- Foreign passport with INS or USCIS verification
- Foreign passport with valid Form I-551 stamp
- Current alien registration card
- Refugee travel document (Form I-571)
- Current photo employment authorization card
- Utility bills
- Bank statements
Keep in mind that the documents presented must be original forms, as the NJ MVC does not accept copies. You will also be required to complete the drivers license replacement application form and pay the applicable fee. You can replace your drivers license in person at a New Jersey DMV location or by mail if you are currently residing out of state.
- Applicants drivers license cannot have been lost for over three years.
- Applicant cannot be currently living in the state of NJ (the DMV does not send temporary permits to NJ addresses).
- Applicant must be a citizen of the US.
- Applicant cannot be a CDL holder.
- Applicant must have a valid New Jersey drivers license.
Also note that only non-digital licenses can be replaced. If your license has a digital picture, you cannot apply for replacement, but instead you must renew your NJ drivers license.
If you meet the aforementioned requirements, send the following documents to the NJ MVC to replace lost drivers license:
- A letter with information why you can’t come in-person to get a duplicate drivers license, including how long you expect to be gone.
- A completed Application for Driver’s License (Form BA-208).
- A check or money order for $11 made out to to the NJ MVC.
- Documents that meet the 6 points identification verification requirements
- Current out-of-state or out-of-country address.
How does the DMV check my vision? The vision test is administered at New Jersey MVC offices across the state. During the test, a DMV representative will ask you to read a line on an eye chart with both of your eyes open and then another line with each eye individually.
The NJ MVC requires drivers to have 20/50 visual acuity in at least one eye with or without corrective lenses. If a driver fails the vision exam, he/she must visit their doctor and complete a ST-14 form.
How long will I have a suspended license for not taking a chemical test? New Jersey has implemented the “implied consent†law, which means that you must take a breathalyzer test if pulled over by the NJ police. Drivers who refuse to undergo a chemical test, will be detained and brought to a hospital where they will have to submit a blood sample for analysis.
The length of your suspension for refusing to take or failing a blood test ranges from seven to 12 months depending on the number of times you have been convicted of a DUI/DWI.
How soon can I renew my driver’s license? In New Jersey, drivers are allowed to renew an expired NJ driving license as early as six months before it expires. The NJ Motor Vehicle Commission will send you a notice in the mail at least ninety days before your license expires, reminding you to renew your drivers license.
If you are eligible to renew by mail, the NJ MVC will send you a “Skip the Trip†package, which outlines all the requirements you must meet. If not, drivers must make an in-person visit at a local NJ DMV and provide documents that satisfy the 6 Point ID verification requirements.
If I file a police report, will my replacement fee be waived? If you have provided a police report when requesting a drivers license replacement, is to the discretion of the New Jersey MVC if your duplicate drivers license fee will be waived or not.
In any case, NJ state laws require you to file a police report if your drivers license is lost or stolen, as this will protect you from possible fraudulent activity and identity theft.
If my drivers license has been lost or stolen, how can I get it flagged with the DMV? The DMV might flag your license number if another driver is pulled over by the police and presents your driving license as their own. Also, a DMV clerk might suggest that you should apply for a duplicate license. However, to be on the safe side, immediately report your drivers license as lost or stolen at your local NJ DMV office.
Is there an age limit to renew your license? No, there is no age limit to renew a NJ drivers license. The same rules and regulations in the drivers license renewal process apply for NJ drivers of all ages. The NJ DMV allows drivers to renew expired drivers license by mail or in person at a New Jersey MVC locations across the state.
What address will my replacement license be mailed to? The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission does not mail duplicate drivers licenses to mailing addresses. Residents must obtain a driving license replacement in person at a local NJ MVC office.
NJ residents who are temporarily out-of-state and meet the requirements to replace a lost drivers license by mail, will receive their temporary license at the out-of-state or out-of-country address they provide in the application form.
