You can generally renew your driver's license starting as early as six months (180 days) before it expires. The exact timing depends on the state or country:
- In New York, you can renew up to 1 year before and up to 2 years after your license expires without affecting the expiration date
- In California, you may renew within 90 days before or up to 12 months after expiration, with some renewals requiring in-person visits
- Connecticut allows renewal as early as 180 days before expiration
- Washington state permits renewal up to 1 year before and up to 8 years after expiration, with some fees applying for late renewals
- Maine also allows renewal up to six months before expiration
- In the UK (Northern Ireland), you can renew up to two months before your license expires
- In Ireland, you can renew if your license is expiring within 3 months or expired less than 10 years ago
- Virginia allows renewal as early as one year before expiration, either online, by mail, or in person
Renewing early can help avoid penalties and ensure you have a valid license without interruption. However, some jurisdictions have specific rules about how early you can renew and whether you need to do it in person or can do it online or by mail. In summary, you can typically renew your driver's license starting from six months to one year before it expires, depending on your location. Always check your local DMV or licensing authority for the exact renewal window and requirements.
