Renewing an Alabama Driver's License
Alabama issues most driver's licenses on a 4-year cycle, with the federally compliant STAR ID on an 8-year cycle since 2024. Renewals can be completed online, by mail, or in person at any of the roughly 70 ALEA Driver License Examining Offices, with the in-person photo update required every other cycle if you're not upgrading to STAR ID.
When you can renew
ALEA allows renewals up to 180 days before the expiration date on the front of the license. The agency mails a renewal notice to the address on file roughly 60 days before expiration. The notice includes a renewal access code that streamlines online and mail processing. If your license has been expired for less than 60 days, you can usually still renew without retesting; past 60 days you may need to retake the knowledge test.
Renew online through MyDMV
You're eligible for online renewal if all of the following are true:
- Your license is not expired by more than 60 days.
- Your most recent renewal was completed in person at an ALEA office (you alternate cycles).
- You're at least 17 and not yet 64 (seniors renew in person).
- Your address, name, and other personal details have not changed.
- You don't need a STAR ID upgrade — STAR ID upgrades require an in-person visit with full document verification.
The online process at the Alabama MyDMV portal takes about five minutes. Pay with a credit or debit card, and the renewed license is mailed in 7-14 business days. Print the email receipt as proof of valid licensure during the wait.
Renew by mail
If you receive a mail-eligible renewal notice, you can renew by sending the notice, a check or money order for the fee, and any required certifications (vision report for senior renewals) to the ALEA address printed on the notice. Mail renewals add 2-3 weeks to processing time and don't include a temporary license — keep your unexpired card.
Renew in person
An in-person renewal at any ALEA Driver License Examining Office is required if you:
- Are upgrading to STAR ID for the first time.
- Renewed online or by mail in the previous cycle.
- Have a name change since the last renewal.
- Are 65 or older — seniors require in-person renewal with a vision check.
- Have had a license suspension or revocation in the prior cycle.
Bring the current license, any name-change documents, and the full STAR ID document set if upgrading. The office takes a new photo and issues a temporary paper license valid until the permanent card arrives.
Renewal fees
The standard Alabama 4-year renewal fee is $36.25. The 8-year STAR ID renewal fee is approximately the same per-year cost (consult the ALEA fee schedule for current pricing). MyDMV accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express; in-person offices also accept cash and check.
Vision screening
Drivers must pass a vision screening at every in-person renewal, and at every renewal — including online — for drivers 65 and older. The standard is 20/40 in at least one eye with or without corrective lenses. Drivers who don't meet the standard can submit a vision specialist's report on the official ALEA form to qualify for a restricted license (corrective lenses, daylight only, or both).
Senior driver rules
Drivers age 65 and older must renew in person at every cycle and pass a vision screening at each renewal. There is no general road-test requirement for seniors, but ALEA can request a re-examination if a physician, family member, or law enforcement officer files a report of impaired driving — see the suspended license page for re-examination procedure.
STAR ID upgrades
Upgrading from a regular Class D to a STAR ID requires an in-person visit with the full federal document set:
- Identity document (certified U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport).
- Social Security number proof.
- Two proofs of Alabama residency.
- Documentation of every name change since the identity document was issued (chain of marriage, divorce, or court orders).
The STAR ID is required for boarding domestic flights and entering federal facilities since the federal REAL ID enforcement deadline. Plan to complete the upgrade well before any planned air travel.
Late and expired licenses
If your Alabama license has been expired for more than 60 days, you may need to retake the knowledge test before renewing. After 90 days, ALEA may require a road test as well, treating the renewal essentially as a new application. The reissue path is detailed on the Alabama driver's license page. Driving on an expired license is a separate violation that can add points under the Alabama point system.
For a side-by-side of renewal rules in other states, see our national license renewal guide.