?
Federal REAL ID enforcement took effect on May 7, 2025. You now need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or nondriver ID to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.4Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID A compliant card carries a star or flag symbol in the upper corner. A valid U.S. passport is also accepted for those purposes, so if you already carry one, a non-compliant Missouri ID won’t stop you at the airport.
Missouri charges the same fees for a REAL ID-compliant card as for a non-compliant one.5Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri REAL ID Information The difference is only in the documents. If you’ve never held a REAL ID-compliant card and want to upgrade between renewal cycles, Missouri law provides a one-time waiver of the duplicate transaction fee. You’ll still pay a processing fee of $9 for a prior three-year card or $18 for a prior six-year card.
How to Renew
In Person
Walking into a Missouri license office is the most common route and the only option if you’re getting a REAL ID-compliant card for the first time, have personal information to update, or don’t qualify for online renewal. Bring your documents, be ready for a vision screening, and expect a new photo. The office issues a temporary paper ID on the spot, and your permanent card arrives by mail.
Online
Online renewal is available through the Department of Revenue’s portal, but you have to meet every one of these conditions:
- You’re between 21 and 49 years old.
- A U.S. citizenship document verification is already on file with the DOR.
- Your last renewal was done in person (only one online renewal is allowed between in-person visits).
- You’ve completed a vision examination within the past 12 months.
You’ll upload scans or clear photos of the required documents and provide proof of the recent vision exam.
By Mail (Active-Duty Military)
Active-duty military members and dependents temporarily stationed outside Missouri can renew by mail using Form 4317, the Mail-In Driver License Application.6Missouri Department of Revenue. Mail-In Driver License Application Include the last four digits of your Social Security number and your Missouri residential address on the form.7Missouri Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle and Driver License Information for Military Personnel If you’re being deployed more than six months before your license expires, you can renew before deployment by including a copy of your orders showing the deployment timeframe.
Fees
- Class F driver’s license, 3-year term: $16.50
- Class F driver’s license, 6-year term: $25.50
- Nondriver ID (3-year, 6-year, or non-expiring): $24
License offices accept cash, personal checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, and Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express. Card payments carry a convenience fee of 2.0% plus $0.25 per transaction.9Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri Driver License and Nondriver ID
The Vision Screening
Every in-person driver’s license renewal includes a vision screening. Missouri requires at least 20/40 acuity with either or both eyes and at least 55 degrees of peripheral vision in each eye, or 85 degrees in one eye.10Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri Driver Guide Chapter 2 – The Driver Exam If you wear glasses or contacts, bring them. If you don’t pass the screening, the examiner will give you a form for your own eye doctor or optometrist to complete, and that exam result is valid for one year.11Missouri Department of Revenue. 12 CSR 10-24.090 Missouri Driver License or Permit Vision Test Guidelines
If your acuity is worse than 20/160 even with corrective lenses, or your combined peripheral vision is below 70 degrees, Missouri will not issue a driver’s license.10Missouri Department of Revenue. Missouri Driver Guide Chapter 2 – The Driver Exam You may still qualify for a nondriver ID, which has no vision requirement.
After You Renew
You’ll leave with a temporary paper document valid for 45 days. Your permanent card is produced at a centralized secure facility and mailed to the address you provided, typically arriving within 10 to 15 business days.12Missouri Department of Revenue. FAQs – New Missouri Driver Licenses and Nondriver Identification Cards If it hasn’t arrived by then, contact the Missouri Department of Revenue.
If Your ID Has Already Expired
Missouri gives you a six-month grace period after your license or ID expires to renew without retesting. Active-duty military members get 60 days after honorable discharge, regardless of the expiration date on the card.13Missouri Department of Revenue. FAQs – Driver License – General
If you miss that window, a simple renewal is no longer available. You’ll have to pass written, vision, road sign, and driving skills tests at a Missouri State Highway Patrol examination station before you can apply for a new license at a license office.13Missouri Department of Revenue. FAQs – Driver License – General That’s essentially starting from scratch, which is a strong reason to renew before the six-month mark.