Arizona lets you renew online if your license is not suspended and you meet a few other conditions
You can renew your Arizona driver's license online through the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) website if your license is still valid or expired for no more than one year, you have no medical holds, and your license was not suspended or revoked. The process takes about 10 minutes, costs $25 for a five-year renewal, and you receive your new license by mail within 7 to 10 business days. If you do not meet these conditions — for example, if your license is suspended or you need to change your address — you must renew in person at an ADOT office instead.
The online system checks your information against ADOT's records automatically. If you are may be able to access, you will move through the renewal in one session. If the system finds a suspension, medical hold, or other issue, it will stop and direct you to renew in person. This protects you from paying a fee for a renewal that cannot be completed.
Key Takeaways
- You can renew online only if your current license is valid or expired less than one year ago and has never been suspended or revoked.
- The online renewal costs $25 for a five-year license and takes about 10 minutes to complete on the ADOT website.
- You will need your current Arizona driver's license number, date of birth, and a valid payment method (debit or credit card) to renew online.
- Your new license arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days; you can continue driving with your old license until the new one arrives.
- If your license is suspended, you have a medical hold, or you need to change your address, you must renew in person at an ADOT office.
Who can renew online and who cannot
ADOT allows online renewal only for people whose licenses meet specific conditions. Your license must be valid now or expired no more than 12 months ago. You cannot have any medical holds on your record, and your license cannot have been suspended or revoked at any point. If you are renewing a commercial driver's license (CDL), you must renew in person.
If your license was suspended — for example, due to unpaid traffic tickets, a DUI conviction, or failure to maintain insurance — you cannot use the online process. The same applies if you have an active medical hold or if your license expired more than a year ago. In those cases, you must visit an ADOT office in person and may need to complete additional steps before you can renew.
What you need before you start
Gather these items before you go to the ADOT website to renew:
- Your current Arizona driver's license number
- Your date of birth
- A valid debit or credit card for the $25 renewal fee
- Your email address to receive a confirmation
You do not need to print anything or upload documents for a standard online renewal. The system checks your information against ADOT's records to confirm you are may be able to access. If the system cannot verify your identity or finds a hold or suspension on your record, the renewal will stop and you will be told to visit an office in person.
Steps to renew online
Go to the ADOT website and select the online renewal option. You will be asked to enter your driver's license number and date of birth. The system will pull up your current license information and ask you to confirm or update it. You can change your mailing address during this step if needed, though address changes sometimes require in-person verification depending on how different the new address is from your records.
Review the information on screen, then enter your payment details. ADOT accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. After you submit payment, you will receive a confirmation number by email. Your new license will be mailed to the address on file within 7 to 10 business days. You can use your old license to drive until the new one arrives.
What happens if the online system rejects you
If you start the renewal and the system says you are not may be able to access, it will tell you why — usually because of a suspension, medical hold, or an expired license that is more than a year old. Write down the reason given. You will need to visit an ADOT office in person to complete your renewal.
If you have a suspension, you may need to resolve it first. This could mean paying outstanding fines, completing a DUI education program, or providing proof of insurance. Contact ADOT or the court that issued the suspension to find out what steps are required. Once the suspension is lifted, you can try the online renewal again or renew in person.
How long the process takes and when you can drive
The online renewal itself takes 10 to 15 minutes. Once you submit your payment, ADOT processes the request when ready and sends a confirmation email. Your physical license card is printed and mailed within 7 to 10 business days, though mail delivery times can vary depending on where you live.
You are legally allowed to drive with your old license until your new one arrives. You do not need a temporary permit or paper license. If you are stopped by police, your old license is still valid proof. Once your new license arrives, destroy your old one or return it to ADOT if you prefer.
Cost and payment options
An online renewal costs $25 for a five-year license. This is the standard renewal fee; there are no additional charges for renewing online instead of in person. ADOT accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards. You must pay by card — cash and checks are not accepted for online renewals.
If you cannot pay online or your card is declined, you will need to renew in person at an ADOT office, where you can pay by cash, check, or card. Some ADOT offices also accept money orders.
When you must renew in person instead
You cannot use the online process if any of the following explore: your license is suspended or revoked, you have a medical hold, your license expired more than a year ago, you are renewing a commercial driver's license, you need to change your name, you need to update your photo, or you are a new resident of Arizona who has not yet obtained an Arizona license. In any of these cases, you must visit an ADOT office.
In-person renewals take longer — typically 30 minutes to an hour depending on how busy the office is — but they allow you to handle complications that the online system cannot process. If you are unsure whether you are may be able to access for online renewal, you can call ADOT or visit an office to ask before you try.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew online if my license expired more than a year ago?
No. ADOT's online renewal is only for licenses that are currently valid or expired no more than 12 months ago. If your license has been expired longer than that, you must renew in person at an ADOT office.
What if I get an error message when I try to renew online?
An error usually means the system found a suspension, medical hold, or other issue on your record. The error message will explain why you cannot renew online. Contact ADOT or visit an office to find out what needs to be resolved before you can renew.
Can I change my address when I renew online?
Yes, you can update your mailing address during the online renewal. However, if the new address is very different from what ADOT has on file, the system may ask you to verify it in person or by mail before processing the change.
Do I need to do anything after I submit my online renewal?
No. Once you receive your confirmation email, your renewal is complete. Your new license will arrive by mail. You do not need to visit an office or submit any additional documents unless ADOT contacts you.
Can I renew my commercial driver's license online?
No. Commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) must be renewed in person at an ADOT office. The same applies if you are adding or removing endorsements to your CDL.