Renewing Your License

All Louisiana driver's license and non-driver identification card holders will receive a renewal notice 100 days before the expiration date of the license or card.

If there's no need for you to make a personal appearance, you'll receive a renewal invitation, inviting you to renew online, by mail, or using the interactive voice response (IVR). Your invitation will also include a voter registration application.

Once the invitation is mailed, your record is flagged as "IM" (invitation mailed).

Renewal Processes

Louisiana conveniently offers you the options of renewing your driver's license or identification card in one of four ways:

• In person at an Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV)

• By mail

• Online

• Over the telephone with interactive voice response (IVR)

OMV Renewals

If you prefer renewing your driver's license or identification card in person, head out to your local OMV location. Take your license or card, along with your proof of insurance if you own a vehicle. You'll also need to bring payment for the appropriate fees, depending on the length of your renewal and any endorsements.

Mail Renewals

If you're eligible to renew by mail, you'll need to download and complete the Application for License or Identification Card using the free Adobe Reader. Indicate that you're using the application for renewal purposes.

The fees for renewals by mail are as follows:

• Class E: $21.50

• Class D : $36.50

• Class D (New Orleans): $44

Note that all motorcycle endorsement renewals add an extra $8 to your fee.

Mail the application, along with the appropriate fees, to:

• Office of Motor Vehicles

• Vehicle Renewal Mail-In Unit

• P.O. Box 64886

• Baton Rouge, LA 70896

Online and IVR Renewals

If you've received an invitation to renew online or by IVR, your specific instructions will be included on the invitation.

You'll need to visit Louisiana's Driver's License Renewal or Identification Card Renewal Web pages.

In short, renewing online is a five-step process that requires your driver's license or identification card, a valid credit card, and your renewal invitation. Make sure the computer you're using has Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher or Netscape 4.73 or higher.

Before you pay, the system will explain your specific fees to you. You'll then be given the option to authorize payment.

Per the Louisiana Revised Statute 49?.1, you'll be charged extra for the electronic commerce State Charge.

To renew using IVR, simply call 1-888-956-5111 and follow your specific instructions, including those on the invitation.

Expirations

The Louisiana OMV understands that unexpected events can get us a bit sidetracked. That's why the state allows license and card holders to renew up to 180 days before the expiration date.

Louisiana also allows a 10 day "grace period" of sorts, meaning you have 10 days after the day your license expires to renew it without being charged a $15 late fee. However, this doesn't protect you from being issued a traffic citation if you're caught driving with an expired license.

If you let your license expire for at least one year, you'll be required to take the vision and written exams again. If you let it expire for two years or more, you'll be required to take the vision, written, and driving exams again.

Remember

Per Section 1, Policy 4.01, you can't renew your license or card by mail, online, or using IVR every time. In other words, if you used the online renewal option last time, you'll need to renew in person next time. This is so a new picture can be taken. This is pretty easy to keep up with, as the OMV won't mail you an invitation if it's time for you to have another picture taken.

If you are eligible to renew by mail, online, or using IVR, but you need to make any name and/or address changes, you must instead renew at your local OMV location.

Those who renew by mail, online, or using IVR won't receive a new license or card. They'll receive a renewal sticker to be attached to the back of the license or card.

For more information regarding driver's licenses and identification cards, refer to our entire Driver's License and ID section.