To operate vehicles on public roads, drivers need to obtain a legal and official document from government authorities in charge of such roads. This document is plastic and it has the size of a credit card often called a driver’s license or a driving permit. It is illegal to drive in Michigan without a driver’s license, so drivers must be with their license each time they drive. The offender often pays fines or could even serve a jail term. For this reason, drivers should renew their license before it expires. In this article, we will go through everything involved in Michigan driver’s license renewal
Normally, the Michigan driving license expires every four years but for individuals under 21, theirs will expire on their 21st birthday. If your driver’s license is canceled or suspended, or you have 3 or more unpaid parking tickets, you will have to be issued a new driver’s license. There are various means of renewing your driver’s license in Michigan. You can choose any means you wish but you are required to renew in person in certain situations which include;
1. If you didn’t renew in person the last time,
2. If you wish to upload a real ID or renew your ID.
3. If your file does not have a social security number.
4. If you made a change in address request in the past 10 days.
5. If there’s a new health challenge that is likely to affect your ability to drive.
Apart from renewing in person, other means of renewing a Michigan delivers license are; Renewing online, US Military Renewal, and Renewal of driver’s license by mail. Let’s go through these four means of renewal;
Renewal in person: To renew in person, here are the steps you’ll need to take;
1. Go to the secretary of state’s branch office in your area.
2. Go with the driver’s license you wish to renew and other necessary documents.
3. Come with your real ID and Social security number if you wish to upgrade or renew.
4. Carefully fill out the renewal form
5. Pay the required renewal fee.
6. If your driving license expired four years ago, you’ll have to take the driving exam again.
7. Report health challenges that could limit your driving if there are any.
Renewal online:
To renew your driver’s license online, you must be a citizen of the USA and you must have renewed in person the last time you did a renewal. Here are the steps To renew your license online;
1. Visit the official website of the Michigan department of state.
2. Create an account or log in
3. Provide your driver’s license number, Social security number, eye color, and date of birth.
4. Use your debit or credit card to pay the renewal fee.
Your new driver’s license will get to you in about three weeks. If your previous license has expired you’ll have to stay off the road during this period.
Renewal by mail:
To renew your driver’s license by mail in Michigan, you must make sure there are no modifications in your details. If you are fit through renew your driver’s license by mail, you will receive a notification from the secretary of state’s office. These are the steps to follow if you wish to win your driver’s license by mail;
1. Complete and sign the form you received in your renewal notice.
2. You can update your address if you’ve relocated from the previous one.
3. Make your renewal payment with a visa, MasterCard, money order, or check.
U.S Military Renewal:
Military personnel can renew their Michigan driver’s license through any of the three means already stated. If you’re on duty outside Michigan, you can renew your license using mail your license has not expired in six years, and your photograph and social security number are verified at the Secretary of state’s office. You use the online renewal method too, and that’s if your license has not expired in four years.
Driver’s license renewal fee in Michigan
The current cost of renewing your driving license in Michigan is $18. However, if you renew your license after it expires, you’ll have to pay a late renewal fee of $7. If you are caught without a driver’s license or an expired license, you’ll be required to pay a huge fine of about $500 or even serve a 93 days jail term for the first time. This punishment gets more severe the more you’re caught.
Can I renew my Michigan driver’s license by phone?
Currently, it is impossible to renew your driving license by phone in Michigan. However, this method of renewal is accepted in some areas like California.
Conclusion : Michigan driver’s license renewal
To drive freely on the public roads in Michigan, you’ll need a current driver’s license. Once you get the first license, you can renew it whenever it expires. It is advisable to renew your driver’s license 12 months to the expiry date or when you receive a notification from the secretary of state 1.5 months to the expiry. After your license expires, there is no grace period for renewal so you ae e advised to stay off the steering until you get your license renewed.
