Drivers in the Military

Because the District of Columbia is the home of our nation's capital, there is always a large military presence in town. There are several bases in the area, with thousands of military personnel stationed here at any given time.

At the same time, many of our local soldiers have been deployed to far-flung locations―so they can't return to the local Department of Motor Vehicles in person when it's time to renew their driver's license and registration. Fortunately, the DMV has made some concessions for our men and women in uniform.

Absentee Driver's License Renewal

When you are temporarily living more than 200 miles away from the District, you may qualify to use the absentee renewal process for your driver's license. This renewal will be valid for five years.

Your absentee license will have your temporary address on it. When you return to the District of Columbia, you must visit a DMV service location within 72 hours to update your permanent address information.

To handle your absentee driver's license renewal through the mail, gather the following materials:

• A photocopy of your current District of Columbia driver's license

• A completed Driver's License Application

• Proof of your temporary out-of-state residency

• A $39 renewal fee

Mail this paperwork to:

• DMV

• 301 C St. NW

• Room 1157

• Washington, DC 20001

Replacing a Lost License

If you are living abroad and lose your license, you may replace it online. There are a few stipulations, however.

If you have changed your name or your license is due to expire within 10 days, you won't be able to request a replacement online. Also, if the DMV doesn't have your out-of-state address on file, you can't request a replacement online because the DMV will mail your replacement license only to the address that it has on record.

Renewing Your Vehicle Registration

While you are living outside of the District, you'll want to keep your car's registration up to date. You can either renew online if you can meet the requirements, or you can process your renewal through the mail.

If you have kept the DMV apprised of your current address, you will receive a registration renewal reminder in the mail. This packet contains a return envelope. Simply follow the directions and enclose your payment, and a new registration sticker will be mailed to you.