What are requirements for seniors to renew a driving license? The same regulations that apply to all NJ drivers when renewing their licenses, apply to senior drivers as well. A New Jersey drivers license is good for four years and must be renewed before it expires in person or by mail. If you have a valid NJ license to drive, you can renew it up to six months before it expires.
The NJ MVC will send you a renewal notice, which outlines all the requirements you must meet to renew drivers license as well as specify if you are eligible to renew by mail. If not, you must visit a local NJ DMV and provide documents that meet the 6 Point ID verification requirements. You must also pay the $24 renewal fee.
- Accumulating over 12 points on your NJ driving record
- Being involved in a fatal accident or vehicular homicide
- Driving under the influence
- Reckless driving
- Failure to appear in court
- Failure to present proof of car insurance
- Driving on a suspended drivers license
What are the consequences of driving with a suspended license? The penalties of driving with a suspended drivers license imposed by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, depend on the severity of the offence and the number of times the driver has been convicted of it. The fines and penalties implemented in New Jersey vary from points being added to your NJ drivers record to a license suspension. However, driving on a suspended drivers license will lead to harsher penalties, such as 5 years imprisonment in a correctional facility.
What are the fees for a duplicate drivers license? The fee to obtain a duplicate driving license in New Jersey is $11. Applicants must provide payment for the replacement fee upon visiting NJ MVC offices. Check your local NJ DMV location for acceptable methods of payment.
If you are eligible to replace lost drivers license by mail, provide a check or money order for the $11 replacement fee and send it to the NJ DMV along with the completed application form and necessary documents.
What are the reinstatement fees I will have to pay for a suspended license? The basic restoration fee drivers in NJ need to pay to reinstate a suspended drivers license is $100. However, other reinstatement fees may apply, such as an annual surcharge or court fees, depending on the reason for your suspension.
There are several ways to pay the NJ restoration fees, which include:
What are the suspensions eligible for a hardship license? The state of New Jersey does not have any temporary, provisional or work licenses, which allow the driver to operate a motor vehicle during certain hours of the day, or for the purpose of traveling to work.
NJ state laws do not allow the issuance of a hardship license after a DWI conviction or any violation that has resulted in a suspension on your drivers license. Moreover, driving on a suspended license incurs harsh penalties in New Jersey, such as five years of jail time.
What do I need to do to get my driver’s license if I fail the driving test? If you fail the driving exam required in order to obtain a NJ drivers license, you must wait for a minimum of two weeks before being allowed to re-take the test. If you fail the driving test more than twice, you will be required to wait at least six months before re-taking the NJ skills test.
When taking the DMV drivers test, make sure you are accompanied by a licensed driver and present forms of ID as required under the 6 Point ID Verification Program. Applicants must also provide a fully registered vehicle with current inspection sticker and insurance card to use when taking the drivers exam.
- One primary proof of identity
- One secondary proof of identity
- Proof of valid Social Security Number
- Proof of address
For more help regarding the selection of documents and satisfying the requirements, visit the MVC website. If you have an out-of-state drivers license, you must surrender it to the NJ MVC when applying for a new driving license.
What documents do I need to present to renew my drivers license? There are two ways to renew a New Jersey drivers license: in person or by mail. If you are eligible to renew by mail, the NJ MVC will send you a “Skip the Trip†package, which outlines all the requirements you must meet. Applicants will be required to complete the application included in the package and mail it along with a check or money order for the renewal fee to the NJ MVC.
If you are not allowed to renew your expired drivers license by mail, visit a NJ DMV location and provide documents that meet the NJ 6 point ID verification requirements. These include:
- One primary proof of identity:
- Current NJ drivers license
- Birth certificate
- US passport
- Military ID
- Marriage certificate
- Utility bills
- Bank statements
For more information on selecting the right documents and satisfying the requirements of the 6 point ID verification program, visit the MVC website. Also make sure you provide payment of $24 for the renewal fee.
