Renewing Your License

When to Renew

Maine noncommercial Class C driver's licenses must be renewed every five years. The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will notify you by mail at least 30 days before your license renewal is due. You can then renew your license for a $30 fee.

Rapid Renewal

The Maine BMV allows anyone with a digital noncommercial Class C driver's license to renew their license, or replace a lost license, through the Rapid Renewal Web site. All you need is your Social Security number and a valid MasterCard or Visa, as well as a printer connected to your computer.

The process prints out a temporary Maine license that is valid for 60 days. Your new Maine license will arrive through the mail within two to three weeks.

Restrictions

The Maine BMV Rapid Renewal system is not available to everyone. There are a slew of restrictions, including the following:

• You must have a digital license―the pink-highlighted license with a digital photo. If you do not have a digital license yet, you cannot use Rapid Renewal.

• You must be between the ages of 23 and 40, 46 and 51, or 58 and 61, and you must have processed your last digital renewal at a BMV office. This is because vision screenings are not required at these ages. If you're between the ages of 40 and 45, 52 and 57, and 62 and older, you will be required to take an eye exam at a BMV office at renewal.

• You can't renew a suspended license.

• You can't renew a commercial driver's license (CDL) online. You must go to a BMV office.

• You can't renew an out-of-state license.

• You must be at least 23 years old.

• If the digital photograph on file was taken before you turned 23, you need to have a new photo taken and cannot use Rapid Renewal.

• If you changed your name since your last renewal, you cannot use Rapid Renewal.

If you're restricted from using Rapid Renewal for any of the above-listed reasons―or if you don't have a credit card―you need to renew your license the old-fashioned way, by heading to the nearest Maine BMV office.

You need to bring your old license, your renewal notice from the BMV, and $30 to pay the fee. It might be less convenient, but you do get one advantage for appearing in person: You can often walk out with your new license in hand instead of having to wait two to three weeks for the license to be mailed to you.

Military Personnel

Each state’s motor vehicle agency will have different renewal policies for drivers in the military. See our Drivers in the Military page to find out how to handle your license renewal while you are stationed out of state.