Driving around without a valid driver’s license is almost as bad as driving around without car insurance! In general, you can renew your Pennsylvania driver’s license online, through the mail, or in person at an authorized online messenger center. In most cases, the fee to renew a Pennsylvania license is $36.50, and it takes up to two weeks to arrive by mail.
- You can renew your Pennsylvania driver’s license online, via mail, or in person at a DMV location.
- Four-year license renewals are subject to a $36.50 fee, while for drivers age 65 and older, two-year license renewal fees are $26.
- If your license has been expired for an extended period, you may be subject to late fees or have to retake certain tests to renew your license.
When to renew your driver’s license in Pennsylvania
Check your driver’s license for the expiration date. On a PA license card, the expiration date can be found above your signature and below the issued date.
A Pennsylvania driver’s license is valid for four years and expires the day after the driver’s birthday. If you’re 65 or older, you may renew your license every two years rather than every four years.
To make things easy: PennDOT sends an invitation to renew your license three months before the expiration date.
How to renew your driver’s license in Pennsylvania
There are three ways to renew your driver’s license in Pennsylvania:
- Online
- Through the mail
- In person
You’ll pay the same renewal fee no matter how you renew your license, so you should choose the best option for your schedule. The standard four-year license renewal fee is $36.50, while drivers 65 and older must pay a $26 fee for a two-year renewal.
If your license is already expired: the renewal process will generally work the same way as a regular driver’s license renewal, but you may need to pay a late fee or retake certain tests depending on how much time has passed.
Renew your license online
As long as you’re not applying for a REAL ID-compliant license for the first time and there have been no changes to your name or address, you can renew your license online through the PennDOT website.
To complete the transaction as smoothly as possible, have the following documents on hand:
- Your driver’s license or permit number
- A printer
- A valid credit card or debit card
You will need to pay a $36.50 fee plus any additional processing fees to complete the transaction.
PennDOT added the online renewal option in 2020. It’s certainly the most convenient method of the bunch, so be sure to take advantage of it. If your license has been expired for six months or more, you will lose your online renewal eligibility.
Renew your license by mail
If you’d like to renew your license by mail, wait for your invitation to renew (DL60A/DL60R) to arrive by mail, fill it out, and send it back. If you didn’t receive a reminder, you may apply for renewal with Form DL-143.
Include a check or money order totaling $30.50 made payable to “PennDOT.” Then, return the completed form and payment to the following address:
Bureau of Driver Licensing
P.O. Box 68272
Harrisburg, PA 17106-8272
If you would like to contribute to the Organ Donation Awareness Trust Fund, include an additional $3.00 and check the appropriate box. If you’re not already registered to vote, you may also request a registry application on the form.
You should receive a camera card within 7-10 business days after your form is processed. Take the camera card and appropriate identification to any photo license center.
Use PennDOT’s photo center ID checklist for acceptable forms of identification. The center may also ask you to verify the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Renew your license in person
Renewing in person requires you to visit an approved online messenger center (OLM) first. The agent will ask you to:
- Complete the Non-Commercial Driver’s License Application for Renewal (Form DL-143) or your renewal invitation (DL60A/DL60R)
- Have your photo taken
- Present your Social Security card
- Show identification (your current PA driver’s license, passport, or photo ID card)
- Pay the $36.50 renewal fee
Through a random mailing process, drivers 45 and older may also be required to submit a physical and vision exam report before renewing their license.
And if your license has been expired for over two years, you will have to retake the written and driving exams.
If you haven’t been pre-verified for a REAL ID-compliant license, you must visit a driver’s license center to provide documentation in person.
How long does it take to renew a Pennsylvania driver’s license?
In most cases, you can expect your new license to arrive in the mail within 15 days.
Receiving your Pennsylvania driver’s license should be pretty hassle-free.
If you aren’t able to renew your license using the traditional methods, you can always call PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services at 717-412-5300.
Melanie Mergen is an insurance writer with more than 8 years of writing, research, and editing experience. She’s covered topics like car insurance, home insurance, finance, and car ownership for Jerry. Her mission in doing so is to help people secure and protect their most important assets while making the best possible use of their finances.
Prior to joining forces with Jerry, Melanie worked as a freelance content writer and editor, a teaching artist, and journalist. She received her Creative Writing MFA from Columbia University.
Bellina Gaskey is Jerry’s content editor and head of video. The Motor City native specializes in creating articles and video content car owners can use to reduce costs, master repair skills, and learn more about all things car. Bellina has edited nearly 2,000 articles on car ownership and home insurance topics, and scripted and appeared in over 350 videos on car ownership, insurance tips, and automotive news racking up more than three million views. Prior to joining Jerry, Bellina worked as a media consultant for a legal e-discovery startup and as a research assistant at the University of Michigan, where she completed a degree in Classical Languages and Literature.