- One primary proof of identity:
- Current NJ drivers license
- Birth certificate
- US passport
- Military ID
- Marriage certificate
- Utility bills
- Bank statements
For more information on selecting the right documents and satisfying the requirements of the 6 point ID verification program, visit the MVC website. You are also required to complete the Application for Driver’s License (Form BA-208). This form is not available for download and can only be obtained at a New Jersey DMV office.
- English
- Arabic
- Chinese
- French
- Spanish
- Korean
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Japanese
In addition, the New Jersey MVC offers oral tests in English and Spanish. If your native language is not the list, you are allowed to use the services of a state-approved interpreter when taking the DMV drivers exam.
What penalties will I face if I do not renew my expired drivers license? Driving with an expired driving license is illegal in New Jersey. Possible penalties include a fine in the amount of $150 and even a drivers license suspension.
Also, keep in mind that if you have not renewed your drivers license within three years after the expiration date, you will have to apply for a new drivers license.
What should I do if I have not received my renewed license? It usually takes the New Jersey MVC ten business days to process the documentation and payment and issue your renewed NJ drivers license. If your renewed driving license has not arrived by that time, contact the NJ DMV for more details on the delivery status of your license to drive.
- Vision test
- Written knowledge test
- Driving exam
- Learners permits and restricted licenses for first-time drivers under the Graduated Drivers License program, which include:
- Student learners permit
- Examination permit
- Probationary license
When can I reinstate my license after it has been suspended? Drivers can reinstate a suspended drivers license if they have met all the restoration requirements as listed on a NJ suspension notice. After a suspension period expires and all the conditions have been satisfied, the NJ MVC will send you a Notice of Restoration. Drivers will then be required to pay the $100 restoration fee.
When will I need to renew my license? The New Jersey license to drive is valid for four years and must be renewed before its expiration date in person or by mail. The NJ Motor Vehicle Commission allows you to renew up to six months before your driving license expires. In addition, you will receive a renewal notice from the New Jersey MVC at least ninety days before your license expires reminding you to renew your drivers license.
Drivers can renew their NJ drivers license by mail or in person at a local NJ MVC.
When will I receive a replacement license after applying? Drivers applying for a drivers license replacement in person will be issued a duplicate driving license immediately. Drivers applying by mail must wait a minimum of ten business days for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to process the payment and the documentation provided.
If your drivers license copy has not arrived at your out-of-state or out-of-country address within that time, contact the New Jersey DMV to check on the delivery status of your driver s license replacement.
Where can I check to see if my license is suspended? NJ drivers can check their New Jersey driving record for information on their drivers license status. Drivers can also check if they have met all the reinstatement requirements by visiting a local NJ MVC office or regional service center. To find the nearest NJ MVC, you can use our DMV locator.
Where can I get a new drivers license? To obtain a new drivers license in New Jersey, drivers must visit a MVC Driver Testing Center. Upon arrival, drivers need to present certain documents required under the 6 Point ID Verification system as well as a current NJ provisional drivers license. Additionally, applicants must pay the $24 new drivers license fee. Check with the DMV near you for accepted methods of payment.
Will I be required to take a vision test for a drivers license renewal? Not all drivers have to pass a vision test when renewing expired driving license in New Jersey. However, the NJ MVC administers periodic vision exams for driving license renewals.
The NJ MVC requires drivers to have 20/50 visual acuity in at least one eye with or without corrective lenses. If a driver fails the vision exam, he/she must visit their doctor and complete a ST-14 form.
Will I get a drivers license renewal notice in the mail? Yes, the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission will send you a notice in the mail at least ninety days before your license expires reminding you to renew your drivers license.
If you are eligible to renew by mail, the NJ MVC will also send you a “Skip the Trip†package, which outlines all the requirements you must meet. If not, you need to make an in-person visit at your local NJ DMV and provide documents that satisfy the 6 Point ID verification requirements.
However, keep in mind that even if you do not receive a renewal notice in the mail, it is your responsibility to check the status of your NJ driving license. To do so, you can request a copy of your New Jersey drivers record.
