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If you are on active duty with the U.S. armed forces and have a valid Minnesota driver's license, you are not required to renew your license until you are discharged, regardless of your length of service. This law also applies to the spouses of those on active duty, if the spouse does not reside in Minnesota during the active duty period.If you are eligible to add a motorcycle endorsement, you must provide written documentation that displays you have completed comparable knowledge and skills tests in another state. Your license must remain current in order to retain the endorsement.
To ensure that your driving record will be maintained after your license expires, please notify Driver and Vehicle Services of your military status. Send a written statement to DVS indicating that you are in military service, accompanied by a copy of your military ID card and a copy of your orders indicating the date you originally joined the military or letterhead statement from your commanding officer listing the date they enrolled in active duty. Please send to DVS, 445 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN 55101.To keep your license active, complete an out-of-state packet (request one via email at DVS.driverslicense@state.mn.us or (651) 297-3298), which includes a vision screening, a license application that must be completed in print (not online) and notarized by an official notary, and appropriate fees – money orders or checks only (no starter checks will be accepted) made out to DVS, do not send cash. Please allow six weeks for receipt of your new card; you can opt to expedite your application, which is an additional $20 fee, please enclose a separate check if you chose to expedite your application.Expedited applications cannot be mailed to a post office box, APO military address or foreign country address. If you have one of these addresses, the regular out-of-state procedure will be used.To add a Motorcycle Endorsement – see Motorcycle - Active Military Duty Page.
You must renew your license within one year of your discharge date by presenting your Minnesota driver's license and your DD214 military discharge papers. This exception also applies to spouses of those on active duty, if the spouse does not reside in Minnesota during the active duty period.Minnesota Statute 171.27
Active Military In-Service Letter InformationVision Report (Vision Screening) (PS30338)Military Motorcycle Endorsement InformationMinnesota Motorcycle ManualExpedited (Fast Track) Driver's License - Just the Facts
Effective January 1, 2014, the driver’s license filing fee which pays for the costs of the services provided in the driver’s license/ID card issuance process, increases from $5 to $8, as required by Minn. Stat. 171.061, HF 1444, Chapter 117.
Mail:
Driver and Vehicle Services – Central OfficeTown Square Building445 Minnesota Street, Suite 190Saint Paul, MN 55101-5190
Email:
Phone:
DVS Office Locations
Motorcycle - Active Military Duty Page
