Driver License Renewal Options

Drivers must renew in person once every eight years regardless of driving history. If you have received a post card asking you to renew in person, you must do so. The only exception to this is made for active-duty military members.

You may renew your driver license in person at a DMV office at any time. You do not have to wait for the expiration date to approach. You may renew at any DMV office within the state regardless of your city or county of residence. We do not make appointments.

It is your responsibility to renew your license on time whether you receive a notice or not. Please keep your address current with us. See Address Changes. A postal forwarding order is not sufficient.

Instruction Permits

Permits must be renewed in person at a DMV office. If the permit has been expired more than 30 days, you will have to take the written test again. 

Outside of Nevada?

If you out of the state and cannot reach a Nevada DMV office, you may download and complete an Application for Nevada Driver License By Mail (DMV-204). Please email or call before completing this application. It will be returned if you do not qualify for mail renewals or if there is any unusual problem with your license.

Commercial Drivers

CDL holders must renew in person and must certify the type of driving they do. See CDL Self-Certification.

Renewal Notices & Dates

You will receive one of two forms in the mail within 60 days of the expiration date. If you qualify to renew by Internet, kiosk or mail, you will receive a Driver License Renew By Mail Application. If you do not qualify, you will receive a post card stating that you must renew in person. 

If you do not receive a notice, please call or email and include your current address. You may be able to renew without a DMV office visit. If you have received a post card to renew in person, you must do so.

A Nevada driver’s license is valid for four years and expires on your birthday unless immigration documents are presented as evidence of your name and date of birth. If immigration documents are used, the expiration of your license will coincide with the departure date on your immigration documents, or in four years, whichever is sooner. Motorists with certain medical conditions and convicted sex offenders have annual renewals.

Qualifications for Internet, Kiosk or Mail Renewals

You must have obtained your license or renewed in person within the last 4 years and be at least 20 years old on your next birthday. You must not have had more than two moving violations or any license suspension, revocation, cancellation or denial within the last 4 years.

If you do not meet these qualifications, you must renew in person at DMV office. You may be required to take written and/or skills tests depending on your driving history. All drivers are required to renew in person at least once every eight years.

Options

Internet	You must have a renewal notice with access code to renew by Internet. If you received a post card asking you to renew in person, you must visit a DMV office. It's fast, easy, secure and best of all, no lines! You may renew your driver license with the access code from the renewal notice. In most cases, you will receive a new license with your existing photo in the mail within 7-10 days. Get started here. Renewals are sent to the address we have on record. If your address is incorrect, please renew by mail or in person. Choose e-check or debit! We accept electronic checks, debit cards from your checking account, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Using e-check or debit saves taxpayer dollars through reduced fees. You must have cookies and Javascript enabled in your web browser. Renew early! Don't wait until the last minute. We do not accept late renewals online.
Mail/Fax	If you received a post card asking you to renew in person, you must visit a DMV office. The only exceptions are for members of the Armed Forces, their spouses, dependents or certain federal employees. You should mail your renewal if you have received a renewal notice but are not eligible for Internet renewals because of an address change or other unusual problem. See Address Changes. If you do not receive any notice or post card, please call or email your name, current address and driver license number. You may be able to renew without a DMV office visit. Nevada residents out-of-state should call (775) 684-4560 or toll-free (877) 368-7828. We may ask you to include a Payment Authorization Slip (VP-205) for fee payment on mailed or faxed renewals. The DMV honors the postmark on mailed renewals. We will not assess late fees if the postmark is up to 30 days past the expiration date.  You may renew by mail up to one year late if otherwise qualified. A $10 late fee will apply.
Kiosk	You must have a renewal notice with access code to renew at a DMV kiosk. If you received a post card asking you to renew in person, you must visit a DMV office. See Kiosk Services for locations. Kiosk renewals carry an additional $1 processing fee. In most cases, you will receive a new license with your existing photo in the mail within 7-10 days. Kiosks do not accept late renewals.
In-Person	You may renew in person at any DMV office. We do not make appointments. This is suggested only if you are not renewing early, have multiple DMV transactions or you are not eligible for Internet, kiosk or mail renewal. Your existing Nevada license is sufficient for proof of identity. You do not have to bring additional documentation unless it is required for other reasons such as immigration status, medical letter, etc. An in-person renewal and knowledge test is required if you have had more than two moving violations or any license suspension, revocation, cancellation or denial within the last 4 years. You may also be required to pass a driving skills test. Nevada licenses are issued from a central location and mailed to you. We will punch a hole in your existing license and return it to you with an interim document. See Central Issuance.

Restriction Codes

Nevada restriction codes are changing! The letter designating your restriction may change the next time you receive a new license.

Restriction A for Corrective Lenses is now Restriction B. See the Restriction Code Matrix for the full list. The full text of restrictions will continue to be printed on the back of licenses.

Late Renewals

If you have received a post card asking you to renew in person, you must renew at a DMV office. You may renew at any DMV office in Nevada.

If you are in Nevada - If your license has been expired 30 days or less, you may renew without penalty by mail if otherwise qualified or in person.

If you did not receive a notice, please renew in person. An incorrect address is the most likely cause of this. See Address Changes.

If your license has been expired 31 days to one year, you may renew in person at a DMV office or by mail if otherwise qualified. A $10 late fee will apply.

If your license has been expired one year or more, you must renew in person and you will have to show Proof of Identity and take the written test. If your license has been expired for four years or more, you will also have to take the skills test.

If you are outside of Nevada - If you received a renewal notice, you may renew by mail up to one year after expiration. Licenses which have been expired 31 days to one year may be renewed by mail (if otherwise qualified) with an additional $10 late fee. Mail your renewal notice or use an Application for Nevada Driver License by Mail (DMV-204).

If you did not receive a renewal notice, please call or email and include your current address for instructions. You may be able to renew using an Application for Nevada Driver License by Mail (DMV-204) if you are otherwise qualified to renew by mail. This form is only for drivers who are currently licensed in Nevada and are unable to reach a DMV office.

Early Renewals

You may renew your license at any time in person at a DMV office. You may visit any DMV office regardless of your city or county of residence.

This is highly recommended for those who are planning an extended trip outside of Nevada. Active-duty military members are encouraged to renew in person when visiting Nevada.

If your expiration date is less than 6 months away, the new year of expiration will be set four years ahead. If the expiration date is 6 months to one year from the date of renewal, the year of expiration will be set three years ahead.

The same 6-month rule applies if you are renewing more than a year ahead of expiration. For example, if the expiration is one year and five months from the date of renewal, the new year of expiration will be set three years ahead. If the expiration is one year and seven months away, the new year of expiration will be two years ahead.