DMV.com is a privately owned website that is not affiliated with any government agencies.

How to Renew a Driver's License in Virginia

Bookmark and Share Syndicate content
Submitted by deniz on Sun, 10/11/2009 - 00:01

A Virginia Driver's License can be renewed either in person at any DMV customer service center in the State, by telephone, online, or by mail. The DMV will send you a notice before your license expires, stating your eligibility for the various methods of renewal.

[edit] WHEN TO RENEW YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE

  1. Your Virginia driver's license will generally expire on your birthday, and is usually valid for eight years. If you are 16 or 17 years old, it will expire on your 20th birthday. If you are listed in the Virginia State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Children registry, your license will be valid for five years.
  2. It is advisable to renew your driver's license before the birthday on which it will expire. You can renew your license any time in the six months leading up to its expiration.
  3. Your driving privileges expire on midnight of your birthday if you do not renew. However, you will still have an additional one year to renew your license without any additional testing requirements.
  4. If you are under 20 years old when renewing and have any traffic convictions, you will be required to take the knowledge tests.

[edit] TO RENEW IN PERSON

You must renew in person at least every alternate renewal period. You must also renew in person if you have to prove legal presence, if your license has expired or any of these conditions apply. To renew in person, you must bring:
  1. Your expiring license or proof of identity if the expiring license is not available.
  2. If your name has changed, documentation of the name change is required.
  3. Proof of legal presence is required if your license has expired or if you are a non-US citizen.
  4. The renewal fee of $4 per year. For example, an 8-year driver's license with no endorsements costs $32. You may pay your fees with cash, money order, check, check card or major credit card.

[edit] TO RENEW BY MAIL

You cannot renew your license by mail if these conditions apply. To renew by mail:
  1. Check the renewal application received in the mail for any errors. For corrections call DMV toll free at 1-866-DMVLINE (1-866-368-5463) or 1-800-435-5137.
  2. Complete the application and sign it.
  3. Mail it along with your payment to: 
    Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 26506
Richmond, VA 23260-6506
The renewed driver's license will be mailed to you in about 15 days.

[edit] TO RENEW ONLINE:

You cannot renew your license online if these conditions apply. To renew online:
  1. Visit the Virginia online services website.
  2. Enter the PIN that you received in the renewal notice mailed to you, and follow instructions.
  3. Have a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), debit card (Visa or MasterCard) or your checking account number and bank routing number handy to pay for the renewal.
The renewed driver's license will be mailed to you in about 15 days.

[edit] TO RENEW BY TELEPHONE:

You cannot renew your license by telephone if these conditions apply. To renew by telephone using a touchtone phone:
  1. Check the renewal application received in the mail for any errors. For corrections only, call DMV toll free at 1-866-DMVLINE (1-866-368-5463) or 1-800-435-5137.
  2. Have the renewal application received in the mail and a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) handy.
  3. Dial 1-888-337-4782 and follow instructions to renew your license.
The renewed driver's license will be mailed to you in about 15 days.

[edit] ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

.

Comments

Submitted by cyhertzler on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 15:40.

i did try to renew at the dmv and ran into all kinds of trouble with the employees here in charlottesville va. in the end my license was not renewed and i have had all kinds of trouble due to this problem. I do not have a birth cert so a whole year later I am still waiting for this to come since it has been amended twice. I have spent hours and hours on the phone and cannot get the district manager to even listen or understand my problem. this is the worst year of my adult life and here in a few days I will need to retake the tests even if my birth cert does come-finally. dmv in charlottesville-u r not cool and the employees are very rude. -cynthia rose hertzler

Submitted by cbeers on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 12:04.

if you are having issues with your birth certificate (Im having the same problem) Try www.vitalchek.com (http://www.vitalchek.com) You can order a birth certificate to be mailed to you with in 5 days. Or you can pay a little more for the 3 day delivery.

Submitted by boofulone04 on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 02:07.

I will renew in person! I have an address change, from my father's house as well as I need to update all information on my lic as well. I have no health insurance and know that my information need's to be updated as well. I got my lic when I turned 18. But, still have the permit format. I use to have a Oldsmobile Ciera that my mother got screwed over with and need to fix anything that involves me and that car as well. I do not live with either of them and apologize for the delay. I want to take care of this and make a complaint as well.. Thank you for your time and am trying to make it down some time this week.

  • Best regard's*~