Visiting the Alabama DMV: appointments, what to bring and what to expect

Who handles driver licenses and vehicle tags in Alabama, what you can do online or by mail, how to book a driver license appointment, and which documents and payment to bring.

Guide · Alabama · Appointments · updated October 29, 2026

Alabama has no single "DMV". Driver licenses, learner licenses and non-driver ID cards are handled by the Driver License Division of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Vehicle titles and records are the job of the Motor Vehicle Division of the Alabama Department of Revenue, but you register a vehicle and buy your tag at a county licensing office. This guide explains which office you need, what you can do without a visit, and what to bring.

Which office handles what

• ALEA Driver License offices (also called driver license examining offices) give knowledge and road tests, issue first licenses, handle out-of-state license transfers and issue STAR ID, Alabama's REAL ID. ALEA lists its offices by county, with an address and phone number for each, and posts temporary closures on its driver license pages.
• County license offices (in many counties the probate office or license commissioner) can renew or replace a license, ID card or STAR ID. ALEA says they cannot issue a STAR ID for the first time.
• County licensing officials register vehicles and sell tags. The Department of Revenue's list of vehicle licensing offices gives each county's phone number and address, and links to online renewal where a county offers it.

For offices near you, see the Alabama DMV office list on this site.

What you can do without a visit

ALEA's online services portal (alabamadl.alea.gov) is linked from its pages for these tasks:

• Renewing a driver license ("Renew Your DL Online")
• Scheduling a driver license appointment
• Applying for a hardship driver license (Form DL-22 can be filed online)
• Subscribing to ALEA's Driver Record Subscription Service

ALEA also accepts renewals and duplicates by mail on Form DL-100. The form is meant for Alabama drivers who are temporarily out of state and for residents who cannot get to an office. It has its own eligibility rules, covered in the Alabama driver license guide. A free change of address is done on Form DL-99. It updates your record only and does not produce a new card.

On the vehicle side, the Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle page links to online services for replacement titles, title application status checks and personalized tag reservations. Whether you can renew your tag online depends on your county.

Appointments and walk-ins

ALEA's driver license office page links to a Schedule DL Appointment tool. For the road skills test that teen drivers take for a Stage II license, ALEA says:

• Appointments can be booked online up to two weeks in advance.
• Appointments are available at select locations.
• Walk-ins are welcome at all testing sites.

Commercial driver license skills tests are by appointment only. ALEA lists district office phone numbers on its driver license page if you need to ask about a specific office. Check the office's own entry and ALEA's closure notices before you go.

What to bring

ALEA publishes one combined list of document requirements. For a driver or learner license, it asks for:

1. Identification: two forms, at least one with a photo, or three forms without a photo. One must come from ALEA's "primary" list, for example a certified U.S. birth certificate, a U.S. passport or a permanent resident card. The Social Security card does not count toward these.
2. Social Security card. ALEA also accepts a DD-214, a Medicare/Medicaid card (where the number ends in "A") or a W-2.
3. Two proofs of principal residence, such as a utility bill less than 90 days old, a lease, a mortgage contract or a voter registration card. If a bill is in your spouse's or parent's name, bring a marriage or birth certificate to show the link.
4. Proof of school enrollment or graduation, if you are under 19 and applying for the first time (Form DL-193 or a diploma or GED).

ALEA says photocopies of birth certificates are not accepted. A STAR ID needs four documents in all: one for identity and date of birth, one for your Social Security number and two for your address. Details are in the driver license guide and in REAL ID explained.

If you are 18 or older and will take the road test, ALEA asks you to bring a licensed driver, proof of car insurance and a vehicle that will pass inspection.

Forms to fill in beforehand

All of these are on ALEA's Driver License Forms page:

• DL-193: student enrollment or exclusion form, for applicants under 19.
• DL-31: lets a parent or guardian authorize someone else to sign for a 16-year-old's road skills test.
• Home School Affidavit: for applicants taught at home.
• DL-100: renewal or duplicate by mail.

Paying

ALEA's driver license offices do not accept checks. ALEA lists cash and money orders, and says MasterCard, Visa and Discover are accepted with a 4% convenience fee on the total. ALEA also notes that fees may be slightly higher in counties where local law allows it.

By mail, Form DL-100 asks for a money order or cashier's check made payable to "ALEA Driver License Division". Do not send cash or a personal check; the form says money order or cashier's check only.

At the counter

At an ALEA office you may take the written knowledge test, which is based on the Alabama Driver Manual, and a road skills test if you need one. ALEA says a new Alabama license will not be issued until you surrender every driver license you already hold. A license or ID issued since April 25, 2022 that is not a STAR ID says "Not for Federal Identification" across the top, so check which card you asked for before you leave.

For vehicle paperwork, see the Alabama vehicle registration and title guide.