Florida Driver License Renewal

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Florida driver licenses run on an 8-year cycle for drivers under 80, and a 6-year cycle for drivers 80 and older with a vision screening at every renewal. Most Florida drivers can renew online through the GoRenew portal — but only every other cycle, since federal REAL ID rules require an in-person renewal once every 16 years.

When to renew

Florida lets drivers renew up to 18 months before expiration without losing time on the new cycle. After expiration, you have a 1-year window to renew without retesting; after that, the license is considered expired more than a year and FLHSMV may require a fresh knowledge test.

Online renewal through GoRenew

GoRenew.com is FLHSMV's online renewal portal for both driver licenses and vehicle registrations. The driver license renewal is available if:

You hold a Florida REAL ID-marked Class E license (every Florida license issued since 2010 is REAL ID).
You're between 18 and 79 years old.
You renewed in person at the prior cycle (online renewal is allowed only once between in-person renewals).
You have no medical condition that would require a new screening.
You have no driving suspensions or holds.

The online renewal fee is $48 plus a small portal convenience fee. The new card is mailed in 7-10 business days. Drivers can also use a Florida MyDMV mobile portal launched in 2022.

In-person renewal

An in-person renewal at a Tax Collector branch is required when:

This is your second renewal cycle in a row online (you must alternate online and in-person under federal REAL ID rules).
You're 80 or older — Florida requires an in-person vision screening at every senior renewal.
The license has been expired more than 12 months.
Your name has changed since the last renewal.
The current photo on file is older than 12 years.

For an in-person renewal, plan to bring identity, citizenship, SSN, and Florida residency documents — the same checklist used for a new Florida driver license. The Tax Collector takes a new photo, performs a vision screening, and prints the new card on the spot.

Renewal fees

The standard Florida Class E renewal fee is $48 for the 8-year cycle. The 6-year senior cycle costs $36 (still cheaper per year). Both fees usually carry a $6.25 service fee at the Tax Collector counter. Online GoRenew renewals add a small convenience fee.

Out-of-state renewal

Florida lets active-duty military and their spouses renew by mail using HSMV 71142 with a copy of military orders. Civilians temporarily out of state can use the GoRenew online renewal if they qualify, but otherwise must travel back to Florida or wait until they're inside the in-person renewal cycle. Florida does not maintain reciprocal in-person renewal with other states.

What's checked at every renewal

Florida cross-checks renewal applications against:

Voter registration — the GoRenew portal asks if you want to update voter registration with the renewal.
Selective Service — males 18-25 must be registered before the license renews.
Outstanding suspensions or hardship orders — clears or blocks the renewal.
Outstanding tickets through the Florida Courts E-Filing portal — see Florida traffic tickets.
Outstanding child support enforcement actions.

Driving with an expired license

Driving with a Florida license expired more than 6 months is a second-degree misdemeanor under FS §322.03 — up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. Most courts treat first-time offenses as a fine-only matter, but the citation lands on your Florida driving record and your insurer sees it.