The short version
- A four-year renewal costs $39.50. Drivers 65 and older can choose two years for $27.50, and a first REAL ID adds a one-time $30.
- Renewing takes two steps. You renew online or by mail, then take the camera card PennDOT mails you to a Photo License Center for your new photo.
- You can renew up to six months before your license expires. PennDOT mails an invitation to renew three months ahead.
Pennsylvania driver’s licenses are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). They last four years and expire the day after your birthday.
Not a standard renewal?
- New to Pennsylvania? You’ll transfer your old license instead. See our guide to transferring an out-of-state license to Pennsylvania.
- License suspended or revoked? It can’t be renewed until it’s restored. Our guide to license suspension in Pennsylvania covers the steps.
- Commercial driver’s license? CDLs can’t be renewed online, and a four-year CDL renewal costs $127.50.
When You Can Renew a Pennsylvania License
PennDOT mails an invitation to renew three months before your license expires, but you can renew any time from six months before the expiration date.
If Your License Has Expired: There’s no grace period for driving. If you’re stopped, the fine is $25 if your license expired less than a year ago and $200 after that. You can still renew an expired license, as long as it wasn’t suspended or revoked, but not online once it’s been expired for six months.
If You’re 65 or Older: You can choose a two-year license instead of four years, for $27.50 instead of $39.50.
If You’re in the Military: Your license stays valid while you’re on active duty and for 45 days after you’re discharged or return to Pennsylvania.
What You Need to Renew in Pennsylvania
A New Photo: Every renewal comes with a new photo. After you renew, PennDOT mails you a camera card. Take it, along with your current license or another accepted ID, to a Photo License Center, where you may be asked to confirm the last four digits of your Social Security number. Lines are usually shortest away from the start and end of the month, and our guide to Pennsylvania DMV appointments explains how the centers work.
A Current Address: If you’ve moved, report it within 15 days, online or with Form DL-80. Our guide to a Pennsylvania change of addressexplains how.
REAL ID Documents, If You Want One: A first REAL ID needs proof of identity and lawful status, proof of your Social Security number and two proofs of Pennsylvania residency. There are three ways to get it at renewal:
Online, If You’ve Pre-Verified: You can pre-verify your documents online if your first Pennsylvania license, permit or ID was issued after September 2003, then order the REAL ID with your renewal.
At a REAL ID Center: Your documents are checked on the spot, and you leave with the card the same day.
At a Driver License Center: Your documents are checked in person, and the card is mailed to you within 15 days.
Your first REAL ID is valid for the rest of your current license term plus four years, and later renewals stay REAL ID at no extra charge.
How to Renew Your Pennsylvania License
Online
Online renewal works if nothing on your license needs to change apart from your address. It isn’t available for CDLs, “Valid without Photo” licenses or licenses expired six months or more. Pay by card, and your camera card should arrive within about two weeks.
By Mail
Fill in the renewal invitation PennDOT mailed you, or Form DL-143 if you don’t have it, and send it with a check or money order. Your camera card should arrive within seven to 10 working days after PennDOT processes the form.
Through an Online Messenger Service
These private businesses can process your renewal for an added fee. You’ll still get your photo taken at a Photo License Center.
Pennsylvania License Renewal Fees
| License | Fee |
|---|---|
| Four-year renewal | $39.50 |
| Two-year renewal, age 65 and older | $27.50 |
| Four-year renewal with a motorcycle class | $63.50 |
| Two-year renewal with a motorcycle class, age 65 and older | $39.50 |
| First REAL ID | $30 extra, one time |
| Commercial license, four years | $127.50 |
| Example: first REAL ID at a regular four-year renewal | $69.50 ($39.50 + $30) |
Frequently Asked Questions
PennDOT renews expired licenses as long as they weren’t suspended or revoked, but not online once they’ve been expired six months. If yours lapsed years ago, check with PennDOT before you apply, since you may be asked to retest.
Only for the photo. You can renew online or by mail, then take your camera card to a Photo License Center. A first REAL ID also means an in-person visit, unless you’ve pre-verified your documents.
It usually arrives within 10 business days. If it hasn’t, contact PennDOT with your driver’s license number.
A one-time $30 on top of the renewal fee, so $69.50 with a standard four-year renewal. Later renewals cost the regular fee.
Each month, PennDOT randomly picks about 1,900 drivers age 45 and older for a vision and physical exam, about seven months before their licenses expire. If you’re chosen, you’ll need to complete it before you can renew.
No. Driving on an expired license is a summary offense, with a $25 fine if it expired less than a year ago and $200 after that.
Conclusion
Renewing a Pennsylvania driver’s license takes two steps: renew online or by mail for $39.50, then take your camera card to a Photo License Center for a new photo. You can renew up to six months early, drivers 65 and older can choose a cheaper two-year license, and a first REAL ID adds $30. Don’t drive on an expired license, since there’s no grace period. If yours has been expired for six months or more, renew by mail rather than online.
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