Moving States? How to Transfer Your Driver's License

The moving truck is unpacked, the Wi-Fi works, and somewhere in a kitchen drawer is a driver's license from a state you no longer live in. It's easy to put off. But every state sets a clock that starts when you become a resident, and some of those clocks are short. If you need to transfer driver's license to another state, here's how the process works, how long you have, and the snags that send people home from the DMV empty-handed.

When you must switch your license

The trigger is residency, not the date you crossed the state line. States define it a little differently, but you're usually considered a resident once you do something that shows you plan to stay, such as:

• Signing a lease or buying a home
• Starting a job in the state
• Enrolling your kids in a local public school
• Registering to vote
• Simply being present for a set period (Georgia, for example, counts 30 days)

Visitors, out-of-state college students and active-duty military members often get exceptions, and those rules vary. A student keeping a permanent address back home, for example, can usually keep their home license. If any of those fit you, read your new state's residency rules before assuming the deadline applies.

How to transfer driver's license to another state

The process is close to identical everywhere, even if the forms have different names.

1. Check your new state's deadline (see the table below).
2. Book an appointment if your state uses them. Many busy offices fill up weeks out, so do this first.
3. Gather documents. Plan on proof of identity (passport or birth certificate), your Social Security number, two proofs of your new address, and your current license. If you want a REAL ID, bring documents that meet those standards, and if your name changed, bring the marriage certificate or court order that links the names.
4. Surrender your old license. Most states take it at the counter. You can only hold one valid driver's license at a time.
5. Pass a vision screening. This is nearly universal.
6. Take any tests your new state requires. Many waive them for a valid license; some don't.
7. Pay the fee and get a temporary paper license until the card arrives by mail.

Deadlines by state

Here are the new-resident deadlines for some of the most-moved-to states, based on each state's licensing agency. Laws change, so confirm on the official site before you rely on a date.

Notice the spread. Moving to California gives you less than two weeks, while Illinois and Texas give you about three months. If your state isn't listed, the federal USA.gov directory of state motor vehicle services links to every state agency.

Commercial drivers usually face shorter or separate rules. A CDL transfer typically requires the new state to pull your driving record from your old state, and some states require you to retake the knowledge tests.

Do you have to retake tests?

For a regular car license, usually not, as long as your current license is valid.

A large number of states now waive both the written knowledge test and the road test for adults surrendering a valid out-of-state license. Minnesota, for example, dropped its written test for these drivers in recent years. But the details differ:

• Valid license: Most states require only the vision screening.
• Recently expired license: Some states treat a license that expired more than a set number of days or months ago as if you never had one, which brings back the knowledge and road tests. Pennsylvania, for instance, takes an out-of-state license that is valid or expired six months or less.
• Under 21 or with a rough record: Some states test younger drivers or people with recent DUIs or multiple violations even when other transfers are waived.
• Moving from another country: Different process entirely. Only a few countries have reciprocity agreements with specific states.

If you do need the knowledge test, it'll cover the new state's laws, which can differ from what you're used to: right-turn-on-red exceptions, move-over rules, school bus laws. A couple of runs through our free practice tests is a quick way to spot the rules that changed.

Car registration and insurance

Your license and your car are separate transactions, and the car often has its own deadline.

• Registration: Many states give new residents somewhere around 30 to 60 days to title and register a vehicle, but some are shorter: Pennsylvania wants the title and registration application within 20 days, a tighter window than its 60-day license rule. You'll typically need your out-of-state title (or lienholder information if you have a loan), proof of in-state insurance, and sometimes a safety inspection, emissions test or VIN verification.
• Insurance: Call your insurer before you move, not after. Your policy needs to meet the new state's minimum coverage, and some insurers will need to rewrite it entirely under a different state's rules. Rates can change significantly by ZIP code.
• Points and violations: Your driving history usually follows you. States share conviction data, so tickets from your old state can still affect you. Our explainer on how points on your license work covers how that plays out.

Teen drivers moving states

Families with a teenager in the graduated licensing process have the trickiest move. A learner's permit from one state generally doesn't transfer cleanly, because every state has its own permit age, holding period and supervised hours.

What usually happens:

• Permit holders often have to apply for the new state's permit, which may mean taking that state's knowledge test.
• Holding periods may restart or be partially credited. Texas, for example, requires out-of-state transfers under 18 to get a Texas learner license and complete its six-month holding period regardless of prior licensing.
• Supervised hours logged in your old state may or may not count. Keep your log either way.
• Provisional license holders may move into the new state's equivalent stage, with that state's curfew and passenger limits.

Call or email the new state's licensing agency before the move if you can. A short conversation can save a teen months of repeated waiting.

Can you renew instead?

Not across state lines. You can only renew a license in the state that issued it, and only while you live there. If your old license is about to expire mid-move, see how to renew your driver's license online to check whether your current state allows a quick online renewal before you go, then transfer once you're settled.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to get a new license after moving?

It depends on the state, usually from 10 days (California) to 90 days (Texas and Illinois). The clock starts when you become a resident, which can be the day you sign a lease or start a job.

Do I have to take a written test when moving states?

Usually not if your current license is valid, but some states do test, especially if your license has expired or you're under 21. Check your new state's licensing agency before your appointment.

Can I keep my old license?

No. You can only hold one valid driver's license, so the new state will take or invalidate your old one when it issues yours.