What paperwork do you need to renew your drivers license

A Florida driver's license typically expires eight years after the date it was issued. You can renew your license in person at a driver's license service center, and you may even qualify to renew your license online. You can renew your license up to 18 months before its expiration date.

You may not be able to renew your license in some situations. For example, you can't renew if you are no longer eligible to receive a license or if you have not responded to a court summons related to a traffic infraction. And you can't renew if your license has been suspended, revoked or canceled.

Online License Renewal Requirements

Online renewal is the most convenient way to renew your driver's license. However, there are some restrictions.

You cannot renew your Florida driver's license online if:

• You last renewed your license online, by mail or over the phone
• You are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• You are renewing a Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

In-Person License Renewal Requirements

You can go to a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) location to renew your license. Visit the FLHSMV website to find a full list of driver's license service centers in your county.

The requirements to renew your Florida driver's license in person include:

• You must turn in your current license
• You must pass a vision test
• You must provide two approved documents for proof of address if your address has changed
• If your name has changed, you must provide approved documents that establish your new name.
• If you have not been issued a driver's license in person since Jan. 1, 2010, you need to bring with you one form of primary identification, two proofs of address and proof of your social security number.

See the FLHSMV What to Bring page for more details on the approved forms of documentation required for renewal. Documentation requirements may be different if you are Canadian, an immigrant or a nonimmigrant (a person staying in the United States temporarily).

Renewal Requirements for Seniors and Older Drivers

If you are 80 years of age or older, you must renew your license every six years. You are also required to pass a vision test to renew. You can take the test at a FLHSMV location during the license renewal process, but you may be able to take the test in other locations. See the Official Florida Driver License Handbook or contact the FLHSMV for more information.

Real ID

Real ID was introduced in 2010 to add improved security features to state-issued licenses and ID cards. If it's time for you to renew your driver's license, you should request a Real ID-compliant license. You must renew in person to obtain one.

Effective Oct. 1, 2020, you will need a Real ID-compliant driver's license to board a plane at a commercial airport. Otherwise, you will have to bring two forms of identification.

License Renewal for Military Personnel and Family

Military personnel who expect to be deployed or stationed outside of Florida should plan to renew their driver's license early. You can renew up to 18 months before your license's expiration date. If you are out of state or deployed, you can renew online if you meet the normal requirements for online renewals.

Military Extension Cards

If you are on active duty and stationed away from Florida, you and any immediate family members who live with you (spouse, daughter, son and step-children) can apply for a free military extension card that extends your driving privilege each year.

Your military extension card will keep your license valid until:

• 90 days after your discharge
• You return to Florida to reside
• You obtain a new Florida driver's license or ID card

See the FLHSMV military extension application for step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a military extension card.