Drivers & Vehicles > Drivers > Renewal information >

Driver license renewal from out of state

If you are a Wisconsin resident, temporarily out-of-state, and need to renew your regular (non-commercial) driver license, you may do so by mail if you are a U.S. citizen who has a valid Social Security number on file with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Non-U.S. citizens MUST appear at a DMV service center to renew and cannot renew by mail. (DMV customer service centers accept cash or checks only). You can renew your regular license up to one (1) year prior to its expiration date. You can renew your probationary license 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.

If you renew your license after its expiration date, add a $5 late fee to your renewal. Please note that if your most recent Wisconsin license did not have your photo on it, we will be unable to process your request.

Complete a Wisconsin Drivers License (DL)/Identification Card (ID) Application (form MV3001) and a Certificate of Vision Examination by Competent Authority (form MV3030V) . The forms must be filled out completely or they will be returned to you and we will be unable to complete your renewal. Note that on the vision exam form, the "temporal field of vision in degrees" portion is especially important. Mail the completed forms along with a check or money order made payable to "Registration Fee Trust" for the appropriate renewal fee to:

Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Qualification and Issuance Section
P.O. Box 7995
Madison, WI 53707-7995

Include your temporary, out-of-state mailing address.

Expedited delivery service provides faster delivery service of the license to the address you provide. However, it does not expedite the Division of Motor Vehicle's processing time as licenses can be mailed no sooner than the day after we process your request. If you wish to use expedited delivery service, send a postage-prepaid, overnight envelope with your out-of-state address information in which we can send your duplicate license to you, the required fee and completed form MV3001 to: 

Wisconsin Department of Transportation 
Division of Motor Vehicles 
Qualification and Issuance Section 
4802 Sheboygan Ave., room 809 
Madison, WI 53702

Lost or stolen license or permit

If your license or permit is lost or stolen and you are a Wisconsin resident temporarily out-of-state, you can obtain a duplicate license. Again, if your most recent Wisconsin license did not have your photo on it, we will be unable to process your request.

If you have questions:

E-mail: dre.dmv@dot.wi.gov
Call: (608) 264-7049

Or write to us at:

Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Division of Motor Vehicles
Qualification and Issuance Section
P.O. Box 7995
Madison, WI 53707-7995

You will need the Adobe Reader (provided free of charge) to view PDF files. For more information about getting your free copy of the Adobe Reader, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

Questions about the content of this page:
Bureau of Driver Services, driverrecords.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: June 25, 2009