Replacing, Renewing or Updating Your Driver's License or ID Card
Replacing Your Driver’s License | Changing Your Address or Name |
Obtaining Your Driving Record |
Renewing Your Driver's License
Your Virginia driver's license and learner's permit always expire on your birthday. Beginning July 1, 2008, driver's licenses and commercial driver's licenses issued by DMV will be valid for eight years. CDL holders with a hazardous materials endorsement must continue to follow the federal guidelines and renew their hazmat endorsement every five years. The length of time that a driver's license is valid may be affected by your legal presence status. You may renew your driver's license as early as six months prior to the expiration of your license.
Driver's licenses issued to persons age 16 and 17 will continue to expire at age 20.
The validity period for driver's licenses issued to persons registered as sex offenders will be no more than five years.
You may be able to renew your driver’s license every other renewal cycle at www.dmvNOW.com, by telephone 1-888-337-4782, or mail.
However, you must complete your driver’s license renewal at a DMV customer service center if any of the following conditions exist:
- you are under age 21 and you have received one or more traffic convictions;
- your license has expired (you will be required to show proof of legal presence and you may be required to show other documents);
- you are age 80 or older (you must take a vision screening exam);
- you hold a CDL;
- you are under medical review; or
- other conditions may apply.
You must also renew in person if your social security number (SSN), name or date of birth on file at DMV does not match your information on file with the Social Security Administration or if you do not have an SSN on file. Your SSN, name and date of birth on file with DMV must match the information on file with the Social Security Administration before DMV will renew your driver’s license.
For a complete list of eligibility requirements, including social security number requirements, refer to “Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver’s License or Photo ID Card” (DMV 141), available online, or call 1-866-DMV-LINE (368- 5463). Your renewal notice will indicate if you are eligible to use an alternative renewal method.
You cannot hold a photo ID card if you hold any type of driver’s license. If you currently hold both a driver’s license and a photo ID card, you will be required to surrender your photo ID card before you can renew your driver’s license.
If you hold a valid Virginia driver's license, you may exchange it for a photo ID card. If you are age 70 or older, there is no charge for the exchange for your first ID card. Your ID card will expire at the end of your birth month.
If you are under age 70, your ID card will cost $10. Your first ID card will be valid for
between three and seven years, depending on your age when the ID card is issued. Your ID card will
expire on the last day of your birth month when you reach an age divisible by five - 20, 25, 30,
35, etc.
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Military and Diplomatic Extensions
Active duty members of the U.S. military serving outside of Virginia, members of the U.S Diplomatic Service who are serving outside of the U.S., and civilian employees of a contractor or agency of the U.S. government acting on behalf of the U.S. government who are serving outside of the U.S. may request an extension of their driver's license. Their spouses and dependents may also request an extension. Extensions may be granted for a maximum of three years from the driver"s license expiration date.
For more information, refer to Obtaining a Driver's License Extension - Military.
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Replacing Your Driver’s License
To obtain a replacement driver’s license you must present two forms of identification (one primary and one secondary or two primary documents). Refer to “Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver’s License or Photo ID Card” (DMV 141) for a list of acceptable documents. Photocopies will not be accepted. DMV may verify any document with the issuing entity prior to replacing your driver’s license.
You may also complete this transaction online at www.dmvNOW.com using a DMV-issued PIN, unless you are under age 18, your license is suspended or revoked, you hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), or you are under medical review. Other conditions may affect your eligibility to replace your license online. The cost is $10.00.
If you currently hold both a driver’s license and a photo ID card, you will be required
to surrender your photo ID card before you can receive a replacement license.
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Changing Your Address or Name
You must notify DMV within 30 days if you change your address. You must provide DMV with the street address of your principal Virginia residence. A post office box or business address is not acceptable and your principal address must be in Virginia.
However, if you do not want your residence address to appear on your driver’s license or photo ID card, you may provide DMV with an alternate address in addition to your residence address. This alternate address must also be in Virginia.
If you change your residence address or alternate address to a location outside Virginia, your driver’s license or photo ID card will be cancelled. Exceptions may be made for some individuals such as active duty military personnel and Virginia residents employed outside Virginia.
Address change: You may visit any DMV customer service center to change your address and obtain a new vehicle registration card. You may purchase a new driver’s license or photo ID card showing the address change for $10.00, or a free change of address card (for your driver’s license or photo ID card) will be mailed to you.
You may also change your address by calling DMV toll-free at 1-866-DMV-LINE (368-5463), 1-800-435-5137 or by using the Internet. Each time you change your address with DMV, you will have an opportunity to apply to register to vote or to change your voter registration address with the State Board of Elections.
Name change: You may change your name on your driver’s license or photo ID card at
any DMV customer service center. Bring the following documents, as applicable.
Photocopies will not be accepted.
- Marriage certificate, license or register
- Divorce decree if the decree states the change from married name to maiden name
- Original or teste copy of the court order granting the name change
If you are applying for a driver’s license or learner’s permit for the first time and your name has changed, you must present two proofs of identification, one proof of residency and your social security number (if you have one) in addition to one of the documents listed above for proof of your name change. You will also be required to show legal presence.
If you are applying for a photo ID card, you must show two proofs of identification and one proof of residency. You will also be required to show legal presence, unless you were born in 1937 or before and have had a valid Virginia driver's license or identification card within the past five years.
If your name has changed and you currently hold a valid Virginia-issued driver’s license, learner’s permit or photo ID card, you must present your Virginia driver’s license, learner’s permit or photo ID card in addition to one of the name change documents for proof of your name change.
If you cannot present your Virginia driver’s license, learner’s permit, or photo ID card,
you must present one proof of identity from the primary document list (refer to
“Acceptable Documents for Obtaining a Driver’s License or Photo ID Card,” (DMV
141) in addition to one of the name change documents listed above for proof of name
change.
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Obtaining Your Driving Record
With proper identification, you may obtain a copy of your driving record by mail, by Internet using a DMV-issued PIN number or in person. Driving records cost $8. A certified record costs $13.
The information on DMV records is maintained and released based on federal and state laws. Law enforcement may obtain your complete driving record; employers receive seven years of data and insurance companies receive five years. DMV will not release your license photograph without your signed release except to law enforcement.