When You Can Renew Your Colorado Driver's License

You can renew your Colorado driver's license up to one year before it expires, or anytime after it has expired

Colorado lets you start the renewal process 12 months before your expiration date. This means if your license expires on March 15, 2025, you can renew it starting March 15, 2024. You can also renew after your license has already expired — there is no grace period, but you are not locked out of renewing just because the date has passed.

The exact timing matters because it affects which documents you need and whether you can renew by mail or online. Renewing early is often simpler than waiting until after expiration, because you avoid the need to prove your identity all over again.

Key Takeaways

You can renew your Colorado license starting 12 months before the expiration date printed on your current card.
An expired license can still be renewed, but you will need to bring more documents to prove your identity than if you renew before it expires.
Online and mail renewal are available only if your license has not expired; expired licenses require an in-person visit to a Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles office.
The Colorado DMV processes renewals in the order they arrive, so renewing early does not speed up your new card but does give you more time to handle problems.

Renewing before your license expires

If you renew during the 12-month window before expiration, you have the most options for how to do it. You can renew online through the Colorado DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office. Online renewal is the fastest route — you answer questions about your current information, pay the fee, and your new card arrives by mail within one to two weeks.

Mail renewal takes longer because your documents travel to the DMV office and back, but it works if you cannot visit in person. You will need to send your current license, a completed process form, and the renewal fee. The Colorado DMV website lists the exact mailing address and which form to use.

In-person renewal at a DMV office is when ready if you bring the right documents — you can walk out with a temporary paper license the same day and receive your plastic card by mail within two weeks.

Renewing after your license has expired

Once your license expiration date has passed, online and mail renewal are no longer available. You must visit a Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles office in person. This is because Colorado requires you to prove your identity in front of a staff member when renewing an expired license, rather than relying on the identity verification you completed when you first got that license.

Bring your expired license, proof of your current address (a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days), and proof of your Social Security number or tax identification number. If your name has changed since your license was issued, bring a document showing the change — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. You will pay the renewal fee and receive a temporary paper license when ready; your new plastic card arrives by mail.

What happens if you let your license expire for a long time

Colorado does not have a hard important date after which you cannot renew — you can renew an expired license at any point. However, if your license has been expired for more than one year, the DMV may require you to pass the written test and vision test again, the same as if you were getting a license for the first time. Some offices also require a new photograph.

The safest approach is to renew within one year of expiration. If your license has been expired longer than that, call the Colorado DMV at 303-205-5600 before you visit an office to ask what documents and tests you will need. Different offices sometimes interpret the rules slightly differently, and a quick phone call can save you a trip.

How to find your expiration date

Your expiration date is printed on the front of your Colorado driver's license in the bottom right corner. It appears as a date in MM/DD/YYYY format. If you have lost your license or cannot read the date clearly, you can look it up on the Colorado DMV website by entering your driver's license number and date of birth.

Colorado licenses are valid for five years from the date they are issued, so your expiration date is always five years after the issue date shown on your card. If you are unsure whether you are within the 12-month renewal window, count back 12 months from the expiration date — that is the earliest day you can renew.

Fees and processing times

The renewal fee for a standard five-year Colorado driver's license is $28.75. If you renew online, you pay by credit or debit card. If you renew by mail, you can pay by check or money order. If you renew in person, you can pay by cash, check, debit card, or credit card.

Processing times vary by method. Online renewal usually results in your card arriving within one to two weeks. Mail renewal takes three to four weeks because the form and fee must travel to the DMV and your new card must travel back to you. In-person renewal gives you a temporary paper license the same day and your plastic card within two weeks.

Renewing if you have moved or changed your name

If you have moved since your license was issued, you can update your address during renewal. If you renew online, you enter your new address as part of the process. If you renew by mail or in person, you provide your new address on the process form or to the staff member. You do not need a separate address change — it happens as part of renewal.

If your name has changed due to marriage, divorce, or a court order, you must bring proof of the change when you renew. Acceptable documents include a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or certified court order. If you renew online, you will be asked whether your name has changed; if it has, you will need to visit an office in person instead and bring the proof document with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I renew my Colorado license if I am out of state?

If your license has not expired, you can renew by mail or online from anywhere. If your license has already expired, you must renew in person at a Colorado DMV office, so you would need to visit Colorado or wait until you return. Some states have reciprocal agreements, but Colorado does not currently allow out-of-state renewal for expired licenses.

What if I renew online but my information has changed?

Online renewal works only if your address, name, and other basic information are the same as what Colorado has on file. If anything has changed, you will need to renew in person or by mail so you can provide proof of the change. The online system will tell you if your information does not match and direct you to the other options.

Do I need a new photo when I renew?

If you renew online or by mail before your license expires, Colorado uses your existing photo. If you renew in person, you can request a new photo, but it is not required unless your license has been expired for more than one year. If you want a new photo, tell the staff member when you arrive.

What if I miss the 12-month renewal window?

You can still renew after your license expires, but you will need to visit a DMV office in person and bring proof of identity and address. There is no penalty for renewing late, but the in-person process takes longer than online or mail renewal. If your license has been expired for more than a year, you may need to retake the written and vision tests.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.