Renew your driver's licence online (class 5, 6 and 8)

You need to renew your driver’s licence every 5 years. You should get a renewal notice in the mail before the renewal date.

Photo and signature

You don’t need to have a new photo taken before you renew online. Registry of Motor Vehicles uses the photo and signature that it has on file for you. If Registry of Motor Vehicles needs you to have your photo retaken, the registry contacts you after you renew online.

Change of address

If your address has changed, you need to contact Registry of Motor Vehicles to update your address before you renew your licence online. If Registry of Motor Vehicles isn’t able to verify your identity by phone, you might need to visit Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia in person to change your address.

You can’t renew online if you changed your address online or by mail with Registry of Motor Vehicles within the last 3 months.

After renewing your licence, you need to keep your address up to date with Registry of Motor Vehicles if your address changes.

Renewal confirmation

You need to keep the renewal confirmation and your old licence with you when you drive until your new driver’s licence arrives in the mail. You can print the renewal confirmation or have it available on your phone.

Eligibility (who can renew online)

You can renew your driver’s licence online if you meet all of the following criteria:

• you have a class 5 (passenger vehicle), class 6 (motorcycle) or class 8 (farm tractor) driver’s licence that hasn’t been expired for more than 5 years
• your licence expires within the next 6 months
• you renewed your driver's licence in person the last time you renewed your licence (and didn't renew online)
• you haven’t updated your address online or by mail with Registry of Motor Vehicles in the last 3 months
• you don’t have any outstanding fines or privilege reinstatement fees
• you have your old driver’s licence (it’s not misplaced or stolen)
• your licence isn’t suspended and you’re not prohibited from getting a licence for any other reason
• you don’t need to add or change any endorsements or conditions on your licence
• you don’t need to change your name on your licence
• you don’t need to upgrade your licence to another class (or remove an upgrade from your licence)

You can’t renew your driver’s licence online if your licence is:

• class 1 (semi-trailer or tractor-trailer combinations)
• class 2 (bus for over 24 passengers)
• class 3 (vehicle or vehicle-trailer combinations over 14,000 kg)
• class 4 (bus or van for less than 24 passengers for compensation, taxis and ambulances)
• class 7 (learner’s licence for passenger vehicle)

You can renew your licence in person at Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia if you’re not eligible or unable to renew online.

How to renew

1. Renew online.
2. Include payment with your renewal application.
3. Submit your completed application and payment.
4. Registry of Motor Vehicles emails you a renewal confirmation. You need to keep the renewal confirmation (print it or have it available on your phone) and your old licence with you when you drive.
5. Registry of Motor Vehicles sends you a new driver’s licence.

How long it takes

It should take 2 weeks to get your licence in the mail (if you renew in person, it also takes 2 weeks to get your licence). It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application hasn’t been filled in correctly.

Cost

Activity	Fee
Renewal for class 5 (passenger vehicle)	$80.15
Renewal for class 6 (motorcycle)	$80.15
Renewal for class 8 (farm tractor)	$73.75

Payment options

Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), debit card, cheque, money order, cash. Make your cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance. Payment options may vary depending on whether you pay online or in person.

When you pay online you need to pay the fee by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard).

Before you renew

Make sure you have:

• your driver’s licence number and the class of licence (you can find these on the front of your driver’s licence)
• details of any medical conditions that might affect your driving
• email address (this is where the renewal confirmation is sent)
• paid any outstanding fines or privilege reinstatement fees
• updated your address with Registry of Motor Vehicles if your address has changed (contact Registry of Motor Vehicles to update your address; don’t update your address online or by mail if you’re renewing in the next 3 months)

Renew online

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Technical requirement

You can’t access the online renewal application if you’re outside North America or your computer’s IP address is outside North America.

Conditions and endorsements

Registry of Motor Vehicles keeps any conditions and endorsements (for example, ‘01 - corrective lenses’ or ‘A - valid for the operation of any motorcycle’) that are already on your driver’s licence when you renew your licence online.