Drivers in the Military

Drivers who are among the brave men and women in the U.S. armed forces, along with their husbands and wives, may qualify for some extended deadlines and exceptions from Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS).

Active military individuals who are licensed Minnesota drivers may not necessarily have to renew their licenses when they expire. However, when it comes to vehicle registration, active military men and women are not exempt from registration and renewal requirements.

Active Duty Military and Spouses: Driver's License Renewal

As long as you are on active duty in the U.S. military, you do not have to renew your expired Minnesota license until after you are discharged from the military. This is regardless of how long you have served in one of the U.S. military branches.

If you are a spouse of an active duty military member, you are also exempt from license renewal if you do not live in Minnesota during the time of active duty.

Discharge from Active Duty Military

However, as a Minnesota driver's license or identification card holder, you must renew your expired license or ID card within 90 days of being discharged from the military. To renew then, you'll need to present your expired Minnesota license and DD214 discharge papers at a DVS location.

Notifying DVS

To make sure that your driving records are maintained after your license expires, you should notify Minnesota DVS of your military status. Send a written statement indicating military status to the following address:

• DVS

• 445 Minnesota St.

• St. Paul, MN 55101

You can also contact Minnesota DVS via email at: motor.vehicles@state.mn.us