Renewing Your License

When to Renew

There is a certain method to the expiration of your West Virginia driver's license. From the time you are eligible to receive your driver's license (at age 16), it will expire every two years until you reach age 21.

Once you renew it at age 21, your driver's license will begin expiring every five years, instead of every two years. This is called the "Drive for Five" program. However, once you reach this period you are allowed to renew your driver's license up to two years before it expires.

Renewing Your WV Driver's License

• When the time is drawing near to renew your driver's license, you should receive a card in the mail from the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles to remind you. This card will include information that you already have on your driver's license such as your height, weight, eye and hair color. The WV DMV includes this information on the card to allow you to prepare any changes that will need to be made once you renew your driver's license. These preparations must be made 20 days in advance of the day you plan to renew your license.

• Go to your local DMV office and take with you:

• The renewal fee that applies to you.

• One document that proves your identity and one document that proves your West Virginia residency.

Other Situations

• Usually, you have a short amount of time to act following the expiration date. If you renew your driver's license after the expiration date you will be charged an extra $5.

• If your driver's license has been expired for six months or longer, you will have to pay the extra $5, take all documents required of a first-time applicant, and retest all written and road exams.

• If your Social Security number isn't in the DMV's system, or the incorrect number is recorded in the system, you must provide a copy of your Social Security card, as well.

• If you aren't a citizen of the United States, you'll need to provide all documents that verify your legal status here, as well as proofs of identity and residency.

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.