Each state has guidelines on how often drivers need to renew their license — typically every four to eight years. Consider starting the process one to three months before the expiration date to give yourself enough time to complete all the steps. If you miss your expiration date, you can still renew an expired license. If your grace period has ended, the DMV may require you to retake a vision test, written exam, or even the full driving test before you can be issued a new license. Note that you can't drive with an expired license. Depending on where you live, you may need an updated license if important details have changed, such as your address or name.