How to Renew Your Driver’s License in West Virginia

In West Virginia, you have the option to renew your driver’s license online, in person, or by mail. The fee for renewing your license varies.
Written by Sean Boehme
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
You may have the option of renewing your driver’s license online, by mail, or in person in
West Virginia
. The fee for renewing your driver’s license is $5 for every year that it will be valid for, plus an additional 50 cents.
It’s pretty easy to forget that your driver’s license expires, but if you make the mistake of driving with an expired license you could face serious consequences. To avoid fines and other penalties you should renew your license ahead of time and for as long as you are permitted to.
If you’re a driver in West Virginia who’s curious about how and when you can renew your driver’s license, this guide compiled by the
car insurance
brokerage
Jerry
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When to renew your driver’s license in West Virginia

You’re likely to receive a reminder in the mail before your driver’s license expires in West Virginia. Even if you don’t get a reminder, you can check your license’s expiration date at any time. 
The expiration date is located either under your date of birth or on the right side of the card, depending on whether you have a REAL ID or not.
You’re allowed to renew your license up until six months after it expires. If you wish to renew your license after six months, you’ll have to retake tests before you drive again. 
It’s good practice to renew your license as soon as you receive a reminder. If you don’t get a reminder, you should try and renew it a few months before it expires

What is Drive for Five?

To make it easy on drivers, WV has implemented the
Drive for Five
program. Drive for Five makes it so that your driver’s license expires every fifth year, such as on your 30th, 35th, and 40th birthdays.
To get started with Drive for Five, you’ll have to go through one irregular renewal period that’s anywhere between three to seven years. After that, you’ll just have to renew it every five years

How to renew your driver’s license in West Virginia?

Depending on their eligibility, you may be able to renew online or by mail rather than in person.

Renew your license online

Most people prefer to renew their license online since it’s fast and you can do it from your own home. As long as you had renewed your license in person the last time, you may be able to do so online this time.
You can’t renew your license online if your license is suspended or you need to change your address. You also can’t renew online if you want to upgrade your license to a REAL ID. You can
check your eligibility here
.
You’ll have to pay $5 per year that your license will be valid for, plus an additional 50 cents. For five years it will cost you $25.50. The fee doesn’t change if you renew by mail or in person. 

Renew your license by mail

If you receive a reminder to renew your license, it will state whether or not you are eligible to do so by mail.
If you are allowed to renew your license by mail, you’ll need to assemble all of the materials listed on the reminder, such as photocopies or your identification as well as payment for the fee. 

Renew your license in person

If you renewed either by mail or online the last time your license expired, you’ll need to visit in person this time. Renewing your West Virginia driver’s license in person also allows you to upgrade to a REAL ID or change information such as your address and phone number.
You can
make an appointment
to visit the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and renew your license or you may be eligible to visit
a kiosk
. Keep in mind that the kiosks have many of the same eligibility requirements as renewing online and that you must be a US citizen to renew there.

How long does it take to renew a West Virginia driver’s license?

When you renew your license in West Virginia, you’ll be given a temporary license to use until your permanent license arrives. If you renew your license online, you’ll have to print it yourself. Your permanent license should arrive in under 60 days.
Since the materials have to arrive before your renewal can be processed, renewing by mail often takes longer than renewing online or in person would. 

How to save money on car insurance in West Virginia?

While you’re taking the time to renew your license, you should also revisit your car insurance plan. If you haven’t compared your options in a while, there is a good chance that you’re overspending
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FAQs

You should never
drive with an expired license
and the penalties for doing so are serious. The only
grace period
for an expired license in West Virginia driver’s license is for 30-days after you turn 21
As far as renewing your license, you can do so up to six months after it expires. Beyond six months, the renewal process will be more complicated and more expensive.
Sometimes. You can
check here
to see if you are eligible to renew online. You have to renew your license in person every other time it expires, so renewing online won’t always be an option.
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