License Renewal in New Jersey

Renewing Your Driver's License in New Jersey

When your New Jersey driver's license expires, you must renew your license with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

On this page you'll find information on how to renew your New Jersey driver license in person or by mail, as well as how to renew if you're a military member or currently out-of-state.

If you need to renew your NJ commercial drivers license (CDL), please see our Renewing Your CDL in New Jersey page.

If you need to renew your New Jersey identification card, please see our page on New Jersey Identification Cards.

When to Renew Your NJ Driver's License

Your New Jersey driver's license is valid for 4 years.

Before your driver license expires, you can renew it in person or by mail (if eligible). You cannot renew your NJ driver's license online.

Requirements differ based on whether your license is:

  • Valid.
  • Suspended.
  • Lost, stolen, or damaged.

Valid Driver's License

If you hold a valid NJ driver's license, you can renew before the expiration date. If your license expires in the next 20 days, you will need to renew it in person at the MVC. There is no grace period for expired licenses, once the license expires it is no longer valid.

Suspended Driver's License

You cannot renew a suspended driver's license in New Jersey. You must pay a $100 fee to have it reinstated first.

If you haven't already done so, you'll need to surrender your suspended NJ driver's license by visiting your local NJ MVC agency or mailing it to:

Motor Vehicle Commission
P.O. Box 132
Trenton, NJ 08666

Do not drive with a suspended driver's license in New Jersey. If you do, you can be sentenced to up to fines and jail time.

For more information, please see our NJ Suspended License page.

Check Your New Jersey Driving Record

Is your driver's license valid or suspended? Check your driving record to find out.

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Driver's License

If your NJ driver's license is lost, stolen or damaged, but it is/was due for a renewal, you can renew it instead of replacing it.

Otherwise, you can request a driver's license replacement. For more information, please see our Replacing a Lost License in New Jersey page.

Do not drive without a valid driver's license.

Renew a NJ Driver's License

In New Jersey, you have the option to renew:

  • In person.
  • By mail.

In-Person Renewal

To renew your NJ driver's license in person, visit your local New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office and bring:

  • 1 primary document proving your identity, such as your:
    • Birth certificate.
    • U.S. passport.
    • Current New Jersey drivers license.
  • 1 secondary document proving your identity, such as your:
    • Military ID.
    • Marriage certificate.
    • College ID and transcript.
  • Your Social Security number (SSN).
  • Proof of your address, such as:
    • Utility bills, issued in the last 90 days.
    • Bank statements, issued in the last 60 days.
    • School transcripts, issued in the last 2 years.
  • Payment. See the “Fees to Renew Your NJ Driver License" section below.

For more accepted documents, please use the online document selector or see the complete list.

NOTE: You will be required to pass the NJ DMV's periodic vision tests when renewing a NJ drivers license.

By-Mail Renewal

If you are eligible to renew your NJ driver's license by mail, the NJ DMV will send you a “Skip the Trip" renewal package.

To renew by mail, follow the instructions in your “Skip the Trip" package and:

  • Complete the application.
  • Include a check or money order for the renewal fee. See the “Fees to Renew Your NJ Driver License" section below.

Mail your documents back to the NJ MVC as instructed in your renewal package.

Once the New Jersey MVC processes your renewal and payment, you will receive a new NJ driver license within 10 business days. If you don't receive it, you can check the status of your driver's license renewal by contacting the DMV.

NOTE: If your NJ driver's license expires within 20 days, you should renew it in person at your local NJ DMV office. See the “In-Person Driver's License Renewal" section above for more information.

Military Driver License Renewal

Notice for Military Members Stationed in Germany

If you are currently stationed in Germany, please be aware that some states require you to have a valid U.S. driver's license in addition to your USAREUR license. Read our article for more information.

You will automatically receive an extension on your NJ driver's license if you are:

  • An active-duty military member.
  • A NJ National Guard/Reserve member.

Your NJ driver license will not expire until you are discharged.

Make sure to carry an extension letter and your active-duty military papers with you when you drive.

Out-of-State NJ Residents

If you will be outside the tri-state area when your NJ driver's license expires, you can renew your drivers license by mail.

To be eligible for an out-of-state renewal, you must:

  • Be a New Jersey resident.
  • Have a Class D or D/M driver license.
  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be absent from the tri-state area for an extended period. 
  • Possess a digital driver’s license. 
  •  Have a driver’s license that is expired, about to expire, or has been lost for less than 3 years.

To renew your NJ driver's license by mail, you will need:

  • A letter explaining why you are out of state, when you will return, and what your out-of-state address is.
  • A completed driver license application (Form BA-208).
    • Get the form in person at a NJ DMV office, or have the form mailed to you by calling:
      • (609) 292-6500.
      • TTY for hearing impaired: 7-1-1 NJ Relay.
  • 1 primary document proving your identity, such as your:
    • Birth certificate.
    • U.S. passport.
    • Current New Jersey driver's license.
  • 1 secondary document proving your identity, such as your:
    • Military ID.
    • Marriage certificate.
    • College ID and transcript.
  • Proof of your New Jersey address, such as:
    • Utility bills issued in the last 90 days.
    • Bank statements issued in the last 60 days.
    • School transcripts issued in the last 2 years.
  • Payment for your renewal fee. See the “Fees to Renew Your NJ Driver License" section below.
  • A prepaid tracking envelope.

Send all of the above documents to:

NJ Motor Vehicle Commission
Government/Out-of-State Unit
225 East State Street
P.O. Box 016
Trenton, NJ 08666

Your proof of identity and New Jersey residency documents must be certified copies. For a full list of accepted documents, please use the online document selector or see the complete list.

Fees to Renew Your New Jersey Driver License

It will cost you the following fees to renew your New Jersey driver's license for 4 years:

  • Class D/E: $24.
  • Class D with motorcycle endorsement: $42.
  • Moped: $6
  • Motorcycle: $24.

NJ DMV offices accept payment by:

  • Credit/debit card.
  • Check.
  • Money order.
  • Cash.

For driver license renewals by mail, payment must be made by check or money order only. Do not send cash.

Forms

BA-208
Application for Drivers License
Application for a New Jersey driver's license. Must be obtained at an MVC office. Not available online.
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