Is it almost time to renew your Arkansas driver’s license?
Are you not sure what the requirements are?
Are you looking for a complete 2024 guide on how to renew your driver’s license in Arkansas?
We’ve got you.
Here, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about Arkansas driver’s license renewal. We won’t leave anything out.
So buckle up and let’s go!
How to Renew Your Driver’s License in Arkansas
If you want to renew your Arkansas driver’s license, you need to follow these steps:
- Go to an Arkansas Revenue Office
- Submit your renewal requirements
- Pass the vision test
- Pay the renewal fee
Let’s go through the steps in detail.
Step 1: Visit an Arkansas Revenue Office
Just recently, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration required all drivers to renew their licenses at a local Revenue Office. The good news is that there are multiple Revenue Offices throughout Arkansas, with several locations per county.
Check out the nearest Revenue Office near you.
Make sure to check their schedule before visiting. Most offices are open between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mondays through Fridays.
Step 2: Submit your license renewal requirements
When you get to the Revenue Office, you need to submit some documents to complete your license renewal.
There are 4 documents/IDs you need to provide:
- Your soon-to-expire driver’s license
- Proof of Identity. Can be any of the following:
- School or Work ID
- Vehicle Registration/Title
- Medicare or Medicaid
- AR Kids cards (for drivers up to 19 years old)
- Parent’s Affidavit (the parent or legal guardian must be present to prove the minor’s identity)
- Proof of Legal Presence. Can be any of the following:
- Passport or US Passport card
- US Birth Certificate and Birth Abroad: Must provide Original or certified copy
- US Visa with a valid foreign passport
- Immigration and Naturalization Service document (must be verified through S.A.V.E) and Employment Authorization Card (must be verified through S.A.V.E)
- Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N-570, N-578)
- Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561, N-645)
- Resident Alien Card or Permanent Resident Card (I-151, I-551, AR-3, AR-3A. AR-103)
- Social Security Number. Can be any of the following:
- Social Security Card
- W-2 Tax Form
- Paystub with name and full SSN
- Proof of legal name change (if applicable)
Step 3: Pass the vision test
Everyone that wants to renew their driver’s license needs to undergo a vision test for visual acuity and field of vision.
To pass the test, drivers who don’t use corrective glasses need to meet the visual standard of 20/40. If you wear glasses or contacts, you need a visual acuity of 20/50.
Note: drivers who get a visual acuity of 20/50 are restricted to daytime driving.
As for the field of vision, drivers that don’t wear glasses should have a 140-degree field of vision. For those that wear glasses, their field of vision should be 105-degree.
If you don’t pass the test, set an appointment with an ophthalmologist or optometrist for visual correction. The driver must bring the form indicating that their vision has been corrected to the Revenue Office.
Step 4: Pay the renewal fee
To complete the renewal process, pay a $40 renewal fee through these methods:
- Cash
- Check
- Money order
This should be made payable to the AR DFA.
And there you have it.
As simple as that.
How to Renew Your Driver’s License Through the Mail in Arkansas
To renew your driver’s license through mail, you will need to meet these requirements:
- You serve in the military
- You are living and working outside of Arkansas
- You are studying in another state
- You are temporarily overseas
If you are eligible, here’s how to do it:
- Call the Arkansas ODS Driver’s License Department at (501) 682-7059 to tell them you want to renew through the mail. You can also email them through Driver.Services@dfa.arkansas.gov.
- Complete the renewal application form that will be sent to you by the AR ODS Driver’s License Department
- Pay the renewal fee of $20
- Put the form and payment in a packet and mail it to the address found in the form
After that, you will receive your new driver’s license via mail.
FAQs
Let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Arkansas driver’s license renewal.
Can I renew my Arkansas driver’s license online?
Unfortunately, no. Arkansas does NOT allow online renewal at the moment.
So if you want to renew your driver’s license in Arkansas, you need to do it in person or through the mail (if you are eligible).
When does my driver’s license expire in Arkansas?
Your Arkansas driver’s license will expire every 4 years. As for the specific date, it expires on your birthday.
To be extra sure, you can always check your driver’s license card for the expiration date.
Is there a grace period for expired driver’s licenses in Arkansas?
While you won’t be charged a fee for failing to renew your license, you are NOT allowed to drive with an expired license. On top of that, you will have to retake your written test if you don’t renew your license after 31 days of your license’s expiration date.
When can I renew my driver’s license in Arkansas?
You can renew your Arkansas driver’s license within 1 year of expiration. So if you have some free time and it’s closing in your expiration date, you might as well renew it already.
Conclusion
So that is how to renew your driver’s license in Arkansas.
It’s a bit of a bummer that you can’t do it online.
But hey, the process is still SUPER simple. You just need to make sure you provide all the required documents.
So to complete the license renewal process, you need to present your proof of identity, proof of legal presence, social security number, and soon-to-expire license. You also need to pass a vision test and pay the renewal fee of $40.
And if you’re eligible, you can do it through the mail.
So what are you waiting for?
Go, renew your driver’s license before it expires!