TITLE 49

MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 3

MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER’S LICENSES

49-319.  Expiration and renewal of driver’s license. (1) Every noncommercial Idaho driver’s license issued to a driver shall expire and be renewable as follows:

(a)  For drivers twenty-one (21) years of age or older, the driver’s license shall expire on the licensee’s birthday in the fourth year following the issuance of the driver’s license.

(b)  At the option of the applicant, for drivers twenty-one (21) years of age through sixty-two (62) years of age, the driver’s license shall expire on the licensee’s birthday in either the fourth year or the eighth year following the issuance of the driver’s license.

(c)  Except for the provisions found in subsections (1)(e) and (3) of this section, every driver’s license issued to a driver under eighteen (18) years of age shall expire five (5) days after the licensee’s eighteenth birthday.

(d)  Except for the provisions found in subsections (1)(e) and (3) of this section, every driver’s license issued to a driver eighteen (18) years of age but under twenty-one (21) years of age shall expire five (5) days after the licensee’s twenty-first birthday.

(e)  Every driver’s license that is not, as provided by law, suspended, revoked or disqualified in this state or any other jurisdiction shall be renewable on or before its expiration, but not more than twenty-five (25) months before, upon application, payment of the required fee, and satisfactory completion of the required vision screening. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a person who has had his noncommercial Idaho driver’s license suspended may renew his driver’s license as provided in this section, which renewal shall be subject to the suspension.

(2)  Except for the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, at the option of the applicant, every commercial driver’s license issued to a person twenty-one (21) years of age through sixty-two (62) years of age shall expire on the licensee’s birthday in the fourth or eighth year following issuance of the license. Any class A, B or C license issued to a person eighteen (18), nineteen (19) or twenty (20) years of age shall expire five (5) days after the licensee’s twenty-first birthday.

(3)  Every driver’s license issued to a person who is not a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States shall have an expiration date that is the same date as the end of lawful stay in the United States, as indicated on documents issued and verified by the department of homeland security; however, the expiration date shall not extend beyond the expiration date for the same category of license issued to citizens. Persons whose department of homeland security documents do not state an expiration date shall be issued a driver’s license with an expiration date of one (1) year from the date of issuance. Fees shall be in accordance with the expiration periods and classes listed in section 49-306(1), Idaho Code.

(4)  An applicant who is issued a driver’s license in another jurisdiction after an Idaho driver’s license has been issued is not eligible for renewal or a duplicate of the Idaho driver’s license. The applicant may apply for a new Idaho driver’s license as provided in section 49-306, Idaho Code.

(5)  No knowledge test shall be required for renewal of a driver’s license, except for renewal of a hazardous material endorsement. Appropriate knowledge and skills tests shall be required for an upgrade in a driver’s license class or an endorsement addition. In the case of a name change, the applicant shall provide legal documentation to verify the change in accordance with department rules.

(6)  Applicants for a hazardous material endorsement shall provide either proof of United States citizenship or proof of lawful, permanent United States residence and a valid federal bureau of citizenship and immigration services alien registration number. A security background records check and federal transportation security administration clearance shall be required for issuance, renewal or transfer of a hazardous material endorsement in accordance with 49 CFR 383, subject to procedures established by the federal transportation security administration.

(7)  When a driver’s license has been expired for fewer than twenty-five (25) months, the renewal of the driver’s license shall start from the original date of expiration, regardless of the year in which the application for renewal is made. If the driver’s license is expired for twenty-five (25) months or more, the applicant shall be required to take the appropriate knowledge test(s) and skills test(s) for the class of license or endorsement being applied for and undergo vision screening. The license shall expire on the licensee’s birthday in the fourth year following issuance of the driver’s license for drivers twenty-one (21) years of age or older, except as otherwise provided in subsections (1)(e) and (3) of this section. At the option of the applicant, for drivers twenty-one (21) years of age through sixty-two (62) years of age, the renewed license shall expire on the licensee’s birthday in either the fourth year or the eighth year following issuance, except as otherwise provided in subsections (1)(e) and (3) of this section.

(8)(a)  If a driver’s license has expired or will expire and the licensee is temporarily out of state, except on active military duty, and the driver’s license has not, as provided by law, been suspended, revoked, canceled, denied, refused or disqualified, the licensee may request in writing on a form prescribed by the department an extension of the driver’s license. The request shall be accompanied by the fee fixed in section 49-306, Idaho Code, and the extension shall be no more than a twelve (12) month period. If the department determines that an extension of the driver’s license is necessary, it may issue a license showing the date to which the expired driver’s license is extended. License extensions are limited to two (2) consecutive extensions per licensee.

(b)  Upon returning to the state of Idaho, the licensee shall, within ten (10) days, apply for a renewal of the expired driver’s license and surrender the extended license and the expired driver’s license.

(c)  A hazardous material endorsement cannot be extended.

(9)  An Idaho driver’s license issued to any person prior to serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, or a member of the immediate family accompanying such a person, if valid and in full force and effect upon entering active duty, shall remain in full force and effect and shall, upon application, be extended for a period of four (4) years as long as active duty continues or shall be renewed upon application in person without the requirement to take a knowledge or skills test if the Idaho driver’s license expired while on active duty, if the driver’s license is not suspended, denied, disqualified, canceled or revoked, as provided by law, during the active duty, and the driver’s license shall remain in full force and effect sixty (60) days following the date the holder is released from active duty.

(10) The department may use a mail or electronic renewal process for class D and commercial driver’s licenses based on criteria established by rule.

(11) A seasonal driver’s license is valid only for a one-hundred-eighty (180) day period from the date of issuance. Only one (1) seasonal driver’s license may be obtained in any twelve (12) month period and may be obtained only twice in a driver’s lifetime.

(12) A person who applies for renewal of a license may request that the notation "permanently disabled" be imprinted on the license, and the department shall imprint "permanently disabled" on the license if:

(a)  The person has a permanent disability;

(b)  The person presents written certification from a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice professional nurse verifying that the person’s stated impairment qualifies as a permanent disability as provided in section 49-117, Idaho Code; and

(c)  The department determines that the person meets the requirements for issuance of a license as specified in section 49-313, Idaho Code.

History:

[49-319, added 1988, ch. 265, sec. 53, p. 598; am. 1989, ch. 88, sec. 31, p. 180; am. 1990, ch. 45, sec. 22, p. 97; am. 1992, ch. 115, sec. 15, p. 365; am. 1993, ch. 300, sec. 6, p. 1113; am. 1996, ch. 371, sec. 11, p. 1262; am. 1998, ch. 110, sec. 22, p. 405; am. 1999, ch. 81, sec. 12, p. 253; am. 1999, ch. 317, sec. 2, p. 800; am. 1999, ch. 318, sec. 3, p. 808; am. 2000, ch. 56, sec. 2, p. 116; am. 2001, ch. 332, sec. 4, p. 1169; am. 2004, ch. 126, sec. 4, p. 431; am. 2004, ch. 297, sec. 3, p. 829; am. 2004, ch. 339, sec. 1, p. 1012; am. 2008, ch. 63, sec. 3, p. 161; am. 2012, ch. 32, sec. 2, p. 98; am. 2022, ch. 118, sec. 2, p. 427; am. 2023, ch. 9, sec. 1, p. 31; am. 2024, ch. 13, sec. 2, p. 123.]