West Virginia License Renewal

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

A West Virginia driver license can renew on a 5-year or 8-year cycle, with the licensee choosing at issuance and at every renewal. Most renewals can be completed online through the WV DMV's online services portal — but federal REAL ID rules and state vision-screening rules require an in-person visit at certain renewal cycles. Plan your renewal a month before the card expires to avoid any gap in valid licensure.

The cycle choice at renewal

At every renewal, drivers ages 21 to 69 can switch between a 5-year and 8-year cycle. The decision is made at the point of payment:

5-year cycle: approximately $28.50.
8-year cycle: approximately $45.50.

Drivers under 21 are restricted to the 5-year cycle. Drivers 70 and older renew on a 5-year cycle with mandatory vision screening at each renewal. The 8-year cycle is locked at issuance — you cannot switch mid-cycle to a 5-year cycle without a full renewal.

When you can renew

West Virginia allows licensees to renew up to 180 days before the expiration date. The new card carries the next 5-year or 8-year cycle, expiring on the licensee's birthday. Renewing early does not "save" days from the prior cycle — the next cycle starts on the day the new card is issued.

Online renewal

Online renewal through the WV DMV's online services portal and the DMV Now mobile app is the most convenient option. To qualify for online renewal, the licensee must:

Hold a current West Virginia driver license that is not suspended, revoked, or expired.
Be under age 70.
Have a valid photo and signature on file from a previous in-person visit (no more than 8 years old).
Not be renewing a REAL ID card for the first time — first REAL ID issuance must be in person.
Have no outstanding personal property tax obligations on registered vehicles.

The portal accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. The new card is mailed within 7-10 business days. The portal handles both the 5-year and 8-year cycle options and the cycle switch.

In-person renewal

Drivers must renew in person at any of the WV DMV's regional offices when:

Renewing a REAL ID card for the first time.
The previous photo on file is older than 8 years.
The licensee is age 70 or older (vision screening required).
The license is currently suspended, revoked, or expired by more than 90 days.
The licensee has changed their name (see address and name change).
An out-of-state-triggered hold is on the record.

Document checklist for in-person renewal

If you're renewing in person and upgrading to a REAL ID for the first time, bring:

Current West Virginia driver license.
Identity document: certified U.S. birth certificate or valid U.S. passport.
Social Security number proof: SSN card, W-2, or SSA-1099.
Two West Virginia residency documents from two different sources, dated within the last 60 days.
Name change documentation if applicable: marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.

Vision screening

West Virginia requires a vision screening at every in-person renewal regardless of age, and at every renewal for licensees 70 or older. Most WV DMV offices have a screening device at the counter, and the test takes less than a minute. If the licensee fails the screening, the WV DMV may issue a corrective-lens restriction or require a Medical Eligibility Form completed by a licensed eye-care professional.

Late renewal and the 90-day window

If the license expires before renewal, West Virginia grants a 90-day grace window during which the holder can renew without retesting. Driving on an expired license, however, is a moving violation regardless of how recently it expired. After 90 days, the holder must apply as a new licensee, including the knowledge test and possibly the road test. Pulling a current copy of your West Virginia driver record before renewal is a good way to confirm the cycle date.

Senior renewal procedures

Drivers 70 and older renew on a 5-year cycle with mandatory in-person vision screening at every renewal. The WV DMV may require additional medical evaluation for drivers reporting medical conditions that could affect safe driving. The cycle is the same length as the standard 5-year cycle for drivers under 70, but in-person renewal is required regardless of online eligibility otherwise.