How to Renew Your Alabama Driver License

Step-by-step guide for renewing your Alabama license through AL DPS. Covers online, mail, and in-person options, fees, and what to bring.

Validity 4 years

Standard fee $36

Renew early Up to 180 days (6 months) before expiration

After expiration 60 days after expiration for renewal purposes; renewal without examination allowed within 3 years of expiration

Step 1 — Check if you can renew online

Alabama residents with a current photo/signature on file (issued within the last four years) may renew online. First-time STAR ID (REAL ID) applicants must apply in person at an ALEA Driver License Exam Office.

Start your online renewal at AL DPS →

Step 2 — Check what to bring

A straightforward renewal usually needs your current Alabama licence and the fee. What else AL DPS asks for depends on whether you are also upgrading to REAL ID, changing your name or address, or renewing after a lapse — and those requirements differ by state. Check the current list on the AL DPS renewal page before you go.

Step 3 — Pay the renewal fee

AL DPS charges $36 for a standard non-commercial license renewal valid for 4 years. CDL and motorcycle endorsement renewals cost extra; check the official fee schedule for exact amounts.

Step 4 — Take a vision test (if required)

Required at in-person renewal; not required for online renewal. Bring your glasses or contacts if you wear them.

Step 5 — Receive your new licence

Most agencies issue an interim credential you can drive on while the printed card is produced, then post the card separately. How long the interim lasts and how long the card takes are both set by AL DPS and published on its renewal page. Plan around the dates it gives rather than a general estimate.

REAL ID upgrade in Alabama

STAR ID (Alabama's REAL ID) costs the same $36.25 as a standard license, has an 8-year validity cycle, and must be obtained in person at an ALEA exam office with proof of identity, SSN, and two proofs of residency.

Common pitfalls

Don't forget address updates. If you moved since your last renewal, update the address before renewing — many states won't mail to a non-matching address.
REAL ID upgrade requires originals. Photocopies of your birth certificate or passport will be rejected. Bring the originals or certified copies.
Book ahead where you can. Walk-in waiting times vary by office and time of year and we do not track them, but an appointment removes the question — see the Alabama office list for locations and contact details.

Find your nearest Alabama office

Use our Alabama DMV office finder to locate the closest AL DPS location with addresses, hours, and turn-by-turn directions.