How to Renew Your Alabama Driver’s License Online: A Complete Guide
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When your license is nearing its expiration, which happens every four years in Alabama, you may think you have to head to the County licensing office and wait in line to renew it. Fortunately, you can renew your Alabama driver’s license online and save time and stress.
Introduction to Alabama Driver’s License Online Renewal
Renewing your Alabama driver’s license online is the fastest and most convenient way to handle this process. You simply log onto the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency website, complete an online form, upload documents, and pay, and then you’re done. There is no need to head to a government office and wait in line.
Unfortunately, you can only renew online once every eight years. Because you must renew your license every four years, you’ll have to complete every other renewal in person.
Eligibility Requirements for Online Renewal
Before attempting to renew an Alabama driver’s license online, make sure you’re eligible for online renewal. All drivers with a current Alabama driver’s license are welcome to renew online, except those who:
- Need to change their name or address
- Need a new license photograph
- Completed their previous license renewal online
You automatically qualify to renew your driver's license online in Alabama if you don’t fall into any of those three categories.
Required Documents for Alabama Online Renewal
To renew your Alabama driver’s license, you need at least two of the following forms of identification:
- State-issued birth certificate
- Naturalization certificate
- Certificate of U.S. citizenship
- Current U.S. passport
- Social Security card
- Consular report of birth abroad
You must have the original copies of all documents. No photocopies are accepted.
Step-by-Step Guide to Renewing Your Alabama Driver’s License Online
With all the eligibility requirements covered and documents gathered, it’s time to go through the online renewal process. Here’s how to renew an Alabama driver’s license online:
- Visit the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) official website
- Click on “Renew or Duplicate My Card”
- Enter your personal details, including your driver's license number, the last six digits of your Social Security number, and birth date
- Complete any additional information or upload any documents as prompted
- Complete your online payment
- Await your renewed license in the mail
Renewing your Alabama driver’s license online is the easiest path to take. In just six steps, you’re finished without having to set foot inside a government building and deal with long waits and potential paperwork issues.
Understanding Fees and Processing Times for Renewal
Understanding the fee for Alabama driver’s license renewal online ensures everything goes off without a hitch. The last thing you want to do is collect all the documents and complete the process only to be turned down for insufficient funds. The Alabama license card issuance fee is $36.25.
After completing your Alabama driver’s license online renewal, you’ll receive a printable 30-day temporary license to continue driving while awaiting your new license. Your renewed Alabama license will arrive in the mail in seven to 10 business days.
You can renew your driver’s license up to 180 days before it expires. This ensures you still have a valid license as you await the arrival of the new one in the mail.
Troubleshooting Common Issues With Online Renewal
Alabama’s online license renewal process is straightforward, but you may run into issues while trying to finish the process. Check out a few tips to solve potential issues you may run into:
- Application rejection: Review the rejection message carefully to learn what caused the rejection. Some common causes are incorrect personal information or missing documents. You may also be ineligible to renew online.
- Technical difficulties: If you struggle to access the ALEA website or run into other website errors, clear your browser’s cache, close the browser, reopen the browser, and try again. If this fails, you can contact ALEA for additional help.
- Unstable internet: If you’re on an unstable internet connection, you may experience loading hangups, timeout errors, and other problems. If you experience these or other internet-related errors, stop and complete your application on a stable connection.
You can contact the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for more information if you run into additional issues and need further assistance. Currently, the agency only accepts email, so you may have to wait to get the answer to your question.
Additional Resources for Driver’s License Renewal in Alabama
If you need additional information on the Alabama driver’s license renewal process, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is a great first stop. Here, you can learn more about office closures, office locations, document requirements, fees, and much more.
You can also check out the ALEA site to review the Alabama driver’s handbook. This handbook is also valuable for a future Alabama driver to use to complete an Alabama DMV practice test before taking the official test.
You can also visit non-governmental websites and forums for additional information and insight.
Renew Your License Today — Get the Best Car Insurance for Alabama Drivers!
After successfully renewing your Alabama driver’s license, it’s a great time to look at your insurance policy to ensure you have the coverage you need at the best price. If your car insurance in Alabama is inadequate or too expensive, EverQuote can help.
Use our online tool to compare multiple auto insurance quotes in one place. This ensures you find the cheapest car insurance in Alabama that meets your coverage needs and the state's minimum insurance requirements.