How long before my birthday do I have to renew my California driver's license?

Traffic Laws Forum
1

Hey, I have a California driver’s license that expires on my birthday, April 5, 2025. I’m wondering when I should start the renewal process… Can I do it online, or do I need to go in person? IDK if it needs to be renewed 6 months before or sooner?

2

You can renew it up to 6 months before the expiration date! So you could do it anytime after October 5, 2024. You can do it online or in person at the DMV.

3

Quin said:
You can renew it up to 6 months before the expiration date! So you could do it anytime after October 5, 2024. You can do it online or in person at the DMV.

Oh nice, thanks! I wasn’t sure if it was earlier than that. I’ll probably just do it online to save time lol.

4

Quin said:
You can renew it up to 6 months before the expiration date! So you could do it anytime after October 5, 2024. You can do it online or in person at the DMV.

Yeah, online is super easy, but just make sure you have your RealID if you’re going for that option. If not, you’ll need to go in person.

5

@Reese
Ah, gotcha. I don’t have my RealID yet, so I might have to go to the DMV after all :sweat_smile:.

6

You should definitely check online, it’s way quicker than going to the DMV. Also, the DMV site lets you know if you’re eligible to renew online or if you need to do it in person.

7

Aeron said:
You should definitely check online, it’s way quicker than going to the DMV. Also, the DMV site lets you know if you’re eligible to renew online or if you need to do it in person.

That’s good to know! I’ll check the site first before making any decisions.

8

If you’re in California, they’ll usually send you a renewal notice a few months before your license expires. Keep an eye out for that too!

9

Mackenzie said:
If you’re in California, they’ll usually send you a renewal notice a few months before your license expires. Keep an eye out for that too!

I didn’t know that! Hopefully, it arrives soon so I don’t miss it.

10

Renewing is pretty straightforward. If you’re over a certain age (like 70+), they might require an in-person visit to take a photo or do a vision test.

11

Yan said:
Renewing is pretty straightforward. If you’re over a certain age (like 70+), they might require an in-person visit to take a photo or do a vision test.

I’m not 70 yet, lol, but good to know! I’ll be ready in case I need to visit in person.

12

Just FYI, if you have any questions while filling out the online form, the DMV has a help section that’s pretty detailed.

13

Morgan said:
Just FYI, if you have any questions while filling out the online form, the DMV has a help section that’s pretty detailed.

I’ll keep that in mind! Thanks for the heads up!