How to Change Your Address on a Texas Driver License (2026 Guide)

Texas Driver License Address Change Checklist

Before you start — online or in person — get these ready. The online process is quick, but showing up at a DPS office without everything means a second trip.

When You Must Update Your Address in Texas

Texas state law is clear on this. You have 30 days after moving to a new residence to update your address on your driver license or ID card. This is required under Texas Transportation Code Section 521.054.

The clock starts the day you move — not the day you unpack, not when you get around to it. If you move on May 1st, your deadline is May 31st.

The practical risk of not updating isn't a fine you'll notice immediately — it's the downstream problems. Your DPS renewal notices, suspension notices, and other official correspondence all go to your address on file. If those go to a place you no longer live, you can miss them entirely. That missed renewal notice can become an expired license; that missed suspension notice can make a bad situation worse.

Who Can Change Their Address Online

Most Texas drivers qualify for the online address change. Check all of these before you start — if any apply to you, you'll need to go in person or by mail instead.

You can update online if:

• You are at least 18 years of age
• You hold a full driver license — not a provisional or learner license
• Your Texas driver license or ID card is currently valid — not expired, suspended, revoked, or canceled
• You are moving to a new Texas residential address — not a P.O. Box, not an out-of-state address
• You are not changing your name at the same time — name changes require an in-person visit
• You are not adding or removing endorsements (like a motorcycle endorsement) — those require an in-person visit
• Your SSN and citizenship information are already on file with DPS from a previous visit

You cannot update online if:

• You are under 18 years old: Minor drivers holding a learner's permit or provisional license must update their address in person at a DPS office with a parent or guardian.
• Your license is expired — renew it first, then update your address
• Your license is suspended or revoked
• You hold a Commercial Driver License (CDL) with a hazardous materials endorsement — those require in-person processing
• You need to update to a REAL ID for the first time — that's a separate in-person process

Documents Required — Split by Method

This is where a lot of guides get it wrong. What you need depends entirely on how you're updating.

Online via TxT — No Physical Documents Needed

The online system verifies your identity electronically. You don't bring anything — you just enter your information. You need: your driver license number, your date of birth, and the last 4 digits of your SSN. That's it.

By Mail — Form DL-64 Required

You'll need to complete Form DL-64 (Application for Change of Address or Replacement of a valid DL, CDL, or ID card). Download it from dps.texas.gov under Forms. No additional documents needed for a straightforward address change — just the completed form and payment.

In Person at a DPS Office

What you need depends on what's already in your DPS record. At minimum:

• Your current driver license
• Proof of new Texas address if requested — utility bill, bank statement, lease, or similar
• Proof of identity, citizenship, and SSN only if these are not already on your DPS record from a previous visit — the specialist will tell you
• Payment of $11

How to Change Your Address Online via TxT

This is the fastest method for most people — no appointment, no office, no wait. Here's how it works step by step.

1. Go to txt.texas.gov and sign in or create a free TxT account. TxT is the official Texas by Texas digital assistant — it handles driver license renewals, replacements, address changes, and emergency contact updates all in one place.
2. Select "Driver License & ID" and then choose "Change of Address." The system will check your eligibility automatically based on your license status.
3. Enter your information — your driver license number, date of birth, and the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.
4. Enter your new Texas address. Confirm everything is correct before moving forward — this is what will be printed on your new card.
5. Pay the $11 fee by credit or debit card. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are all accepted.
6. Save your temporary license immediately. TxT generates a temporary license the moment you complete the transaction, which is valid for 60 days. Download the PDF directly to your smartphone or check your email for the copy sent by TxT. You can legally show this digital PDF on your phone if requested by law enforcement while your new permanent card is in the mail.

How to Change Your Address by Mail

The mail option works for standard address changes if you don't want to use the online system. It's also the option available to eligible out-of-state Texas residents.

1. Download Form DL-64 from dps.texas.gov under Forms, or request one by calling 1-512-424-2600.
2. Complete the form fully. All fields must be filled in. Leave nothing blank — incomplete forms get returned.
3. Write a check or money order for $11 payable to "Texas DPS." Cash cannot be mailed. (Note: Always verify the exact fee listed on the bottom of your downloaded Form DL-64, as physical mail-in processing totals can occasionally fluctuate by $1 based on legacy form iterations).
4. Mail the completed form and payment to:
   Texas Department of Public Safety
   PO Box 149008
   Austin, TX 78714-9008

How to Change Your Address In Person at a DPS Office

Go in person if you can't use the online system, need to change your name at the same time, or have another DPS transaction to handle during the same visit.

