Renewing Your License

Renewing by Mail

Renewing your Michigan driver license is easiest by mail; there's no hunting for parking spaces, no standing in lines, and no need to comb your hair for another bad driver license photo.

Your license expires on your birthday every four years or, if you're under 21, on your 21st birthday. About five weeks before it expires, the Secretary of State will send you a notice of renewal to the last address on file for you.

If you've moved, you should already have submitted a change of address form. If you haven't, you can update your address on the renewal form.

Your notice will tell you if you're eligible to renew by mail or in person. Generally, as long as you have a valid driver license, are not on the sex-offender registry, and have renewed in person previously, you'll be eligible to renew by mail.

If so, check your renewal information to make sure it's accurate, fill in the blanks for your height, weight, and eye color, update your address if needed, and sign the renewal form.

Renewing your driver license costs $18. Make the check payable to the State of Michigan. To pay with a credit card, fill out the credit card portion of the worksheet. Then, mail it to:

• Michigan Department of State

• 7064 Crowner Dr.

• Lansing, MI 48980-0001

Make sure you allow plenty of time for processing; about two weeks will do. If you wait too long and have less than a two-week window until your license expires, you probably should renew in person at a branch office.

You'll also need to renew your license in person if you need to change your name on your license, if you'd like to add or drop any endorsements, or if you've had any physical or mental changes that could affect your driving.

Renewing in Person

If you've let your renewal notice sit on your kitchen table until it's too late to send in, trek down to a Secretary of State branch office. Don't forget to bring your soon-to-be expired license with you, or two forms of other acceptable identification.

If you renew in person, you'll undergo a vision test and have a new photo taken. You'll also need to remember your Social Security number, as regulations require the staff to request it. If you have six or more unpaid parking tickets, you won't be allowed to renew your license until they are paid.

The Secretary of State accepts Discover credit cards, but only at PLUS offices or SUPER!Centers. You'll need to pay the $18 renewal fee with cash, check, or money order at all branch offices.

Military Personnel

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