🗺 Alabama (AL) · Updated May 2026

Alabama Driver License — Requirements, Renewal & REAL ID

Complete guide to getting, renewing, and upgrading your Alabama driver license in 2026. Issued by the Alabama ALEA (Law Enforcement Agency — Driver License Division) (alea.gov). Includes document checklist, renewal steps, REAL ID requirements, and suspended license reinstatement.

New licenseRenewalREAL IDSuspended licenseFAQ

Alabama at a glance

Alabama driver license — key facts 2026

Issuing authority
Alabama ALEA (Law Enforcement Agency — Driver License Division)
alea.gov
New license fee
$36.25
Standard Class C
Renewal fee
$36.25
Online: Yes (limited)
License validity
4 years
From date of issue
DUI reinstatement
$275
SR-22: 3 years
REAL ID extra fee
$0 extra
In-person visit required

Complete guides

Alabama driver license — step by step

Getting a new Alabama driver license

Apply in person at a Alabama ALEA (Law Enforcement Agency — Driver License Division) office. Bring original documents — photocopies and digital documents are not accepted. Allow 1–2 hours for your first visit including the knowledge test and vision screening.

Required documents

Identity & presence

  • ✓US passport or certified birth certificate from vital records (hospital copies not accepted)
  • ✓Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub showing full 9-digit SSN
  • ✓Proof of lawful presence if non-US citizen: visa, I-94, Green Card, or EAD

Residency & application

  • ✓Two proofs of Alabama residency — utility bill, bank statement, lease, or government mail — showing full name and current address, dated within 90 days
  • ✓Completed ALEA application (available at alea.gov or at the office)
  • ✓Application fee: $36.25 (verify at alea.gov)
📋 What to expect: Vision screening, written knowledge test on Alabama traffic laws, and a behind-the-wheel driving test. A temporary paper license is issued immediately. Your permanent card arrives by mail within 7–21 days.

Alabama uses the ALEA (Alabama Law Enforcement Agency) rather than a traditional DMV for driver licensing. The $275 DUI reinstatement fee is among the highest in the Southeast. Alabama participates in the Driver License Compact.

Renewing your Alabama driver license

Alabama driver licenses are valid for 4 years. Renew online at alea.gov if your information has not changed. In-person renewal is required for REAL ID upgrades.

Renewal options

  • Online (Yes (limited)): Visit alea.gov with your license number, date of birth, last 4 SSN digits, and $36.25 payment
  • In person: Visit any Alabama ALEA (Law Enforcement Agency — Driver License Division) office with current license, address proof if changed, and payment
  • REAL ID upgrade: Must be done in person with full REAL ID documentation

REAL ID in Alabama

REAL ID enforcement took effect . A REAL ID-compliant license, US passport, or other accepted federal ID is required for domestic flights and federal facility access.

Alabama REAL ID requires an in-person visit to an ALEA Driver License office. Online pre-registration is available at alea.gov. Alabama REAL ID licenses display the gold star.

REAL ID document checklist for Alabama

Identity (choose one)

  • ✓US passport or passport card
  • ✓Certified birth certificate from vital records (NOT hospital copy)
  • ✓Permanent Resident Card or EAD

SSN, residency & name

  • ✓Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub with full 9-digit SSN
  • ✓Two proofs of Alabama residency dated within 90 days
  • ✓Name change docs if applicable — certified marriage certificate or court order
⚠️ REAL ID rejected in Alabama? Most rejections are name mismatches, hospital birth certificates, or old residency documents. Talk to a specialist →

Suspended license in Alabama

Alabama charges $275 for DUI reinstatement — one of the higher fees in the Southeast. SR-22 is required for 3 years. An IID may be required for DUI convictions. Alabama's unique ALEA system means reinstatement paperwork goes through law enforcement rather than a traditional DMV.

DUI suspension key facts — Alabama

  • Suspension length: 90 days-1 year (1st offense)
  • Reinstatement fee: $275
  • SR-22 requirement: 3 years
  • Issuing authority: Alabama ALEA (Law Enforcement Agency — Driver License Division)

For complex situations — out-of-state violations, multiple suspensions, or document barriers — our specialists know the exact Alabama reinstatement process.

Sources: alea.gov · DHS.gov REAL ID · DMV.org · Updated

Need Alabama license help?

New license, renewal, REAL ID, or suspended license — a specialist will walk you through the exact steps for Alabama.

Free initial consultation

Alabama license facts

  • New fee $36.25
  • Renewal fee $36.25
  • Validity 4 years
  • Online renew Yes (limited)

Suspension facts

  • DUI suspension 90 days-1 year (1st offense)
  • Reinstatement $275
  • SR-22 3 years

Alabama questions

Alabama driver license — FAQ

Have a question not answered here? Ask on WhatsApp →

Proof of identity (US passport or certified birth certificate — hospital copies not accepted), proof of SSN, and two proofs of Alabama residency (utility bill, bank statement, lease, or government mail, dated within 90 days). Complete ALEA application at alea.gov.
Alabama licenses are valid for 4 years. Renew at alea.gov. Online renewal: Yes (limited). Fee: $36.25. REAL ID upgrade requires in-person visit with full documentation.
REAL ID is in effect since May 7, 2025. You need a REAL ID-compliant license, US passport, or other accepted ID to board domestic flights and access federal facilities. Alabama REAL ID requires an in-person visit to an ALEA Driver License office. Online pre-registration is available at alea.gov. Alabama REAL ID licenses display the gold star. A US passport satisfies REAL ID requirements if you already carry one.
Alabama charges $275 for DUI reinstatement — one of the higher fees in the Southeast. SR-22 is required for 3 years. An IID may be required for DUI convictions. Alabama's unique ALEA system means reinstatement paperwork goes through law enforcement rather than a traditional DMV. Contact Alabama ALEA (Law Enforcement Agency — Driver License Division) at alea.gov or message a specialist on WhatsApp.
Yes. Visit a Alabama ALEA (Law Enforcement Agency — Driver License Division) office with your out-of-state license, proof of identity, SSN proof, and two proofs of Alabama residency. Most states waive knowledge and driving tests for valid out-of-state license holders. You typically have 30–90 days after establishing Alabama residency. Any active suspension must be resolved first.