It’s very important to have a valid driver's license when operating a motor vehicle. In many states, licenses expire or can be suspended or revoked, and drivers don’t always know that this has happened. If you have any concerns about your Minnesota driver's license, you can quickly check its current status online.
Checking License Status
The easiest way to ensure your license is valid is through the Driver's License Status Lookup page on the Minnesota Department of Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) website. There you can enter your license number and instantly find the status of your license.
You can also go to any DVS office and ask for a print-out of your driving record. This tells you the current status of your license, along with other information about your driving record.
Checking in with your auto insurance provider is another way of verifying information about your license status. Insurance companies are usually informed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when a customer's driving privileges are suspended or revoked.
Reasons for Checking Your License Status
Driving with a suspended, revoked, or expired license is a crime. If you have any reason to suspect your license may have been revoked or suspended, or if your license has expired, it is crucial to know as soon as possible, so you can resolve the problem before getting behind the wheel.
There are several reasons a person may not know their license is invalid. For example:
If an insurance payment does not go through on time, the insurance company can cancel the policy and notify the DMV, resulting in a license suspension.
If a person moves and forgets to update their address with the DMV, they may not receive their license renewal notice, resulting in an expired license.
If unpaid traffic tickets go to the wrong address, these overdue fines can also result in a license suspension, without the driver knowing about it.
Keeping Your License Current
Many states allow drivers license renewals by mail or online, but Minnesota requires drivers to renew their license in-person at a DVS office every time they renew. Keep your mailing address information current with the Minnesota DVS, so you do not miss your renewal notice, and take action to renew your license before its expiration date.
For people over 21, Minnesota driver's licenses expire every four years, on the license holder’s birthday. Instructional and provisional licenses in Minnesota expire two years after the date they are issued. In all cases, the expiration date is printed on the license.
