I renewed my Florida’s driver’s license online during COVID. Can I do it again next time?

Michelle Marchante
·2 min read

Do you need to renew your Florida driver’s license but don’t want to wait in line at the DMV?

You can do it by mail or online at GoRenew.com, which can be convenient during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’ve renewed your license online before, you might think you can never do it again. After all, until April, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website described the digital renewal as a “one-time online convenience.”

But that’s not the case anymore.

The website was updated in early April, following a Miami Herald inquiry, to clarify that online renewals can be done “every other renewal period.” And yes, there’s a pit stop at the DMV along the way.

Here’s what to know:

How many times can you renew your Florida driver’s license online?

People under 80 need to renew their Florida Class E driver license every eight years. People 80 and older must renew their license every six years and pass an eye exam.

If you opt to renew your license online or by mail, you’ll have to visit the DMV for your next renewal. Then you’ll be eligible to renew online or by mail next time.

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In other words, people up to age 79 can renew their license online or by mail every 16 years, according to the department. For people 80 and older, it’s every 12 years.

Here’s an example: If you renew online in 2021 and then in-person in 2029, you’ll be able to renew online again in 2037. This is if you’re under 80.

People under 80 need to renew their Florida Class E driver license every eight years. If they opt to renew their license online, they can do so again every other renewal period. Pictured above is an example of what that looks like.
People under 80 need to renew their Florida Class E driver license every eight years. If they opt to renew their license online, they can do so again every other renewal period. Pictured above is an example of what that looks like.

Remember, your driver’s license is a photo ID, and appearances can change through the years. When you renew online or by mail, the same photo is used. When you renew in person at the DMV, a new photo is taken.

There are also some restrictions on who is eligible to renew online or by mail. Drivers are required to visit a DMV to renew if they want to update the photo, change a name either with a court order or marriage certificate, or are not REAL ID compliant.

TIP: If your license has a star in the upper right corner, you’re REAL ID compliant.

To check your eligibility status, visit https://services.flhsmv.gov/DLCheck/