You can renew up to 1 year before and 2 years after your license expires

Renewing your license anytime within this period will not affect the expiration date of your new driver license or the fees. 

If your license is expired for 2 years or more, you must apply for an original license. You must pass the vision test and the written test, complete a pre-licensing course and pass a road test. See how to get a driver license.

If you are turning 21 soon

If you renew more than 40 days before your 21st birthday, your license will still display “UNDER 21.” If you renew fewer than 40 days before your 21st birthday, your license will not display “UNDER 21."

Your address must match the one on our records

You may first change your address online and then renew. There is no guarantee that the U.S. Postal Service will forward your DMV documents to your new address. See how to change your address.

Please note: You may have different mailing and residential addresses. If you have a standard license it will show your mailing address. If you have a REAL ID or Enhanced license it will show your residential address. See more information about different license types.

Reminder: If your license expired between March 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 and you renewed online by self-certifying that your vision is acceptable, but you have not submitted a vision test to the DMV, you must do so within one year of your renewal. See how to submit your vision test after you renew. In addition, the federal REAL ID enforcement deadline has been extended until May 3, 2023.

Ways to renew

Online

If you already have an Enhanced or REAL ID, or you want to keep your Standard, you can renew online (unless you have a commercial license). Your document type will stay the same. 

You will need to pass an eye test by an approved provider

• find an approved provider near you

or

• have a medical professional complete a Vision Test Report (PDF) (MV-619) and then enter the report information in the online transaction
  • you do not need to mail or bring us the report if you renew online
  • approved professionals include physician, physician’s assistant, ophthalmologist, optometrist, optician, registered nurse, or nurse professional 

If your license expired from March 1, 2020  through August 31, 2021, and you have not already renewed your license, you can renew online now by self-certifying that your vision is acceptable.  However, you must have your vision tested and submit your results to the DMV within one year of the date of your license renewal.  You can submit these results through

• an approved vision test provider
• by sending a Vision Test Report (MV-619) by mail or electronically, or
• by getting your eyes tested at a local DMV office
• Note: there is a different process for renewing a Commercial Driver License (CDL)

Renew license online

Download and print a temporary license in PDF format to use until your new license arrives. Due to a greater than normal volume of renewals, there may be a delay in receipt of your permanent document.  Your temporary document is valid for 60 days.

 By mail

If you already have an Enhanced or REAL ID, or you want to keep your Standard, you can renew by mail. Your document type will stay the same. 

Complete the renewal notice we mailed you and return it with

• a completed Vision Test Report (PDF) (MV-619) - or get tested by an approved vision registry provider (find a test location now)
• a check or money order payable to ‘Commissioner of Motor Vehicles’ (See fee chart)

If you did not receive a renewal notice, you can use the Application for Permit, Driver License, or Non-Driver ID Card (PDF) (MV-44) 

Mail to

NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
207 Genesee Street, Suite 6
Utica, NY 13501-2874

At a DMV office

You must renew at a DMV office if you

• are changing from a standard ID to an Enhanced or REAL ID - see how to get an Enhanced or REAL ID
• want to update your photo
• want to change your license class

1. Complete the renewal notice (MV-2) you received in the mail. If you did not receive a renewal notice, use an Application for Permit, Driver License, or Non-Driver ID Card (PDF) (MV-44)
2. Submit to a DMV office
   • your current license
   • your renewal notice or application
   • payment: by credit/debit card or a check or money order made out to Commissioner of Motor Vehicles

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV

Fees and payment

Your renewal fee is on the renewal application we mail you and displayed before you pay online. See below for a chart of fees for different types of licenses. 

*Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) fee applies to Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn), New York (Manhattan), Queens, Richmond (Staten Island); Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester. The MCTD fee is $1.00 for every 6 months the permit or driver license will be in effect. For an 8-year driver license, the MCTD fee is $16.

 
The additional fee for an enhanced driver licensed (EDL) is $30.00. The fee is added to the renewal fees for the driver license. There is no additional fee for a REAL ID, just the normal renewal fee will be charged. 

If you have any other class combined with Class M or MJ (example: DM), add an additional $8.00 to the fee above.

Payment: If you apply by mail or at a DMV office, you can pay by credit/debit card or a check or money order made out to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. To apply online, you must use a credit/debit card. The DMV accepts:

• American Express® Card
• Discover Card®/Novus®
• MasterCard®
• MasterCard® Debit card without personal identification number (PIN)
• VISA® Card
• Visa Debit Card without personal identification number (PIN)

Additional information

Veterans or active military

If you are a qualified U.S. military veteran who was honorably discharged, you can have the word "Veteran" printed on the upper left hand of your photo document. Learn how to get the veteran status on your license.

If you are active in the military, please see our military resources for more information on renewing- and thank you for your service! 

How to renew if you are out of the state or country 

Renew by mail

Send us

• the renewal notice we mailed you (MV-2) or if you don't have it, use the Application for Permit, Driver License, or Non-driver ID (PDF) (MV-44)
• a Vision Test Report (PDF) (MV-619) completed by an eye care professional 
• a check or money order payable to ‘Commissioner of Motor Vehicles’
• a pre-addressed priority mail return envelope with your application. This will help ensure that we send your license to the correct address.

Renew online only if you

• have a valid NY driver license
• have had an eye exam from the last 12 months saved to the DMV Vision Registry.

However, if you renew online, your license will not be forwarded to you out-of-state or out of the country.

Temporary visitors and international students who have a REAL ID

As long as the Temporary Visitor status that DMV has on file is not expired you can renew your license online, through the mail, or in an office. 

If your Temporary Visitor status has been extended, you must go to a DMV office with your updated paperwork from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We will update our records to show that your Temporary Visitor status has been extended so you can renew your license. Your new license will have your new temporary visitor expiration date.

Changing license class when renewing

You cannot change the class when you renew online. You can make the following changes when you renew by mail or at a DMV office. Other changes require a written test and a road test. (See how to get a CDL or how to get a motorcycle license).

If you renew 

• by mail, include a note about your class change in your renewal envelope
• at a DMV office, tell the DMV representative about the change

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV

You will need to pay the renewal fee for your new driver license class.