renewal of wisconsin drivers license - WI
Renewal information
Federal rules will result in changes to the drivers license process in Wisconsin. However, the Wisconsin drivers license and ID card are now, and will be for some time, acceptable identification for boarding an airplane. There is no need for anyone to obtain a new product or do anything outside of the normal renewal process at this time as a result of federal changes.
Driver license late fee
Don't wait until the last minute to renew your driver license.
Drivers who fail to renew their license by their birthday will be assessed a late fee in addition to the usual driver license fee.
Any late fees collected by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) become part of the transportation fund, which supports all highway, transit, aviation, rail, harbor, and bike investments in the state.
Out of state driver license and ID card renewals
If you are a Wisconsin resident, temporarily out-of-state, and need to renew your (non-commercial) driver license or identification card, you may do so by mail. You must be a U.S. citizen who has a valid Social Security number on file with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). Non-U.S. citizens cannot apply by mail and MUST appear at a DMV service center to apply. You can renew your regular license up to one (1) year prior to its expiration date. You can renew your probationary license up to 90 days prior to its expiration date. Your license cannot be expired for more than eight (8) years and cannot be a Commercial Driver License (CDL) with a Hazardous (H) or School Bus (S) endorsement. You can renew your identification (ID) card up to one year prior to its expiration date.
Please note we will be unable to process your renewal request if any of the following apply:
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Your most recent Wisconsin license was "Valid Without Photo."
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A prior license or ID card renewal has been processed for you through the mail or using our online service.
Complete a Wisconsin Driver License application (form MV3001) 
and a Certificate of Vision Examination by Competent Authority (form MV3030V) (486 KB). Note that the MV3030V vision form is not required for ID card renewals. The forms must be filled out completely or they will be returned to you and we will be unable to complete your renewal. Also note that on the vision exam form for license applicants, the "temporal field of vision in degrees" portion must be completed.
Include with your application materials the following documentation:
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A letter stating when you left Wisconsin, when you will return to Wisconsin and why you are temporarily out of state. Also include in the letter your temporary, out-of-state mailing address and your telephone number or e-mail address, should we need to contact you regarding your renewal request.
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A document to provide proof of Wisconsin residency and proof of identity (please send photocopies).
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If you renew your license after its expiration date, add a $5 late fee to your renewal.
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Mail the completed forms, documentation and a check or money order made payable to "Registration Fee Trust" for the appropriate renewal fee, to the chosen delivery option below. Note that if you want to get your renewal as soon as possible, send your application materials using overnight or priority delivery to DMV to reduce the mailing time to our office.
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To send your application via regular first class delivery to DMV: |
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To send your application via overnight or priority delivery to DMV: |
WisDOT
Qualification and Issuance Section
P.O. Box 7995
Madison, WI 53707-7995 |
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WisDOT
Qualification and Issuance Section
4802 Sheboygan Ave., Room 809
Madison, WI 53702 |
Once processed, your renewal will be sent by first class mail to the out of state address indicated on your application.
Driver license and ID card renewal
A renewal notice is mailed to the last known address on your driver record 45 to 60 days prior to your birthday in the year your driver license or ID card expires.
Effective November 1, 2011, driver license and ID card renewal notices are sent in the form of a post card. The post card notification will inform you of the general requirements to renew your driver license or ID card.
In order to renew your driver license or ID card, you need to visit a DMV service center. If you appear after your license has expired, you must pay a late fee.
When you visit the DMV service center, be sure to bring with you:
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Your current driver license or ID card
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Your Social Security number.
You will need to complete form MV3001 
- Wisconsin Driver License (DL)/Identification Card (ID) Application. Be sure to answer all the questions on the form. Once you have completed the form, print a copy to take to the DMV service center.
For driver license renewals, the examiner at the DMV service center will give you a free vision screening test. If you prefer, you may have the vision screening done at your expense by a vision specialist and recorded on form MV3030V (486 KB). Present the completed form MV3030V with your application for renewal. Your vision screening must be done within three months prior to your application for renewal.
A regular driver license or ID card may be renewed up to one year prior to the expiration date. A probationary license can be renewed 90 days prior to the expiration date.
