What Do I Need to Renew My License in WV? Documents, Costs, and Options

To renew your driver’s license in West Virginia, you need one document proving your identity, one showing your Social Security number, and two separate documents proving your current West Virginia street address. You also need to pay $5 for each year the new license will cover, plus an extra $10 if you want the REAL ID version with the gold star. Most renewals can be done online or at a self-service kiosk, but some situations — a name change, a new photo, or a first-time REAL ID — require a visit to a regional DMV office.

Documents to Bring

West Virginia groups the paperwork into three categories. Show up missing one and you’ll be sent home, so pull everything together before you start.

Proof of Identity

Bring one document that proves who you are and when you were born. An original or certified U.S. birth certificate works, as does a valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card. Hospital-issued birth certificates and Bureau of Census records are not accepted.¹

Proof of Social Security Number

One document showing your SSN. The original Social Security card is simplest. An original W-2 or 1099 also works if it shows your full Social Security number and your name. Photocopies of W-2s are not accepted. If you aren’t eligible for a Social Security number, bring a denial letter from the Social Security Administration.¹

Two Proofs of West Virginia Residency

You need two separate documents, each showing your name and a physical West Virginia street address. Utility bills, bank statements, and W-2 forms all qualify. Recurring documents like utility bills and bank statements must be no more than 60 days old. A W-2 can be up to 18 months old, and the same W-2 can double as your Social Security proof. PO Box addresses don’t count, and you can’t use two bills from the same utility company.¹

The Application Form

Fill out form DMV-DS-23P, the standard application for a driver’s license or ID card. It’s available at any regional office or on the DMV website. Make sure your personal details match your supporting documents exactly; mismatches slow everything down. The same form lets you update your address and register to vote.

If Your Name Has Changed

Renewing under a name that differs from the one on your current license means tracing every legal name change from your birth certificate forward. You may need more than one document to cover the full chain.

Accepted documents include a certified marriage certificate for each marriage, a certified divorce decree that includes your legal name change, a court order for a name change, or an amended birth certificate. Souvenir marriage certificates and minister’s copies don’t qualify.¹

There’s one shortcut. If you’re 50 or older, already hold a current West Virginia license in the name you’re verifying, and have gone through at least one WV renewal cycle, you can submit a signed statement in place of the marriage certificate or divorce decree.¹ If you’re not sure which documents apply, call the DMV at 1-800-642-9066 before you go.

REAL ID or Standard License

At renewal you pick between two credentials. A standard license is marked “Not For Federal Use” and covers driving and general ID. A REAL ID, labeled “For Federal Use” in West Virginia and marked with a gold star, meets stricter federal verification rules.²

As of May 7, 2025, TSA and other federal agencies only accept REAL ID-compliant licenses for boarding domestic commercial flights. A standard West Virginia license without the gold star won’t get you through airport security unless you bring something like a valid U.S. passport.³

Getting a REAL ID for the first time means visiting a regional office in person with all your identity, Social Security, and residency documents. You can’t upgrade to a REAL ID online or at a kiosk.

What It Costs

West Virginia charges $5 per year of license validity, so your total depends on how many years the new license covers.⁴

Under state law, a standard driver’s license is valid for eight years from the date of issuance.⁵ The DMV also runs a “Drive for Five” program that lines up your expiration with a birthday when your age is divisible by five. While the DMV phases you into that cycle, your renewal period can land anywhere between three and seven years. Your renewal notice spells out the exact expiration and fee.⁴

A four-year license costs $20. A five-year cycle costs $25. Six years is $30.

Two extra charges you may run into:

REAL ID surcharge: a one-time $10 fee for the For Federal Use credential, covering extra processing and shipping.²
Late renewal fee: $5 added on top of the standard cost if you renew after your license has already expired.⁶

Regional offices take cash, personal checks, and money orders payable to the Division of Motor Vehicles. Credit and debit cards are accepted at offices and through the online portal. Online transactions may add a small processing fee at checkout.

Where to Renew

Online

The fastest route for a straightforward renewal. Enter your license number on the DMV’s secure site, follow the prompts, and pay. You get a confirmation number and a temporary credential. Online renewal isn’t available if you need to change your name, update your photo, or get a REAL ID for the first time.⁷

Self-Service Kiosk

WV DMV Now kiosks sit in public spaces around the state and let you renew without an appointment. Scan your current license, follow the touchscreen, and pay on the spot. The receipt is your temporary license.⁸

In Person at a Regional Office

Go in person if you’re changing your name, providing new identity documents, upgrading to a REAL ID, or getting a new photo. Check in at the front desk for a queue number. A clerk reviews your application and documents, takes your photo, and collects payment. You leave with a temporary paper license.²

After You Submit

However you renew, you walk away with a temporary paper license good for 60 days. Regional offices no longer print credentials on site; every permanent card is produced at a central facility and mailed.²

The permanent license arrives by USPS within 10 to 15 business days. Hang on to the temporary paper until it shows up. If nothing has arrived after 30 days, call the DMV at 1-800-642-9066 to find out whether it was returned as undeliverable or needs to be reissued.²

If Your License Has Already Expired

Problems compound the longer you wait. Renew after the expiration date and you owe the $5 late fee on top of the standard cost.⁶

Past six months expired, you can’t just renew. You have to retake both the written knowledge test and the road skills test, the same as a first-time applicant.⁶ A quick renewal turns into study time, scheduling, and multiple office visits.

Driving on an expired license is also a legal problem. Under West Virginia law, failing to carry and present a valid license is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500. You can avoid conviction by showing a license that was valid when you were stopped, but that defense doesn’t apply if the license was already expired.⁹

There’s an insurance angle too. Your policy isn’t automatically canceled when your license expires, but your insurer may deny a claim if you’re in an accident while driving without a valid license. Many policies exclude losses tied to illegal activity, and driving unlicensed qualifies. If a claim is denied, the full cost of the accident lands on you.

Licenses expiring on a driver’s 18th or 21st birthday get a 30-day grace period so you have time to pick up the right new credential.⁶ Outside that narrow case, there’s no general grace period. Your license is expired the day after it lapses.

Active-Duty Military

If you’re on active duty, your West Virginia license doesn’t expire until six months after you’re separated under honorable circumstances.⁵ When you’re ready, you can renew online and have the new card mailed to whatever address is on file. If you’ve moved, submit form DMV-98-TRB to update your mailing address first.¹⁰

1
WV DMV Skip the Trip! Acceptable Proof Documents
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WV Division of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s Licenses and ID Cards
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
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WV Division of Motor Vehicles. License and Renewal Fees
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West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 17B-2-12 – Expiration of Licenses
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WV Division of Motor Vehicles. License Renewal
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WV.gov. DMV Skip the Trip!
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WV Division of Motor Vehicles. WV DMV Now
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West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia Code 17B-2-9
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WV Division of Motor Vehicles. Military Service Member