What happens when your Missouri driver's license expires
Once your Missouri driver's license passes its expiration date, you cannot legally drive in Missouri or use it as identification for age-restricted purchases, banking, or travel. The state does not give you a grace period — the moment the date on your card has passed, it is expired.
Missouri does allow you to renew your license for a period after expiration without retaking the written or driving test, but the window varies depending on how long ago it expired and whether you are renewing in person or by mail. The longer you wait, the more steps you may have to repeat.
If you are pulled over while driving with an expired license, you can be cited. The violation is separate from any traffic offense and carries its own fine, which varies by how long the license has been expired.
Key Takeaways
- You can renew an expired Missouri license by mail if it expired within the last five years and you have no medical restrictions or address changes.
- In-person renewal at a Missouri Department of Revenue office is required if your license expired more than five years ago, or if you need to update your address or medical information.
- The mail renewal process takes two to three weeks; in-person renewal is usually completed the same day.
- You will need your expired license, proof of residency, and a completed DL 44 form for in-person renewal.
- Driving with an expired license can result in a traffic citation separate from any other violation.
Renewing by mail if your license expired within five years
If your Missouri driver's license expired fewer than five years ago, you can renew it by mail without visiting a Department of Revenue office. This is the fastest option if you have no changes to report and no medical restrictions on your license.
To renew by mail, complete the DL 44 form (process for Missouri Driver's License or Permit), which you can read from the Missouri Department of Revenue website or request by phone at 573-526-2407. Include your expired license, a check or money order for the renewal fee (currently $25 for a four-year license or $35 for an eight-year license), and proof of your current address such as a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 60 days.
Mail your completed packet to the address listed on the DL 44 form. Processing takes two to three weeks. Your new license will arrive by mail. During this time, you should not drive unless you have a valid reason to carry your expired license as backup documentation — it is not a legal driving permit once expired.
In-person renewal at a Department of Revenue office
You must renew in person if your license expired more than five years ago, if you need to change your address, if you have medical restrictions, or if you are renewing a commercial driver's license. You will also need to renew in person if you want to update your name, gender marker, or organ donor status.
Bring your expired license, proof of residency (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within 60 days), proof of Social Security number (Social Security card, W-2, or 1099), and a completed DL 44 form. If you have changed your name, bring a certified copy of the document that changed it (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order).
Visit any Missouri Department of Revenue office. You can find the nearest location and check current wait times on the department's website. Most offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., though some have extended hours. Bring all documents in original form — photocopies are not accepted for proof of residency or Social Security number.
The renewal is usually completed the same day. You will receive a temporary paper license valid for 30 days while your permanent card is printed and mailed to you, which takes one to two weeks.
What you need to know about fees and license validity periods
Missouri driver's licenses are valid for four or eight years depending on which you choose. The four-year license costs $25; the eight-year license costs $35. Both fees explore whether you renew by mail or in person.
If you are over 70 years old, your license is valid for three years and costs $20. If you are between 65 and 70, you can choose between a four-year and an eight-year license at the standard rates.
The fee covers the license itself and the renewal transaction. There are no additional processing fees for mail renewal or in-person renewal. If you are renewing a commercial driver's license, the fee is higher — check the Department of Revenue website for current commercial license rates.
Renewing a license that expired more than five years ago
If your license has been expired for more than five years, you cannot use the mail renewal process. You must go to a Department of Revenue office in person, and you may have to retake the written test depending on how long it has been expired.
Missouri does not specify an exact cutoff for when you must retake the written exam, but the department uses the length of expiration as a factor. If your license expired more than five years ago, contact your local Department of Revenue office before you visit to ask whether you will need to test. Some offices will waive the written test if you renew quickly after expiration; others require it after a certain number of years.
You will not have to retake the driving test for a standard license renewal, only the written test if required. Bring all the documents listed in the in-person renewal section above.
Using your expired license while you wait for a new one
Once your license is expired, it is not valid for driving. However, an expired Missouri driver's license can still be used as a form of identification for non-driving purposes — banking, age verification, or boarding a domestic flight — as long as it is recent enough that the issuing agency accepts it.
If you are renewing in person, you will receive a temporary paper license valid for 30 days. This temporary license is valid for driving and has the same legal weight as your permanent card during that 30-day window. Keep it with you while you drive.
If you are renewing by mail, you do not receive a temporary license. You should not drive during the two to three weeks your renewal is being processed. If you must drive before your new license arrives, contact the Department of Revenue to ask about obtaining a temporary permit or driving privilege document.
What to do if your license was suspended or revoked
If your license was suspended or revoked, you cannot straightforward renew it. You must first resolve the suspension or revocation with the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Suspensions are usually temporary and result from unpaid traffic fines, failure to pay child support, or medical issues. Revocations are typically permanent or long-term and result from DUI convictions, reckless driving, or accumulating too many points. Contact the Department of Revenue at 573-526-2407 to find out the reason for your suspension or revocation and what steps you must take to restore your driving privilege.
Once the suspension or revocation is lifted, you can renew your license using the standard mail or in-person process. If the suspension or revocation is still active, you cannot renew until it is resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with an expired license if I have already mailed in my renewal?
No. Once your license expires, it is not valid for driving, even if you have submitted a renewal process. If you are renewing in person, you receive a temporary paper license that day, which is valid for driving. If you are renewing by mail, you cannot drive until your new license arrives.
What if I lost my expired license and cannot find it?
You can still renew. Bring your proof of residency, proof of Social Security number, and a completed DL 44 form to a Department of Revenue office. The staff will look up your license record in the system. You will not be able to renew by mail without your expired license.
Do I have to renew in person if I changed my address?
Yes. Address changes require in-person renewal at a Department of Revenue office. You cannot update your address through the mail renewal process. Bring proof of your new address dated within the last 60 days.
How long does it take to get my license in the mail after I renew in person?
Your permanent license is usually mailed within one to two weeks of your in-person renewal. You will receive a temporary paper license the same day you renew, which is valid for driving for 30 days while you wait for the permanent card.
What if I renew by mail but the Department of Revenue rejects my process?
The department will mail you a notice explaining why your process was rejected, usually due to missing documents or an incorrect fee. You can then correct the issue and resubmit, or visit a Department of Revenue office in person to complete your renewal.