Driver Services. Applicants with a valid foreign license are required to take a vision test at a minimum to obtain a Department of State driver's license. In addition, some applicants may also be required to pass a written test. Applicants seeking to renew a Department of State driver license are required to pass a vision test at a minimum.
Business License Verification In order to operate legally in the District of Columbia, all businesses must be licensed. Whether or not a Basic Business License is required depends upon the business activity conducted in the District. This website allows you to check if a business entity has active license(s). Driver’s License / State Identification Card. A resident of the District of Columbia may obtain a Driver’s or Non-Driver’s License from the Department of Motor Vehicles, 95 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024, (202) 734-4404. A non-resident shall obtain this report from the jurisdiction in which he/she resides. Online Drivers License Renewal. If your DC driver license has been expired for more than 545 days, you'll need to visit a DMV service location and pass a knowledge test and a road test (the road test must be scheduled in advance). Although you can renew your driver license online if it has been expired for fewer than 365 days. Pearson VUE handles testing and licensing services for the DC Board of Industrial Trades: plumbers, electricians, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, steam and other operating engineers, and asbestos workers. Download PDF. Washington, DC is an extremely small jurisdiction but it requires new drivers to study quite a bit to master all the location’s road rules, and the key is to start right here, studying to get your driver’s permit using the Washington, DC Driver’s Handbook. The browser you are using is not supported for the DC DMV Online Services. The supported browsers are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari.
Join 1,972,984 Americans who searched for Car Insurance Rates:
- Get free quotes from the nation's biggest auto insurance providers.
- Over 94% of Americans qualify for lower rates.
Renew Your Washington, D.C. Driver's License
When your Washington, D.C. driver's license is set to expire, you'll need to submit a renewal application to the Washington, D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (D.C. DMV). If you have an expiring DC DMV driver's license, it will either be renewed with a REAL IDdriver's license or a Limited Purpose driver's license.
Continue reading this page to find out how to renew your D.C. driver's license before it expires.
D.C. REAL ID Licenses
REAL ID licenses are federally compliant and allow you entry onto domestic flights and into federal facilities. When renewing your license, you'll receive a REAL ID unless you cannot provide proof of your Social Security number. See below for details.
To get info about other types of driver's licenses or permits, please visit any of the following links:
When to Renew Your D.C. Driver's License
In order to drive, you must hold a D.C. driver's license and renew it every 8 years.
If the D.C. DMV has your current address, you should receive a renewal reminder in the mail 60 days before your driver's license expires. You are not required to bring this card with you to the D.C. DMV office when you renew.
Expired Driver's License
IMPORTANT: Expired D.C. driver's licenses must be renewed in person.
There are no additional fees if you let your driver's license expire; however, if you allow it to be expired for 365 days or more, you will need to re-take the written test when you renew. If your license has been expired for longer than 545 days, you must also take the road test again.
Renew Your D.C. Driver's License
If you're a U.S. citizen, your Washington, D.C. driver's license is valid for 8 years at a time. If you're a non-U.S. citizen, your driver's license will have an expiration date based on the expiration of your immigration documents.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to renew your D.C. driver's license:
- Online.
- By mail
- See Out-of-State D.C. Residents & Military below for these steps.
- In person at your local D.C. DMV office.
We'll walk you through the online and in-person options below.
NOTE: If you're 70 years old or older, you must renew your driver's license in person.
Online
You CANNOT renew your D.C. driver's license using the online system if:
- Your last renewal was also completed online.
- You do NOT already have a REAL ID or limited purpose driver's license.
- Your driver's license has been expired for more than 365 days.
- You recently changed your address or nameand haven't notified the D.C. DMV.
- You are 70 years old or older.
- Your driver's license does NOT have a digital photograph and signature.
- You've had a recent change in your medical condition or vision.
If you're eligible, you'll need to have the following available:
- Your D.C. driver's license number.
- The control number from your renewal notice.
- If you do not have this number, you must provide your first and last names, Social Security number (SSN), and date of birth.
- Payment for the $47 renewal fee using VISA, MasterCard, or Discover credit/debit card.
You will receive an online driver's license certificate that you can use for 45 days until you receive your renewed driver's license in the mail. Contact the D.C. DMV to check the status of your driver's license renewal.
In Person
Depending on which you qualify for, upon renewal you will receive either a REAL IDOR a Limited Purpose driver's license. The limited purpose license CANNOT be used as identification to enter federal facilities or board domestic flights.
The license you'll receive depends on whether or not you have a Social Security number. If not, you'll receive a Limited Purpose license. The proofs to bring are as follows:
- REAL ID—proof of:
- Social Security number.*
- D.C. residency (2 documents) that are not from the same agency, company, or business.
- Limited Purpose driver's license—proof of:
- Identity.
- Residency, including:
- 2 documents from the acceptable proofs list, each dated at least 6 months ago and not from the same agency, company, or business.
- A completed Social Security Number Declaration for Limited Purpose Identification (Form DC DMV-SSN-001) affirming you've lived in the District for at least 6 months.
Driving License Renewal Dc State
To renew your Washington, D.C. driver's license in person, visit your nearest D.C. DMV office and bring:
- The appropriate documents listed above.
- A completed DC Driver License or Identification Card Application (Form DMVR-4).
- If you are 70 years old or older, your physician must complete the appropriate section on the form.
- Your current D.C. driver's license.
- Payment for the $47 driver's license renewal fee.
Non-citizens must contact the DMV at (202) 737-4404 for information on renewing.
Out-of-State D.C. Residents & Military
Notice for Military Members Stationed in Germany
If you are currently stationed in Germany, please be aware that some states require you to have a valid U.S. driver's license in addition to your USAREUR license. Read our article for more information.
If you're temporarily living outside of Washington D.C. you will only be able to renew online if you have a REAL ID driver's license. With the change to REAL ID-compliant cards on May 1st, 2014, your personal information must be on file with the DMV. This information includes proof of:
- Identity (full legal name and birthdate).
- Social Security number.
- Lawful presence in the United States.
- D.C. residency.
Renewal Fees
The cost to renew your Washington, D.C. driver's license is $47 and your renewed license will be valid for 8 years.
Washington, D.C. DMV offices currently accept the following payment methods:
- Cash.
- Check.
- Money orders.
- VISA, Discover, or MasterCard.
Online renewals must be paid by VISA, Discover, or MasterCard credit/debit card.
Some offices may not accept a specific payment method. Be sure to contact your local D.C. DMV office before your visit to make sure your method of payment is accepted.
Forms
Renewal Driving Licence Form
This form is provided by your state's agency/department.
Please select one of the below to continue:
Email the link to this form