Broward County Driver’s License Renewal: Documents and Fees

A Broward County driver’s license renewal is handled by the Broward County Tax Collector on behalf of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The standard Class E renewal fee is $48, and you can start up to 18 months before your expiration date.¹² A Class E license is valid for eight years if you’re under 80 and six years if you’re 80 or older. If you qualify, you can renew online through the MyDMV Portal; otherwise you’ll visit a Broward County Tax Collector office in person.

Online or In Person

Florida allows one online convenience renewal every other cycle. That means an in-person visit is required at least once every 16 years, or every 12 years if you’re 80 or older.¹ When you log in to the MyDMV Portal at flhsmv.gov, the system tells you whether you’re eligible this cycle.³

Online renewal is closed to you if any of the following apply:

Your current license is not REAL ID-compliant. Non-compliant customers cannot use the MyDMV Portal at all.⁴
Your name has changed since your last license was issued. A name change requires original documents that only a clerk can verify.
You are a non-citizen who established identity through an employment authorization card or proof of nonimmigrant status. You must renew in person each cycle and show updated documentation.¹

If you’re eligible, the portal handles payment and verification. Your new card is mailed and arrives in two to three weeks.³

For an in-person renewal, the Tax Collector operates several service centers across the county, including a Plantation location at 1800 N.W. 66th Avenue. A full list of offices and hours is posted at browardtax.org, and booking an appointment online before you go is strongly recommended. Walk-ins are accepted, but waits at busier offices can be long.⁵ At the window you’ll present documents, take the vision test, and have a new photo taken. The card is mailed within the same two- to three-week window as an online renewal.

Documents to Bring

Florida law requires proof of identity, Social Security number, and residential address when you apply for or renew a license.⁶ Exactly what to bring depends on whether you already hold a REAL ID-compliant license and whether anything has changed.

For identity, bring one primary document: a valid U.S. passport, a certified copy of your birth certificate, a certificate of naturalization, or, for non-citizens, a valid permanent resident card or employment authorization card.⁶ You’ll also need your Social Security card or another document showing the number, such as a military ID.⁷

For a REAL ID renewal, add two documents showing your Broward County residential address, such as a mortgage statement, lease agreement, utility bill, or bank statement in your name. The FLHSMV’s “What to Bring” page at flhsmv.gov lists everything the state accepts.⁴ If you already hold a REAL ID-compliant license and nothing has changed, the paperwork is lighter because the state already has your verified documents on file.

If your name changed since your last license was issued, bring the original supporting document. That’s a marriage certificate for a marriage, a decree for a divorce, or a court order for any other legal name change. Originals only. Photocopies won’t be accepted.⁴

Fees and Payment

The base Class E renewal fee is $48. If your license has already expired, add a $15 delinquent fee, for a total of $63.⁸ Credit card payments carry a 2.55% surcharge and debit card payments a $1.95 flat fee. Those surcharges are collected by the card companies, not by the county.

The Vision Test

Every in-person renewal includes a vision screening. You need to read at least 20/40 in each eye, with or without corrective lenses.⁹ Bring your glasses or contacts if you wear them. If you can’t meet the standard at the office, you’ll be sent to an eye specialist and asked to return with a completed Report of Eye Examination (HSMV form 72010).¹⁰ If it’s been a while since your last exam, schedule one before your appointment rather than after.

If Your License Has Already Expired

Driving on a license that expired within the last six months is a traffic infraction with a fine. It’s a ticket rather than a criminal charge, but it goes on your record.¹¹

You can still renew a license that expired up to 12 months ago by paying the $48 fee plus the $15 delinquent fee. The state may also require you to pass a written exam before reissuing.¹² Past 12 months, the renewal path closes. You’ll have to apply for a new license and go through the full exam process again.

Holds That Block a Renewal

The FLHSMV won’t process a renewal if your driving privilege is suspended or revoked.¹² Common triggers include unpaid traffic fines, certain criminal convictions, and DUI charges.

Unpaid child support is another frequent cause. When a court or the Florida Department of Revenue flags you, the suspension takes effect 20 days after the order is mailed and stays in place until you comply with the court’s directives and pay any delinquency fees. Reinstatement requires bringing certification of compliance to a driver licensing office and cannot be handled online.¹³

Check your status through the MyDMV Portal before scheduling an appointment. A hold on your record turns your renewal visit into a wasted trip.

Address Changes

Florida law requires you to update the address on your license within 30 days of moving. You’ll need a replacement license reflecting the new address; failing to do so is a nonmoving traffic violation. Address updates can be done online through the MyDMV Portal or at a Tax Collector office. Students with a valid ID from a Florida school are presumed not to have changed address.¹⁴

Military Extensions

Active-duty military members stationed outside Florida don’t have to renew while they’re away. The FLHSMV issues a military extension card that keeps your driving privilege valid continuously until 90 days after discharge, until you return to Florida to live, or until you get a new license from Florida or another state. To obtain it, complete the Military Personnel and Dependents Affidavit (HSMV form 73641) certifying active-duty status and include a copy of current orders.¹⁵

1
Florida Senate. Florida Code 322.18 – Original Applications, Licenses, and Renewals; Expiration of Licenses; Delinquent Licenses
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Fees
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Renew or Replace Your Florida Driver License or ID Card
4
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. REAL ID
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Broward County Tax Collector. Locations
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Florida Senate. Florida Code 322.08 – Application for License; Requirements for License and Identification Card Forms
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.08 – Application for License; Requirements for License and Identification Card Forms
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Florida Senate. Florida Code 322.21 – License Fees; Procedure for Handling and Collecting Fees
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Legal Information Institute. Florida Administrative Code Annotated R. 15A-1.013 – Minimum Visual Standards for Licensing
10
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Report of Eye Examination
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.065 – Driver License Expired for 6 Months or Less; Penalties
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.18 – Original Applications, Licenses, and Renewals; Expiration of Licenses; Delinquent Licenses
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.245 – Suspension of License Upon Failure of Support
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The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 322.19 – Change of Address or Name
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Military and Veterans Information