. Renewing your license costs $34 and it will be valid for eight years after you are done. You may have the option to renew your license online or in person.

Getting your driver’s license is exciting! Renewing it? Not so much. A lot of people forget that you have to renew your license, and driving with an expired one carries serious penalties if you’re caught. Renewing your license shouldn’t prove too difficult, so you should get it done as soon as you can.

When to renew your driver’s license in Wisconsin

You're able to renew your

Wisconsin driver's license

anytime within a year of the date that it expires.

You’ll generally receive a reminder in the mail about two months before it expires

If you’ve signed up for the electronic notification program, you’ll receive a text or email instead

If you aren’t sure when your license expires, it's easy to check—the expiration date is located to the right of your date of birth on the card.

It’s best to renew your license as early as possible, so doing so as early as one year before it expires is something you should consider. Renewing it as soon as you receive the reminder is good practice.

How to renew your driver’s license in Wisconsin

The standard way to renew your license in Wisconsin is to go in person to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In 2020, Wisconsin made it possible to renew your license online—although there are a few limitations.

Renew your license online

You’re permitted to renew your driver’s license

online in Wisconsin

every other time it expires. So if you went in person the last time you renewed, you may be eligible to do it online this time.

To be eligible to renew online, you must:

Be between 18 and 64 years old

Be renewing a Class D or Class M license

Have had no negative change in your vision

You can’t renew online if your license has been expired for over a year, and you’ll need a valid credit card to pay the fee.

Renew your license in person

If you can’t renew your license online, you’ll have to make the trip to the DMV. You need to bring along proof of identity when you go, and you’ll need to pass a vision test while you are there. You should also be prepared to fill out an

MV3001 Driver’s License Application

One advantage to renewing your license in person is that they will take a new photo of you while you are at the DMV.

Renew your license by mail

Although most people can’t renew their license by mail in Wisconsin, you can if you are active-duty military. If you don’t have time to renew your license, you can instead ask for an extension until you return to Wisconsin.

To apply for an extension, you or a loved one must send a signed statement to:

WisDOT - Division of Motor Vehicles

Driver Eligibility Unit

P.O. Box 7995

Madison, WI 53707-7995

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

If you renew your license online, you can expect to receive it by mail within 10 days. If you renew your license in person, you’ll receive a temporary license that is valid for 45 days. You can still expect your permanent license to take 10 days to arrive.

How to save money on car insurance in Wisconsin

Once you’ve taken care of renewing your license, the last thing on your mind might be dealing with car insurance. But if you take just a few minutes to revisit your plan, you may be able to save hundreds of dollars.

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FAQs

Is there a grace period for Wisconsin driver’s license renewal?

You should never

drive with an expired license

and doing so carries serious penalties. You can easily renew your license in Wisconsin within one year of its expiration.

If you wait longer than one year, you may have to take one or more knowledge tests before you can drive again.

Can I renew my Wisconsin driver’s license online?

If you are between the ages of 18 and 64, you may be able to renew your license online. You can only renew your license online every other time it expires. Online renewal is only an option for Class D or Class M licenses.

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