Where the Boulder driver license office is and what it handles

The Boulder driver license office is operated by the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles. It is located at 1910 13th Street, Boulder, CO 80302. This office issues new driver licenses, renews existing ones, handles name or address changes, and processes duplicate licenses if yours is lost or stolen.

The office does not handle vehicle registration or title work — those services are at the same building but through a separate counter. If you need both services, you can do them in one trip, but you will need to check in at each counter separately.

Hours and wait times change seasonally. The office is typically open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but you should check the Colorado DMV website or call 303-447-2000 before you go, because holiday closures and staffing changes happen without much notice.

Key Takeaways

  • The Boulder office is at 1910 13th Street and handles driver license issuance, renewal, and replacement, but not vehicle registration.
  • You must bring a valid form of identification, proof of Colorado residency, and your Social Security number or ITIN to any transaction.
  • Bring your current license if you are renewing, or a birth certificate or passport if you are getting your first license.
  • Wait times are longest on Fridays and during lunch hours; arriving early in the morning on a Tuesday or Wednesday usually means a shorter line.
  • You can renew your license by mail or online if you meet certain conditions, which avoids a trip to the office entirely.

What documents you need to bring

Every transaction at the Boulder office requires three things: proof of identity, proof of Colorado residency, and your Social Security number or ITIN. Bring the actual documents — photocopies are not accepted.

For proof of identity, bring your current Colorado driver license if you have one. If you do not, bring a U.S. passport, passport card, or birth certificate. A state ID card from another state works only if it is current and unexpired.

For proof of residency, bring a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or property tax notice dated within the last 60 days. A bank or credit card statement works if it shows your name and current address. A government check or tax return also works. The document must show your name and your current Boulder address.

If you do not have your Social Security number memorized, bring your Social Security card or a tax return that shows it. If you have an ITIN instead, bring the letter from the IRS that issued it.

Getting a new license versus renewing an existing one

If you already have a Colorado driver license, you are renewing. Bring your current license, proof of residency, and your Social Security number. The process takes about 15 to 20 minutes once you reach the counter. You will pay a renewal fee (the amount varies depending on how long your new license is valid for) and receive your new license on the spot.

If you do not have a Colorado license — you are moving to Colorado, or you never had one — you are getting a new license. Bring your birth certificate or passport, proof of residency, and your Social Security number. You will also take a written test on Colorado traffic laws and a vision test. The office provides the written test on a computer. If you pass, you then take a driving test with an examiner, which is scheduled for a separate appointment. The written test takes about 30 minutes; the driving test is scheduled weeks out in most cases.

If your license is expired but you held one before, you may still be able to renew rather than retake the written and driving tests. Ask at the counter when you arrive — the rules depend on how long it has been expired.

Renewing by mail or online instead of visiting the office

Colorado allows you to renew your driver license by mail or online if you meet all of these conditions: your license is not expired yet, you have held a Colorado license for at least one year, you have no medical restrictions on your license, and you have not changed your name or address since your last renewal.

To renew online, go to the Colorado DMV website, log in with your driver license number and date of birth, and follow the prompts. You pay the renewal fee by credit or debit card. Your new license arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days. This is the fastest option if you are may be able to access.

To renew by mail, read the renewal form from the Colorado DMV website, fill it out, and mail it with a check or money order to the address on the form. Include a photocopy of your current license. Mail renewal takes 2 to 3 weeks. Online renewal is faster and does not require you to write a check.

What happens if your license is lost, stolen, or damaged

If your license is lost, stolen, or too damaged to use, you need a duplicate. Bring proof of identity (your passport works if you do not have another ID), proof of residency, and your Social Security number. You will pay a duplicate fee, which is lower than a renewal fee. You receive the duplicate on the spot.

If your license was stolen, you do not have to report it to police first, but you may want to if you are concerned about identity theft. The DMV does not require a police report to issue a duplicate.

Handling name or address changes

If you got married, divorced, or changed your name for another reason, bring your current license, proof of your new name (a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order), proof of residency at your new address if you moved, and your Social Security number. The office updates your license and mails you a new one.

If you moved within Colorado but did not change your name, you can update your address by mail. read the address change form from the Colorado DMV website, fill it out, and mail it with a photocopy of your current license. You do not need to visit the office.

Tips for a faster visit

The Boulder office gets busy on Fridays and between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on any weekday. If you can go on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning, you will usually wait less than 30 minutes. Bring all your documents in a folder so you do not have to search for them at the counter.

If you are getting a new license and need to take the written test, arrive early. The office stops accepting new test-takers at 3:30 p.m. so there is time to complete the test before closing. If you miss that window, you will have to come back another day.

The office does not take appointments for license issuance or renewal. You check in when you arrive, get a number, and wait your turn. During very busy periods, the office may close the line early to clear the queue before 4:30 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my license if it is already expired?

It depends on how long it has been expired. If it expired less than one year ago, you can usually renew it at the office without retaking the written and driving tests. If it expired more than one year ago, you will need to take both tests and get a new license. Call the Boulder office at 303-447-2000 to confirm your situation before you go.

What if I do not have a Social Security number?

You can use an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) instead. Bring the letter from the IRS that issued your ITIN. If you have neither a Social Security number nor an ITIN, you will need to contact the Colorado DMV directly to find out what documents you can use.

How long does it take to get a new license if I have to take the driving test?

The written test takes about 30 minutes and you get the result the same day. If you pass, the office schedules your driving test for a later date — usually several weeks out depending on how busy the testing schedule is. You cannot take the driving test the same day as the written test.

Do I need an appointment?

No. The Boulder office operates on a first-come, first-served basis. You arrive, check in at the counter, get a number, and wait. During peak times, wait times can be 45 minutes to over an hour, so arriving early helps.

What if I move out of Colorado after I get my license?

Your Colorado license remains valid in other states for the duration of its expiration date. You do not need to do anything with the Colorado DMV. When you move to another state, you will follow that state's process to get a license there.