Where to renew your Fort Collins driver's license

In Fort Collins, you can renew your driver's license at the Colorado Department of Revenue's Driver's License Office, located at 1881 Cotton Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524. This is the only location in the city where you can do an in-person renewal. You can also renew by mail or online, depending on your situation — but the Cotton Street office is where you go if you need to renew in person.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed on state holidays. There is no appointment system; you walk in and take a number. Wait times vary, but mornings tend to be less crowded than afternoons. If you want to check current wait times before you go, you can call the office at (970) 416-2000.

Key Takeaways

  • The Fort Collins Driver's License Office is at 1881 Cotton Street and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with no appointment needed.
  • You can renew online through the Colorado Department of Revenue website if your license is not expired and you have not had a name change or address change that requires a new photo.
  • Bring your current driver's license, proof of residency (utility bill, lease, or bank statement), and your Social Security card or a document showing your Social Security number.
  • A standard renewal takes about 10 to 15 minutes in the office, and your new license arrives by mail within two weeks.
  • If your license is expired by more than one year, you cannot renew by mail or online and must go to the office in person.

What documents you need to bring

Bring your current driver's license, even if it is expired. You will also need proof of residency — a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or bank statement with your current Fort Collins address, dated within the last 60 days. A piece of mail from a government agency also works.

You will need to show your Social Security number. Bring your Social Security card if you have it, or bring another document that displays your number, such as a W-2 form, tax return, or Social Security statement. If you have changed your name since your last license, bring a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing the legal change.

Renewing online or by mail instead

If your license is not expired and you have not changed your name or address, you can renew online through the Colorado Department of Revenue website. The online renewal takes about 10 minutes, costs the same as an in-person renewal, and your new license arrives by mail. You will need your current license number and the last four digits of your Social Security number to start.

You can also renew by mail if you meet the same conditions — no expiration, no name change, no address change. read the DL-44 form from the Colorado Department of Revenue website, fill it out, and mail it with a copy of your current license and proof of residency to the address on the form. Mail renewal takes longer than online or in-person, usually three to four weeks.

If your license expired more than one year ago, you cannot use online or mail renewal. You must go to the Cotton Street office in person.

Cost and how long it takes

A standard five-year driver's license renewal in Colorado costs $28.50 as of 2024. If you are 65 or older, a four-year renewal costs $18.50. Payment is cash, check, or card at the office; online and mail renewals accept card only.

If you renew in person, your new license is printed on the spot, but you will not receive it that day. Instead, the office mails it to your address on file, which takes about two weeks. You can use your old license until the new one arrives. If you renew online or by mail, the timeline is the same — two weeks by mail from the time the office processes your request.

What happens if your license is expired

If your license expired less than one year ago, you can still renew it using any method — in person, online, or by mail. If it expired more than one year ago, Colorado treats it as a new license process rather than a renewal, and you must go to the office in person. You will need to take a new photo and pass a vision test, and the process takes longer than a standard renewal.

Driving with an expired license is illegal in Colorado, even if you have already started the renewal process. If you are pulled over, you can show proof that you have applied for renewal, but that does not may provide you will not be cited.

Address changes and other updates

If you have moved within Fort Collins or to a different Colorado city, you can update your address online or by mail at the same time you renew. If you are moving out of Colorado, you will need to renew in person at the Cotton Street office because you will need a new license with your new state address.

If you have changed your name, you must renew in person and bring the legal document proving the change — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. You cannot update your name online or by mail.

If you lose your license before renewal

If your license is lost or stolen before it expires, you cannot straightforward renew it. You have to go to the Cotton Street office and request a replacement, which costs $20 and requires the same documents as a renewal. The replacement license is mailed to you, arriving in about two weeks.

If you need to drive before the replacement arrives, you can request a temporary paper license at the office, which is valid for 30 days. This temporary license allows you to drive legally while you wait for your permanent replacement to arrive by mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my license if I do not have proof of residency?

No. Colorado requires proof of residency dated within the last 60 days. If you do not have a utility bill, lease, or bank statement, you can bring a letter from a government agency, a mortgage statement, or an insurance document with your current address. Call the office at (970) 416-2000 to ask if a specific document will work.

What if I cannot get to the Cotton Street office during business hours?

If your license is not expired and you have not changed your name or address, renew online or by mail instead. Both take about two weeks but require no office visit. If you must renew in person, the office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is no evening or weekend service in Fort Collins.

Do I need a new photo for renewal?

Not for a standard renewal. The office uses your photo from your current license. If you renew online or by mail, no new photo is taken. If your license expired more than one year ago, you will need a new photo because it is treated as a new license, not a renewal.

How long can I drive on my old license after I renew?

You can drive on your old license until your new one arrives by mail, which takes about two weeks. Once the new license arrives, your old one is no longer valid. If you need to drive before the new one arrives and your old license is expired, you can request a temporary paper license at the office.

What if I made a mistake on my renewal process?

If you made an error online or by mail before submitting, you can start over. If you already submitted the process, call the office at (970) 416-2000 to ask if the mistake can be corrected before your new license is printed. If the license is already printed with the error, you will need to go to the office in person to request a correction.