When you first apply for a driver's license, you are often issued a provisional license after you pass your initial driving test. A provisional license means you are under a probationary period where your driving is under closer scrutiny. In some states, you must pass a test at the end of your provisional license period, while other states automatically switch it over to a standard license. If you need to extend your provisional license, you may be able to do so, even if it has expired.
Each state sets a specific amount of time in which a provisional license can be renewed, even after its expiration. In some states, such as Maine, you can renew your provisional license up to five years after it has expired. Other states restrict the amount of time to a smaller period of time, such as a few months. Check with your state to determine how much time you have to renew after your license's expiration date.
The process you must use to renew an expired provisional license varies by state. In some states, you must only appear at the Department of Motor Vehicles with your license and another form of identification to renew it. Other states require you to retake the tests required to obtain a provisional license. All states charge a fee to renew a license. In some cases it is simply a renewal fee, while other states charge a late fee for renewing an expired license.
In some states, a provisional license is only meant to transition you from a probationary period of driving where violations hold more weight to a regular license. In these states, a provisional license cannot be renewed. Once it expires, you are eligible for a full license, as long as you have met your state's requirements, such as no violations. You may need to apply for the regular license or it may be an automatic process.
Other states use a provisional license as a temporary license while you learn to drive. In these states, if you do not complete the required training before your provisional license expires, you must renew it so you can complete your training and graduate to a full license.
Because the laws in each state vary so widely on the topic of provisional license, it is important to understand what your state's laws are. When you are issued your provisional license, the state's Department of Motor Vehicles will give you a brochure or paper that details how the provisional license works in your state. Read this information thoroughly and call with any questions you might have. If you end up needing to renew your provisional license, you must be aware of any challenges you may face if you let it expire before you get a chance to renew it.
