Cover photo credit: diana.grytsku modied by Jesse Corlis
CHOICES
21+
15-17
18-20
DRIVER SDRIVER S
DRIVER SDRIVER S
LICENSESLICENSES
& IDENTIFICATION CARDS
call 800.642.9066
visit dmv.wv.gov
YOU HAVE A CHOICE!
West VirginiaWest Virginia
Driver’s Licenses & Identication Cards
•LicensesandIDcardsforapplicantsages15to17
displaythecardholder’s18thbirthdayinredprint.
•IdenticationCardsdisplaythe21stbirthdayinblue.
•LicensesandIDcardsissuedtoapplicantsages
18to20displaythecardholder’s21stbirthdayin
blueprint.
visit dmv.wv.gov
All Renewal and Duplicate Applicants
for a driver’s license or ID card will need to provide the
following documents:
NOT for
Federal Identication
(asecurecardthatdoesnotmeetREALIDActrequirements)
█
Current Card
█ Renewal Notice
█ One Proof of Residency with Your Name and
Physical Address
YOU WILL ALSO NEED:
█ One Additional Proof of Residency If Your
Address Has Changed
█ Name Change Documents (ifyouchooseto
changeyournameonyourcurrentdriver’slicense
orIDcard)
*If your driver’s license or ID card has been lost, stolen, or
destroyed,youmustalsoprovideoneproofofidentityandone
proof of WV residency document which includes your name
andaddresstoobtainanewcard.
FOR
Federal Identication
(acardcontaininga“goldstar”,indicatingthatitmeets
REALIDActrequirementsfornationwidefederaluseat
airportsandotherdesignatedfederalfacilities)
█
One Proof of Identity Document
█
Two Proof of WV Residency Documents
Containing Your Name and Physical Address
YOU WILL ALSO NEED:
█
Name Change Documents
(forANYandALL
namechangesorifyournameisdierentfromwhat
appearsonyourproofofidentity)
√
When your application is processed, you will receive
a temporary card to carry until an ofcial License/
Identication Card is delivered to your address via
United States Postal Service.
CHECKLIST
WHAT YOU NEED
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visitusonlineat dmv.wv.gov
ForFrequentlyAskedQuestions
dmv.wv.gov/SLFAQ
GeneralLicensingInformation
dmv.wv.gov/drivers-licenses
MoreInfoontheREALIDAct
www.dhs.gov
Callusat
800.642.9066
andarepresentativewillbehappyto
answeranyofyourDMVquestions.
FOR
Federal
Identication Cards
•REALIDCompliantLicense
andID’saremarkedwithagold
starinthetoprightcorner.
•Validandsecurenationally
forREALIDrequirementsfor
airtravelandentryintoselect
Federalbuildings.
NOT for
Federal
Identication Cards
•Markedwiththestatement
“NOTFORREALIDPURPOSES.”
•Validandsecurefor
identicationorlicensetodrive.
•AsofMay7,2025,thesecards
arenotvalidforidentication
forairtravelorentryintoselect
Federalbuildings.
•AdultDriver’sLicensesandIDCardsforAges21andover
appearinahorizontalorlandscapeformat.
•IdenticationCardsaremarked“NOTADRIVER’SLICENSE.”
From driver knowledge tests to license renewals,
now you can skip the trip and do it online at
dmv.wv.gov.
Rev.04/2023
You will be required to provide
ONE of EACH of the following:
Proof of Identity
• AnoriginalorcertiedcopyofaUnited
States-issuedbirth certicate(U.S.
DepartmentofStateandU.S.Militarybirth
certicatesAREacceptable.Hospitalbirth
certicatesandBureauofCensusrecords
areNOTacceptable.)
• Valid,unexpiredUS PassportorOcial
U.S.PassportCard
• Ifforeignborn,valid,unexpiredDepartment
of Homeland Security documents
Social Security Number
• Whileaproofdocumentisnolonger
required,youmustprovideavalidSocial
SecurityNumberveriablewiththeSocial
SecurityAdministration.
Proof of Legal Name Change
If you have changed your name, you may
be required to provide some or all of the
following:
• Certiedmarriagecerticate(souveniror
minister’scopiesareNOTacceptable)
• Originalorcertiedbirthcerticatewith
amendedlegalname
• Courtorderwithlegalnamechange
• Certieddivorcedecree(s)withlegalname/
namechange
• Ifyouareage50orover,havesatisedall
otherdocumentationrequirements,holda
currentWVdriver’slicenseorIDcardinthe
namebeingveried,andhavegonethrough
atleastoneWVlicenserenewalcycle,a
signedstatementmaybesubmittedinlieu
ofthenamechangedocumentsuchasthe
marriagecerticateordivorcedecree.
You will be required to provide TWO
proofs of WV residency. Acceptable
documents include:
• WVutilitybills(notmorethan90daysold)
• Taxrecordsissuedbyacity,countyorstate
(doesnotincludetaxreturns)
• AvalidWVvehicleregistrationcard
• WVVoter’sRegistrationcard
• WVmortgagedocuments,WVhomeowner
insurancedocumentsforaWVresidence,or
proofofWVhomeownership
• W-2formthatisnotmorethan18monthsold
(youmayusethesameW-2asyourproofof
SocialSecuritynumber)
DOCUMENTS
USA
visit dmv.wv.gov
ACCEPTABLE PROOF DOCUMENTS
for a West Virginia Driver’s License or Identification Card
call 800.642.9066
• WVweaponspermit
• ProofofWVpublicassistance
• Residentialrentalorleaseagreement
For a complete list of acceptable proof of
residency documents, visit dmv.wv.gov or
call 800.642.9066.
Unacceptable documents include:
• ThosewithPOBoxaddresses
• Terminationnoticesfromautilitycompany
• Twodocumentsfromthesamecompany
• Recurringdocumentsmorethan90daysold,
suchasutilitybillsandbankstatements
CDL and GDL Applicants
BothCommercialDriver’sLicenseand
GraduatedDriver’sLicenseapplicantswill
berequiredtoprovideadditionalproof
documents.
For more information on all required
documents, please contact DMV.
FAQs dmv.wv.gov/SLFAQ
NOTICE
ALL First Time, Transfer, and Expired
Driver’s License and ID Card Applicants:
A rst time applicant must provide one proof of
identity document, two proofs of West Virginia
residencywithnameandphysicaladdress,andproof
oflegalnamechange(s)ifyourname haschanged
or is dierent from what appears on your proof of
identitydocument. DMV must be able to establish
a link between ANY and ALL name changes.
First time applicant rules apply to those whom:
• Have never obtained a West Virginia driver’s
licenseorIDcard
• HaveaWVdriver’slicense(non-CDL)orIDcard
thatismorethan36monthsexpired;or
• Aretransferringavaliddriver’slicenseorIDcard
fromout-of-state.
Additionally, all out-of-state driver’s license or ID
card transfers are required to exchange their out-
of-state card for a WV card.Ifyouwishtotransfer
adriver’slicenseandhavelostyourcard,youmust
present a certied driving record from the state in
whichyouarelicensed.Thedrivingrecordmustbe
datedwithinthe30dayspriortothedateyouwishto
exchangeyourout-of-statelicenseforaWVdriver’s
license.NewresidentswhowanttodriveinWVmust
applyforaWVdriver’slicensewithin30daysafter
establishingresidency.
NOTICE TO APPLICANTS