Maine lets you renew online if your license is not expired more than five years and you have no medical suspensions
You can renew your Maine driver's license through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles website without visiting an office in person. The process takes about 10 minutes and costs $35 for a five-year license or $70 for a ten-year license. Your new license arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days.
Not everyone can use the online route. You cannot renew online if your license expired more than five years ago, if you have a medical suspension on your record, or if you need to change your address, name, or organ donor status. If any of those explore, you will need to visit a BMV office or use the mail-in form instead.
Key Takeaways
- Maine's online renewal works only if your license expired within the last five years and you have no medical holds or suspensions.
- You will need your current or expired Maine driver's license number and a valid payment method (debit or credit card) to complete the renewal.
- The fee is $35 for a five-year license or $70 for a ten-year license, paid during the online transaction.
- Your renewed license arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days; you can continue driving on your expired license until the new one arrives.
- If you need to change your address, name, or medical information, you must visit a BMV office or mail in a paper form instead.
What you need before you start
Gather your current or expired Maine driver's license and have it in front of you. You will enter your license number and date of birth during the online process. If you no longer have your physical license, you can look up your license number by calling the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 207-624-9000.
Have a valid debit or credit card ready to pay the renewal fee. Maine accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. The payment is processed when ready when you submit your renewal.
The step-by-step renewal process
Go to the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles website and find the online renewal portal. Enter your driver's license number and date of birth exactly as they appear on your license. The system will pull up your current record and confirm your name and address.
Review the information on screen. If your address, name, or any other detail is wrong, stop here — you cannot correct it online. Exit and either call the BMV or visit an office to update your record before renewing. If everything is correct, proceed to the payment screen.
Select whether you want a five-year or ten-year license. Enter your payment information and submit. You will receive a confirmation number on screen and by email. Take a screenshot or write down the confirmation number in case you need to check the status of your renewal later.
What happens after you submit
Your new license is printed and mailed to the address on file. Standard delivery takes 7 to 10 business days from the date you complete the online renewal. You can continue driving on your expired license during this time — Maine law allows you to drive on an expired license while your renewal is in process.
If you do not receive your license within 10 business days, contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles with your confirmation number. They can check whether the license was mailed and provide a tracking status. If there was a problem with your payment or submission, they will tell you what to do next.
When you cannot renew online
If your license expired more than five years ago, the online system will not accept your renewal. You will need to visit a BMV office in person or request a paper renewal form by mail. A license that has been expired for more than five years is treated as a new process in some cases, which may require a vision test or written exam.
Medical suspensions also block online renewal. If you have a medical hold on your license — for example, a doctor reported a condition that affects your ability to drive safely — you must resolve that with the BMV before you can renew. Call the BMV to find out what documentation you need to clear the suspension.
Changes to your personal information also require an office visit or mail-in form. If you have moved, changed your name, or want to update your organ donor status, you cannot do that through the online renewal. You will need to complete a paper process (Form DMV 1) and either mail it in or bring it to a BMV office.
Choosing between five-year and ten-year licenses
Maine offers both options at renewal. A five-year license costs $35 and a ten-year license costs $70. The ten-year license is more expensive but means you will not have to renew again for a decade. If you are in your sixties or older, Maine offers a reduced-fee renewal option — ask about this when you renew.
The choice is yours based on your budget and how often you want to go through the renewal process. Both licenses are valid for driving and identification purposes. Your new license will have the same number as your current one.
If something goes wrong during renewal
If the online system rejects your submission, you will see an error message explaining why. Common reasons include a mismatch between the license number and date of birth you entered, or a flag on your record that prevents online renewal. Write down the exact error message and call the BMV at 207-624-9000 to ask what to do next.
If your payment was declined, the system will tell you when ready. Try again with a different card or contact your bank to make sure the card is not blocked for online transactions. If you submitted the renewal but never received a confirmation number, do not submit again — call the BMV first to check whether your first submission went through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew online if my license is suspended for unpaid tickets or child support?
No. Any suspension — whether for medical reasons, unpaid fines, or other legal holds — blocks online renewal. You must resolve the suspension first by contacting the BMV or the agency that placed the hold. Once cleared, you can renew online if your license is not expired more than five years.
What if I moved and need to update my address?
You cannot change your address through online renewal. Visit a BMV office or mail in Form DMV 1 with proof of your new address (a utility bill, lease, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days). Once your address is updated in the system, you can renew online if your license meets the other requirements.
Do I need to take a new photo for online renewal?
No. Online renewal uses your existing photo from your current license. Your new license will have the same photo unless you visit an office in person and request a new one.
What if my confirmation email does not arrive?
Check your spam or junk folder first. If it is not there, log back into the BMV website and look for a way to retrieve your confirmation number using your license number and date of birth. You can also call the BMV with those details and they will provide your confirmation number and status.
Can I renew if my license was lost or stolen?
If you have your license number and date of birth, you can renew online. If you do not have that information, call the BMV at 207-624-9000 and they will look it up for you. You will still need to report the lost or stolen license to the BMV separately if you have not already.