License Renewal in Kentucky

Renew Your Driver's License in Kentucky

To continue driving legally in Kentucky, you need to make sure your driver's license is valid. Before it expires, you must renew it with your local county of residence KY Circuit Court Clerk's office.

On this page you'll find information on renewing your Kentucky drivers license in person, plus exemptions for military members.

If you need to renew your KY commercial drivers license (CDL), please see our guide on renewing your CDL in Kentucky.
If you need to renew your ID card, please see our KY Identification Cards page.

When to Renew Your KY Driver License

Your Kentucky drivers license is valid for 4 years or 8 years.

If you are 21 years old or older, your license will expire 31 days after your birthday.
If you are under 21 years old, your license will expire 90 days after your 21st birthday.

You must renew your Kentucky driver's license in person at your local KY Circuit Court Clerk's office. You cannot renew it online or by mail. Beginning January 1, 2025, you will be required pass a a vision test when you renew a Kentucky driver’s license

NOTE: If you are a military member on active duty, you can renew your Kentucky driver's license by mail. Please see the “Military Member Renewals" section below.

When you can renew depends on whether your KY driver's license is:

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

Valid Driver's License

If you are 21 years old or older, you can renew your Kentucky drivers license up to:

6 months before it expires.
5 year after it expires.

Suspended Driver's License

If your Kentucky driver license is suspended, you must reinstate it before you can renew it. You'll need to pay a $40 reinstatement fee.

For more information, please see our Suspended License in Kentucky page.

Check Your Driving Record

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

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Driver's License

If your Kentucky drivers license is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can still renew it, but you may need to provide:

Your birth certificate.
Your Social Security card.
Proof of your KY address, such as your:
- Utility bill.
- Mortgage documents.
- Property tax bill.

If you'd like to request a replacement driver's license, please see our Replacing a Lost License in Kentucky page.

Renewing Your KY Driver's License

To renew your Class D driver's license, you must visit your local county of residence Circuit Court Clerk's office. in person and pay the $48 renewal fee.

You cannot renew your KY driver's license online or by mail, UNLESS you are an active-duty military member stationed outside of Kentucky. See Out-of-State Kentucky Military Members below for details.

Name and Address Changes

If your name or address has changed, you'll need to report the change to the Kentucky DMV within 10 days. You can do this when you renew your driver's license.

For a name change, you'll need to provide one of the following:

Marriage certificate.
Court order.
Divorce decree.

For an address change, you'll need to provide a proof of your residency, such as a:

Postmarked letter with your name and address.
House deed.
Rental agreement.

If you are not eligible for a renewal, but need to change your name or address, you'll need to replace your KY driver's license. It will cost $15 for a duplicate with your new information on it.

For more information on changing your name and address in Kentucky, please see the following pages:

Out-of-State Kentucky Military Members

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.

If you are an active duty military member stationed outside of Kentucky you can renew your expired driver license within 90 days of returning to the state.

You can also renew your Class D driver's license by mail.

You'll need to contact your local Kentucky Circuit Court Clerk's office. It will provide you with a drivers license renewal application and instructions.

Non-U.S. Citizen Driver's License Renewal

If you are not a U.S. citizen, your Kentucky driver's license will be valid for either:

The length of your legal stay.
4 years, if the duration of your legal presence is not specified and you are listed as “Special Status."
OR
4 years, if your legal stay is not specified and you are not listed as “Special Status."

If your temporary driver's license has expired, you'll need to visit your local Kentucky Circuit Court Clerk's office and provide:

A completed Non-U.S. Citizen Application (form TC 94-152).
Your updated legal presence documents, such as your visa and I-94 card/number.
Proof of employment, if you have a working visa.
Your Social Security number (SSN), tax ID number, or proof of ineligibility.
A completed USCIS School Compliance Non-U.S. Citizen Driver Licensing & Personal Identification Application (form TC 94-159), if you are also an out-of-state student.

Forms

TC 94-152: Non-U.S. Citizen Application; Submit this form to the DDL if you're not a U.S. citizen and want to apply for a Kentucky driver's license, learner's permit, OR state ID card.

TC 94-159: USCIS School Compliance Non-U.S. Citizen Driver Licensing/ Personal Identification Application; If you're not a U.S. citizen, submit this completed form to the Division of Driver Licensing to verify your enrollment in school when applying for a KY driver's license OR identification card.