Colorado License Renewal

A standard Colorado driver license is valid for 5 years and expires on the holder's birthday. The Division of Motor Vehicles offers three renewal channels — online through myDMV, by mail, and in person at any driver license office — and which one you can use depends on the upgrade history of your license, your age, and whether you're a U.S. citizen.

When you can renew

Colorado lets you renew up to one year before the expiration date. The new card carries forward your remaining time and adds 5 years from the original expiration, so renewing early does not cost you days. After the license has been expired for more than a year, the renewal becomes a re-application: you'll have to take the knowledge test and possibly the road test again.

Online renewal through myDMV

Online renewal is the fastest channel — the new card is mailed in 7-15 business days for a fee of $30.87. Online renewal is available when:

• You hold a Colorado driver license (not an instruction permit or Minor Driver License).
• You are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident with documents already on file.
• The current license is not suspended, revoked, or canceled.
• You did not renew online in the previous renewal cycle (Colorado requires a new in-person photo every other cycle, so most drivers can renew online once and visit an office the next time).
• Your name, address, and other personal information have not changed since the last renewal.
• You are under age 65 (some 65+ renewals are allowed online, but vision verification can be required).

If any of those conditions doesn't apply, the system will route you to a counter visit when you start the online flow.

Renewal by mail

Mail-in renewal is available for active-duty military and out-of-state Colorado residents. The DMV mails a renewal packet on request after you complete the DR-2189 form (Affidavit of Out-of-State Resident). The packet includes a vision exam form to be completed by a licensed optometrist; a check or money order for $30.87 is mailed back with the documents. Turnaround is 4-6 weeks, so military families often start the process 60 days before expiration.

In-person renewal

An in-person visit is required when:

• You renewed online or by mail at the prior cycle (the every-other-cycle photo rule).
• You're upgrading from a Standard license to a REAL ID compliant license.
• Your name has changed because of marriage, divorce, or court order.
• The license has been expired for more than 1 year.
• You're 21 or older renewing a Minor Driver License after age-out.

Walk-ins are accepted but appointments through myDMV typically eliminate the wait. Bring the current license, the document set listed on the Colorado driver license page if you're upgrading to REAL ID, and the renewal fee.

Vision and medical screening

Drivers 21 to 65 are not required to retest vision unless flagged by the DMV. Drivers 65 and older renewing in person must pass a 20/40 corrected vision screen at the counter. Drivers reporting a medical condition that affects driving — diabetes, seizures, stroke recovery — may receive a Driver Examiner Section referral and have to submit a medical evaluation form completed by their physician.

Address and name changes at renewal

If your address has changed, update it through myDMV (free) before you start the renewal — Colorado law requires updates within 30 days of a move. Name changes require a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order and must be done in person. See the address and name change page for the full document checklist.

Renewal fees and tier upgrades

Standard 5-year renewal: $30.87. REAL ID upgrade at renewal: same fee — there is no surcharge. Replacement card after a lost or damaged license: $13.54 in addition to renewal if both are filed at the same time. Active-duty military stationed out of state can request a no-fee renewal extension if the license expires while deployed.

What expired-license drivers should know

Driving on a Colorado license that expired more than 60 days ago is a Class B traffic infraction with a fine and potential 2 points on the record. Insurance carriers may also raise rates if the expiration window goes past 90 days. The simplest fix is to schedule a myDMV appointment, complete the renewal, and resume driving the same day on the interim paper license issued at the counter.