What You Need Before You Start
Colorado lets you renew your driver's license online if your license is still valid or expired less than one year ago, you have a Real ID-compliant license or passport, and you have not had any address changes, name changes, or medical suspensions since your last renewal. The process takes about 10 minutes and costs $28.25 for a four-year renewal or $40.25 for an eight-year renewal, paid by debit or credit card.
You will need your current Colorado driver's license number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and a valid email address. If you wear corrective lenses, you must confirm that you still do. You cannot renew online if your license has been suspended, revoked, or cancelled, or if you have moved to a new address since your last renewal.
The Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) runs the online renewal system. You do not need to visit an office, take a new photo, or retake a vision test unless your license is more than one year expired or you have had a change in your medical status.
Key Takeaways
- You can renew online only if your Colorado license expired less than one year ago and you have not changed your address, name, or medical status.
- The online renewal costs $28.25 for four years or $40.25 for eight years and takes about 10 minutes from the Colorado DMV website.
- You will receive your renewed license by mail within 7 to 10 business days after your payment is processed.
- If your license has been suspended, revoked, or you have an address change, you must renew in person at a DMV office instead.
Step-by-Step Process on the Colorado DMV Website
Go to the Colorado Department of Revenue website and select "Driver License Services" from the main menu. Click on "Renew Your Driver License Online." You will be taken to a page that asks you to enter your driver's license number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. The system will pull up your current record and display your name, date of birth, and current address to confirm your identity.
Review the information on the screen. If anything is incorrect — your address, name, or medical information — stop and do not proceed. You will need to renew in person at a DMV office instead. If everything matches, click "Continue" and proceed to the vision and medical questions section.
Answer the questions about whether you still wear corrective lenses and whether you have any medical conditions that affect your ability to drive. Your answers must match what is on file. If your medical status has changed, you cannot complete the online renewal and must visit an office. Once you confirm your information is correct, you will move to the payment screen.
Payment and Confirmation
Select your renewal term: four years ($28.25) or eight years ($40.25). Enter your debit or credit card information. The system accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. After your payment is processed, you will receive a confirmation number on the screen and an email confirmation to the address you provided.
Save or print your confirmation number. Your new license will be mailed to the address on file within 7 to 10 business days. You can continue to drive using your current license until the new one arrives. If you do not receive your renewed license within 10 business days, contact the Colorado DMV at 303-205-5600 to check the status of your order.
When You Cannot Renew Online
If your license expired more than one year ago, you must renew in person. The same applies if you have a medical suspension, a revoked or cancelled license, or an active suspension. You also cannot renew online if you have changed your address since your last renewal — even if you updated your address with another agency, the DMV system may not reflect it yet.
If your name has changed due to marriage, divorce, or court order, you must renew in person and bring legal documentation of the name change, such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree. Similarly, if you need to change your gender marker or if you are a non-citizen with a visa or work permit that has expired, you must visit a DMV office.
For any of these situations, find your nearest DMV office on the Colorado Department of Revenue website and schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointment holders are served first, and wait times can be long.
What Happens After You Renew
Your new license will arrive by mail in a white envelope from the Colorado DMV. Open it carefully — your license is a card inside the envelope. Check that your name, date of birth, address, and license number are correct. If anything is wrong, contact the DMV within 30 days with your confirmation number and a description of the error.
Your old license is no longer valid once your new one arrives. You do not need to return the old license to the DMV, but you may destroy it or keep it for your records. Your new license is valid for the term you selected — four or eight years — from the date it was issued, not from the date you renewed it online.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If the system says your license number or Social Security number does not match, double-check that you entered both correctly. The license number is the eight-digit number on the front of your card. If you still cannot log in, your license may have been suspended or cancelled, or your record may not be in the system yet. Call the Colorado DMV at 303-205-5600 to verify your status before trying again.
If your payment was declined, try a different card or contact your bank to confirm the card is not blocked for online transactions. If you see an error message after payment, do not try to pay again — wait 24 hours and check your email for a confirmation. If you were charged but did not receive a confirmation number, call the DMV with your card information and confirmation details so they can look up your order.
If you started the renewal but did not finish, you can log back in and resume where you left off. The system saves your progress for 30 days. After 30 days, you will need to start over.
Real ID and Online Renewal
Your Colorado driver's license must be Real ID-compliant to renew online. Real ID licenses have a gold star in the upper right corner. If your license does not have this star, you cannot renew online and must visit a DMV office to upgrade to a Real ID license at the same time.
If you have a valid passport, passport card, or military ID, you can use one of those instead of a Real ID license to meet federal identification requirements. However, for the purposes of online driver's license renewal, you still need your Colorado license to be Real ID-compliant or you must renew in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew my license online if I just moved to Colorado?
No. If you have changed your address since your last renewal, you must renew in person at a DMV office. Bring your new proof of residency, such as a utility bill or lease, along with your current license and identification.
What if my license has been expired for more than a year?
You cannot renew online. You must visit a Colorado DMV office in person. You may also need to retake the written and vision tests depending on how long your license has been expired. Contact your local DMV office to find out what documents and tests you will need.
How long does it take to receive my renewed license in the mail?
The Colorado DMV typically mails renewed licenses within 7 to 10 business days after your payment is processed. Mail delivery time varies by location, so allow an additional 3 to 5 business days. You can drive with your current license until your new one arrives.
Can I renew online if I have a medical condition that affects my driving?
Only if your medical status has not changed since your last renewal. If you answer "yes" to any medical question during the online renewal, the system will stop and direct you to renew in person so a DMV examiner can review your condition.
What if I need to change my name on my license during renewal?
You cannot change your name online. You must renew in person at a DMV office and bring legal documentation of your name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. The DMV will issue a new license with your updated name.