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Renewing your driver's licence in Alberta is part of being a responsible driver. If it expires, you are not entitled to drive until it is renewed, and it may affect your ability to have car insurance in Canada.
Since June 2020, 350,000 online registry transactions have been made for vehicle registrations and birth registries.
This blog will outline everything you need to know about the new process of renewing your Alberta driver's licence online, whether you are a senior driver or have a full Class 5 Licence.
Alberta licence renewals are valid for up to five years, depending on the licence class, medical status, and age. To begin the process, you need a free MyAlberta verified account and pay any outstanding fees. Once you have an account and your driver’s licence ready, grab your credit card and start the process of online renewal.
To be eligible to renew online, there are a few requirements citizens must meet, including:
You will not be able to renew online if:
While you wait for your renewal, you can use your old ID and the temporarily downloaded document. Once the new one arrives, you can dispose of the old one.
Photos and signatures will need to be updated in person every nine years.
The first step in renewing your Alberta driver's licence is gathering the correct documents. Photo documents that contain your legal name and date of birth. One of the documents must also prove you are permitted to be in Canada. Some examples of primary photo identification include:
Support documents that contain two data elements such as name, DOB, signature, and address. At least one must show that you live in Alberta and have a residence here. Some examples of original support documents (certified documents are acceptable) include:
Some examples of unacceptable support documents for renewing your licence are:
Drivers with any medical conditions, 75 years or older, or who hold a professional Class 1, 2 and 4, must bring a medical form.
Get a free quote today and see how much you could save on your Alberta premium.
Similar to vehicle registration, renewing is a straightforward process. It's important to remember that you may not be able to renew online, will have to visit a registry agent. Before heading, ensure that you have your documents ready:
Alberta licences have a one to five-year expiry date based on your class and other factors. Your driver's licence expires on your birthday (not the last day of your birth month). The expiration date will be on the back of your driver's licence. Licence photos that are four years or older will need a new photo taken when you renew.
Consider getting your renewal done before moving, going on vacation, or having any life events that may cause you to delay.
Suppose you require a renewal but cannot attend a registry in person due to being medically homebound or temporarily outside the province. In that case, you can apply for a new licence by completing a Remote Driver's licence/ID Card application.
You will receive a 30-day temporary driver's licence to use until your new one arrives in the mail. During this time, it's a good idea to carry another form of photo identification, just in case.
Ageing is part of life, and it doesn't mean you can't enjoy the freedom of driving. Driver's licence renewal for seniors is the same process. Still, at 75, you will require a medical exam signed by your doctor. Once you reach 80, you will be required to reinstate every two years.
When it comes to driving, it comes down to ability and not age, which is why elderly drivers need to provide a medical form. Your medical exam should be dated within the last six months of renewal.
Before reaching 75, you will receive a letter reminding you to schedule a health exam. The test will review your overall health and look at these areas to ensure you can drive safely:
You will also need to provide a medical form if:
If you do not require a medical for renewal, you can renew up to one year before the expiry date on the back of your licence.
Driver's licence renewal fees vary based on the number of years you choose to renew for. The cost can range from $21 (for one year) up to $93 (for five years). An additional $7.35 will be applied to out-of-province licences. Be sure to check before you go – the price will vary on which registry you attend.
Forgetting to renew your driver's licence can happen. If it is expired, don't panic - you have up to six months to renew once it expires. Keep in mind that you cannot drive once it is expired until it's updated.
After six months, besides providing your licence and renewal form, you will also have to provide proof of residency in Alberta (utility bill, lease agreement, etc.), birth certificate, passport, and potentially other documents.
If your licence expired more than three years ago, you would be required to re-test and pass a knowledge test and basic road test.
If you are a new resident, you will be required to get an in-province driver's licence. The process for closing the out-of-province licence requires the current province to notify your previous province that you have applied for an Alberta driver's licence. It will cost an additional $7.35 on top of the usual renewal fee.
Suppose you are out of the province and need to renew. In that case, you can apply for a temporary licence. This allows the province to send you a new one without being physically present at a registry office.
You can renew for one year. You are not eligible for this service if your licence is suspended (such as too many demerit points in Alberta) or has been expired for more than six months.
If you are caught driving with an expired driver’s licence you could face a fine of up to $200. You could also see your Alberta car insurance increase or have difficulty getting coverage when it comes time for renewal.
If you’ve lost or had your driver’s licence stolen or destroyed, visit a registry office to get a replacement. You will need to provide valid photo identification.
While there is no official grace period for renewing but, you do have 6 months to renew without having to take additional steps.
You can renew at any registry agent location in the province. Find a registry agent online.
Most licence renewals can be done online, including one-year driver's licence and identification card renewals (with existing photo) and driver's licence and ID card replacement or cancellation. However, applying for a new driver's licence, ID card, or if either renewal needs a new photo, you will need to go in person.
Make note of when your car insurance in Alberta and vehicle registration need to be renewed – you don’t want to be caught with expired documents on the road.
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