1. Book a DPS appointment first at dps.texas.gov under Driver License Services – Appointments. All DPS offices are appointment-only — don't show up without one.
2. Bring your current driver license, your new address, and payment of $11. Bring a proof of address document (utility bill, lease, bank statement) in case the specialist requests it.
3. At the office, the specialist will update your records, take a new photo if needed, and collect your payment.
4. Receive your temporary license the same day before you leave the office. Your permanent card is mailed in about 2–3 weeks.

Mailing Address vs. Residential Address — These Are Different

A lot of people don't realize that Texas DPS distinguishes between your residential address and your mailing address. Your driver license shows your residential address — where you actually live. Your mailing address is where DPS sends your card and correspondence, which may be different.

If your mail goes to a P.O. Box or a different address than where you live — for example, a family member's address while your new home is being set up — you can update your mailing address separately from your residential address in TxT. Your license will still show your residential address, but your new card gets mailed to the right place.

REAL ID and Address Changes

If you already have a Texas REAL ID — the one with the gold star in the upper right corner — changing your address does not remove your REAL ID status. Your new card will still have the gold star.

However, if you want to upgrade to REAL ID for the first time while also changing your address, that cannot be done online. REAL ID upgrades require an in-person DPS visit with your full identity and residency documents. You'd need to do both transactions in person at the same appointment.

→ Texas REAL ID Requirements — Full Guide (2026)

Fee and Processing Time (2026)

Changing your address in Texas requires a new physical card to be issued — so it's not a free administrative update. You pay the same fee as a duplicate card.

Item	Details
Address change fee (online or in person)	$11
Address change fee (by mail — Form DL-64)	$11 (check or money order only)
Temporary license validity	60 days — must be printed to be valid
New permanent card delivery	2–3 weeks by mail
Mail method total time	4–6 weeks including processing

Fees verified from official Texas DPS sources as of May 2026. Always confirm current amounts at dps.texas.gov before submitting payment. Your new card keeps the same expiration date as your current license.

What Happens If You Don't Update Your Address?

Texas law requires the 30-day update — but the practical consequences are less about an immediate fine and more about the problems that build up quietly over time.

• Missed renewal notices. DPS mails your renewal notice to the address on file. If that's your old address, you might not get it — and then you're driving on an expired license without even knowing it was coming up
• Missed suspension or enforcement notices. If DPS sends you a notice about a suspension, surcharge, or required action and it goes to your old address, you may miss a deadline that makes your situation significantly worse
• Your new card goes to the wrong place. Any time DPS issues a new card — renewal, replacement — it ships to the address on file. If that's wrong, your card ends up somewhere you can't get it
• Legal violation. Technically, driving with an incorrect address on your Texas driver license is a violation of Transportation Code 521.054. In practice, this is rarely enforced independently — but it adds a layer of complication if you're stopped and something else is wrong

The update takes 5 minutes online. There's no good reason to put it off.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Minors attempting to use the TxT system. If the driver is under 18 or holds a provisional license, the online system will block the address change automatically. Teens must visit a DPS office in person with a parent or guardian to update their residency records.
• Trying to update an expired license online. The TxT system blocks address changes on expired licenses. If your license expired before you moved, renew first — then update your address. Trying the address change route on an expired card wastes time and gets you nowhere.
• Trying to update an expired license online. The TxT system blocks address changes on expired licenses. If your license expired before you moved, renew first — then update your address. Trying the address change route on an expired card wastes time and gets you nowhere.
• Assuming updating your license also updates your vehicle registration. It doesn't. Your driver license address (DPS) and your vehicle registration address (TxDMV / county tax office) are completely separate records. You need to contact your county tax assessor-collector separately to update your registration address. Missing this means your registration renewal notices go to your old address too.
• Using a P.O. Box as your residential address. Texas requires a physical residential address on your driver license. If you try to enter a P.O. Box as your residential address, the system will reject it. Use your physical home address as the residential address, and if needed, set your mailing address separately.
• Not printing the temporary license. After completing the online address change, you get a printable temporary license valid for 60 days. While you don't absolutely have to print it, you must have immediate digital access to it on your phone (or a printed copy in your glovebox) to serve as a valid driving document while your permanent card is in transit.
• Showing up at a DPS office without an appointment. All Texas DPS driver license offices are appointment-only. Walking in without one means being turned away. Book at dps.texas.gov before you go — or better yet, handle it online and skip the trip entirely.
• Waiting too long to update. The 30-day window goes faster than people expect, especially during a move. The online process takes 5 minutes — do it the week you move, not a month later when other things have piled up.

Frequently Asked Questions

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For informational purposes only. Always verify current requirements at dps.texas.gov. Information verified against official Texas DPS sources as of May 2026.