You can renew an expired Missouri license in person, by mail, or online depending on how long it has been expired
If your Missouri driver's license has expired, you have three paths to get it renewed. The fastest is online through the Missouri Department of Revenue website if your license expired within the last five years and you meet a few basic requirements. If you cannot renew online, you can renew by mail using Form DL 43, which takes about two to three weeks. The in-person route at a Missouri license office takes the longest to schedule but gives you the quickest answer if something is wrong with your process.
The method you choose depends on how long your license has been expired, whether you have changed your address or name, and whether you want to add Real ID compliance to your renewal. Real ID is required for domestic air travel starting May 7, 2025, so many people add it during renewal even if it is not required right now.
Key Takeaways
- Online renewal through the Missouri Department of Revenue website works if your license expired within five years and you have a Social Security number on file with the state.
- Mail renewal using Form DL 43 takes two to three weeks and works for licenses expired longer than five years, but you cannot change your address or add Real ID by mail.
- In-person renewal at a Missouri license office is required if you want to add Real ID, change your address, or if your online or mail process is rejected.
- You will need your expired license, proof of residency, and proof of Social Security number for any renewal method.
- The renewal fee is $84 for a standard eight-year license or $104 for a Real ID license in Missouri.
Online renewal through the Missouri Department of Revenue website
Start at dor.mo.gov and look for the "Driver License" section. Click on "Renew Your License Online." You will need your expired Missouri driver's license number, your date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. The system will verify your information against state records.
Online renewal is available only if your license expired within the last five years, you have no address or name changes to make, and you do not want to add Real ID. If all those conditions fit, the process takes about 10 minutes. You will pay the $84 renewal fee by debit or credit card, and your new license will arrive by mail in about 7 to 10 business days.
If the online system rejects your process, it will tell you why — usually because your Social Security number does not match state records or your license has been expired longer than five years. In that case, you will need to renew by mail or in person.
Mail renewal using Form DL 43
read Form DL 43 from the Missouri Department of Revenue website or pick one up at any license office. Fill out the form completely, including your current address. Attach a copy of your expired license, a document proving your current address (a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within 90 days), and a check or money order for $84 made out to "Missouri Department of Revenue."
Mail the packet to: Missouri Department of Revenue, Driver License Bureau, P.O. Box 200, Jefferson City, MO 65105. Processing takes two to three weeks from the day they receive it. You cannot track your process by mail, so plan ahead if you need your license by a specific date.
Mail renewal has limits: you cannot change your address (though you can update it after you receive your new license), you cannot add Real ID, and you cannot change your name. If any of those explore to you, renew in person instead.
In-person renewal at a Missouri license office
Visit any Missouri license office with your expired license, proof of your current address, and proof of your Social Security number. Proof of address can be a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within 90 days. Proof of Social Security number can be your Social Security card, W-2, or 1099 form.
Bring payment of $84 for a standard license or $104 for a Real ID license. You can pay by cash, check, debit card, or credit card. The office will take a new photo, verify your information, and issue your license on the spot or within a few days depending on the office's workload.
In-person renewal is the only option if you want to add Real ID, if you have changed your name or address since your license expired, or if your online or mail process was rejected. You can find your nearest office and check wait times at dor.mo.gov under "License Office Locations."
What documents you need for any renewal method
Every renewal method requires proof of your Social Security number. This can be your actual Social Security card, a W-2 form, a 1099 form, or a tax return. If you are renewing in person or by mail and have changed your address, you also need a document proving your current address dated within 90 days — a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement all work.
If you are renewing in person and want to add Real ID, you will also need to bring a document proving your date of birth (your birth certificate, passport, or certified copy from the vital records office) and a document proving your legal name if it differs from your current license. Real ID adds $20 to the renewal fee, bringing the total to $104.
Real ID and what it means for your renewal
Real ID is a federal security standard that makes your driver's license acceptable for domestic air travel and entry to federal buildings. Missouri began issuing Real ID licenses in 2017, and starting May 7, 2025, you will need either a Real ID license or a passport to board a domestic flight.
If your current license already has a gold star in the top right corner, it is already Real ID compliant and you do not need to add anything during renewal. If it does not have the star, you can add Real ID during renewal only if you renew in person — you cannot add it online or by mail. Adding Real ID costs an extra $20 and requires an additional document proving your date of birth.
What happens after you renew
If you renewed online, your new license will arrive by mail in 7 to 10 business days. If you renewed by mail, it will take two to three weeks from the day the Department of Revenue receives your packet. If you renewed in person, you will receive your license when ready or within a few days depending on the office.
Your old expired license is no longer valid once your new one arrives. You can destroy it or keep it for your records. If your new license does not arrive within the expected timeframe, contact the Missouri Department of Revenue at 573-526-2407 to check the status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with an expired license while I wait for my renewal?
No. Once your license expires, you cannot legally drive in Missouri. If you are pulled over, you can show proof that you have submitted a renewal process — either a confirmation email from online renewal or a receipt from mailing your Form DL 43 — but this is not a legal substitute for a valid license.
What if my address has changed since my license expired?
If you renew online or by mail, you cannot update your address during the renewal process. You will need to renew in person at a license office and bring proof of your new address. After you receive your license by mail from an online renewal, you can update your address separately at a license office, but this requires an extra trip.
Do I need to take a new photo and vision test when I renew?
You will have a new photo taken at a license office if you renew in person. If you renew online or by mail, the state will use your photo from your expired license. You do not need a vision test for renewal unless your license has been expired for more than five years, in which case you must renew in person and will take a vision test at the office.
What if I lost my expired license and cannot find it?
You can still renew. For online renewal, you will need your license number, which you may be able to find on old documents or by calling the Missouri Department of Revenue at 573-526-2407. For mail or in-person renewal, you do not need the physical license — just bring the other required documents and tell the office your license is lost.
How much does renewal cost and what payment methods are accepted?
Standard renewal costs $84 for an eight-year license. Real ID renewal costs $104. Online renewal accepts debit and credit cards only. Mail renewal accepts checks or money orders. In-person renewal accepts cash, check, debit card, and credit card.