Note: A Wisconsin driver license or ID card is acceptable proof for voting.
Lost renewal notice - driver license, ID card
Driver License and identification card renewal notices are mailed to the last known address 45-60 days prior to the expiration date. If you have lost your notice or if you did not receive one, you may apply for renewal at any DMV service center. Completely fill out form MV3001 - Wisconsin Driver License (DL)/Identification Card (ID) application and use your current driver license or identification card for identification.
Drivers who fail to renew their license by their birthday will be assessed a late fee in addition to the usual driver license fee.
A regular driver license may be renewed up to 1 year prior to the expiration date. A probationary license can be renewed 90 days prior to the expiration date.
Social Security online verification (SSOLV)
As a result of terrorism threats and the dramatic increase in identity theft, new federal security measures have been made to improve the security and integrity of documents issued by states. These security measures are to help with fraud prevention and identification security efforts aimed at avoiding identity theft by preventing the issuance of a driver’s license or identification (ID) card to a person who may be using stolen or otherwise false identity documents. The new security measures allow the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to participate in Social Security Online Verification (SSOLV), which means WisDOT will verify with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that the social security number (SSN) presented to WisDOT is, in fact, the number issued to the person with that name and date of birth. There is no additional cost to you for the verification process.
In July 2005, DMV began verification of SSNs through SSOLV for driver license or ID card customers. WisDOT has compared the names and SSNs of all existing driver’s license and ID card holders with SSA’s records. During the process, some records were identified in which the name, date of birth and/or gender did not match. Those discrepancies must be resolved before a new driver license or ID card can be issued.
If a discrepancy with your record was discovered, you will receive an Important Notice (Form MV3748) (33 KB) with your renewal application. The Important Notice provides information on the steps you will need to take to resolve the discrepancy with SSA prior to visiting your local DMV service center.
If there was no discrepancy found with your record, you will not receive the Important Notice with your renewal application.
A Wisconsin driver's license or ID card will only be issued if the SSN you have provided can be verified. All new applicants and those renewing their license whose record did not initially match will need to verify their name, date of birth and SSN prior to being issued a driver’s license or ID card.
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Visiting the DMV
When you visit DMV, you will need to bring your renewal notice and the necessary acceptable identification documents to prove your name, date of birth and SSN.
Staff at the DMV service center will first review your identification documents in order to ensure your information has been correctly entered into DMV’s computer system.
If you are a first time Wisconsin applicant or your record needs to be resolved, DMV will electronically submit your identifying information to the SSA for matching against their master database. Within a short period of time, the SSA will inform the DMV service center if the information matches and is verified or not. If it is not verified, the response will indicate what information does not match.
Records that are not verified will take additional time to process and could require you to make a return visit to the DMV service center if you need to get your records with the SSA corrected.
If the name or date of birth on your license does not match the information on your social security card or SSA’s records, you will need to bring acceptable documents to prove your name and date of birth to DMV.
If your information cannot be verified online with SSA in the first attempt, you will need to present proof of identity documents at your local DMV service center. If you visit a DMV service center without the necessary documents, you may need to come back with the proper documentation before a driver’s license or ID card can be issued.
Once your SSA record has been verified, you will not need to undergo the verification process again unless there is a change in your key information (for example, your name has changed.)
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Resolving discrepancies in your records with the SSA
If the SSA does not have your legal name or correct date of birth, you must have your records corrected with SSA before coming to DMV. You can check some of the information that is on file with SSA by looking at your Social Security card. If it does not show the correct information, you will need to work with the SSA to get it corrected or updated.
If the SSN you have provided to DMV is invalid or cannot be verified, a visit to the SSA office will be necessary.
If visiting the SSA Web site, refer to their list of acceptable resource documents.
Once you have completed the correction process with the SSA, when you visit DMV, staff will attempt the verification process. Once verification successfully occurs, the driver's license or ID card issuance process can proceed.
Renew early
Your driver’s license or ID card renewal notice will be mailed to you 60 days before the expiration date. It will advise you to visit a DMV service center or the SSA as soon as possible.
Do not wait to renew your driver’s license until your expiration date is drawing near. It may take up to four (4) weeks to renew it if you are required to visit the SSA to correct your records.