Are You Eligible to Renew Your Texas Driver’s License?
Before choosing how to renew, check if you meet the state’s basic eligibility requirements.
You can renew a license if:
- Your vision, physical health, and mental health have not changed in a way that affects your ability to drive safely.
- You are a U.S. citizen or have verified, lawful status in Texas.
- Your current license is not suspended or revoked.
- You have no unresolved traffic warrants or Failure-to-Appear violations on your record.
Can You Renew Online?
Some drivers qualify to renew a Texas driver’s license online, while others must visit a DPS office. Before making an appointment, check to see if you can handle it online.
Online Renewal Eligibility
You can renew your Texas license online if:
- You completed your last renewal in person.
- You are under 79 years of age.
- Your license is active or has been expired for less than two years.
- Your physical or mental health has not changed in a way that affects your driving safety.
Mandatory In-Person Renewals
You must renew a Texas license in person at a DPS office if:
- You hold a Provisional License and will not turn 18 in the next 30 days.
- You are 79 years of age or older; Texas requires a new vision screening.
- You are not a U.S. citizen or hold a limited-term license.
- Your last renewal was done online. Texas requires a new photo and thumbprint every other renewal cycle.
Key Renewal Timelines
Texas has a generous two-year renewal window, but it’s still important to know when your license expires and when to renew it to avoid driving illegally on an expired license.
Keep this timeline in mind:
- Expiration date: Most licenses expire on the holder’s birthday.
- Validity period:
- Adult license (ages 18–84): Valid for 8 years.
- Senior license (ages 85+): Valid for 2 years.
- Limited-term license: Valid as long as lawful presence, or 1 year if listed as “duration of status.”
The 2-year renewal window: You can renew a standard license up to 2 years before its expiration date, or up to 2 years after it has expired.
License Expired for Over Two Years?
A Texas license that has been expired for more than two years cannot be renewed, unless you qualify for a military exemption. You must apply for a new Texas license and meet all requirements, which includes taking the written test and road driving test. If it has been a while since you took driver education, or you did not take it in Texas, you should take a fresh course to update your knowledge of the rules of the road. Taking this course online will allow you to waive the written test at the DPS office.
NextDoorDriving.com offers a fully online, Texas-approved adult driver’s ed course that includes an official DPS written test so you can skip the testing line at the office. The Texas Adult Driver Education Course can be completed in a single sitting, or you can work at your own pace. Our course allows unlimited free test retakes, so you won’t need to worry about passing. When you finish, you’ll receive an electronic certificate immediately that you can present at the DPS to get licensed again—faster.
Military Exemption for Expired Licenses
Special license rules apply to military families. When an active-duty service member is stationed out of state, it is legal to drive on an otherwise valid, but expired Texas license.
After an honorable discharge, or on returning to Texas, the service member generally has 90 days to renew a license without re-taking tests. You will need to provide the official military orders or a Form DD-214.
Service members, dependents, and recently-discharged veterans may also qualify to renew a Texas license that has been expired for more than two years.
License Renewal Options
The DPS provides three primary renewal channels: online, by phone, in person. Renewal by mail is available for qualifying Texans temporarily outside the state.
Renew Online
Online license renewal is the most convenient method for most drivers. You can complete the renewal process through the Texas by Texas (TxT) website, the state’s online transaction service, by following these steps.
- Log in to the Texas by Texas (TxT) portal.
Navigate to the TxT portal and enter the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number, your current license number and its audit number, and an email address. - Complete the questionnaire.
Answer the mandatory state health and residency questions. - Submit the payment.
Pay the renewal fee using an accepted credit card. - Print your temporary license.
Print the temporary driver license issued at the end of the online renewal process. This paper license is valid for 60 days.
Renew By Phone
Drivers who qualify for remote renewal but prefer not to use the online system may renew their Texas driver’s license by phone.
To renew by phone:
- Call 1-866-DL-RENEW (1-866-357-3639).
- Have your current Texas driver’s license number, Social Security Number, and a credit or debit card ready.
Renew In Person
Drivers who cannot renew their Texas driver’s license online must visit a DPS office. All DPS offices operate by appointment only. You must schedule your visit online using the official DPS Appointment Scheduler. We recommend scheduling at least a few weeks before your license expires.
At your appointment, you will turn in a Texas Driver License Application (Form DL-14A), present your identity documents, pass a brief vision test, provide a digital signature and thumbprints, and take a new photo.
Renew By Mail (Out-of-State and Military)
Military families and Texans temporarily living outside the state may qualify to renew a license by mail. You must download and submit the Out-of-State/Out-of-Country Renewal Packet from the DPS website, showing proof of your Texas residency and out-of-state military/employment status.
Receiving Your New License
No matter how you renew, your new license card will be mailed to your home address, usually arriving in 2 to 3 weeks.
Documents Needed to Renew a Texas Driver’s License
The documents required at an in-person license renewal depend on your citizenship status, whether your name has changed, and any information the DPS already has on file. For all DPS appointments, you must present original paper documents. Photocopies or digital scans on your phone are not accepted.
In general, renewal applicants need to provide documents from the following categories.
| Document Category | Accepted Forms (Bring One from Each Category) |
| Current License | Expiring or recently expired Texas driver’s license |
| U.S. Citizenship / Lawful Presence | • U.S. Citizens: Original U.S. birth certificate or valid U.S. passport • Non-Citizens: Permanent Resident Card (I-551) or Employment Authorization Card (I-766) |
| Identity Verification | • One primary document (e.g., U.S. passport or military ID) OR • Two secondary documents (e.g., birth certificate, out-of-state license) |
| Social Security Number | Social Security card, W-2 tax form, or pay stub showing your full SSN |
| Name Change (if applicable) | Original marriage certificate, divorce decree, or certified court order |
| Texas Residency | Two documents displaying your physical address (e.g., recent utility bill, mortgage statement, insurance policy) |
License Renewal Fees
Texas license fees are calculated based on your age and license type. In-person and online transactions include a $1.00 administrative fee.
Here is the current license fee schedule and validity period:
- Adult Driver (Ages 18–84): $33.00 — 8 years
- Senior Driver (Ages 85+): $9.00 — 2 years
- Commercial / CDL (Ages 18–84): $97.00 — 8 years
- Commercial / CDL (Ages 85+): $26.00 — 2 years
- Limited-Term (Non-Citizen): $33.00 — Up to 1 year
- Motorcycle (Class M Only): $44.00 — 8 years
License Renewal for Seniors (79+)
Texas does not have automatic driving restrictions for seniors, but special rules take effect when a driver turns 79. For drivers in this age range, all renewals must be done in-office, and every visit will include a vision test. If a DPS employee observes or receives information that a medical, visual, physical, or cognitive condition may affect safe driving, the agent can request a medical evaluation, written test, or road test before issuing a license. The DPS may refer the driver to the Texas Medical Advisory Board for review. These requirements are based on individual safety concerns, not age alone.
Voluntary license surrender (age 65+): Texas seniors 65 and older who choose to stop driving can trade a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license for an official Texas State ID card. The trade option can be done completely online via the Texas-by-Texas (TxT) portal without making a trip to the DPS office.
FAQs
Can I renew my Texas driver’s license online if I did it online last time?
Texas DPS rules state that you must alternate methods. If your last renewal was processed online or over the phone, your next transaction must be executed in person at a license office.
Is there a grace period for driving on an expired license in Texas?
Driving with an expired license in Texas is generally illegal, and can result in a traffic ticket and fine. However, you can officially renew your license for up to two years after it expires.
Will my renewed Texas driver’s license be REAL ID compliant?
Texas issues REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses, identified by a black star near the top of the card. Depending on your license record, the DPS may require you to renew in person and provide identity, citizenship, lawful-presence, or Social Security documents before issuing a REAL ID license.
What happens if I fail the vision test at the DPS office?
If you do not pass the vision test, the DPS may require an examination by an eye specialist and supporting medical documentation before deciding whether to issue the license or impose a vision-related restriction.
