New Hampshire Drivers License Replacement
If you have lost drivers license credentials as a New Hampshire driver, then you will need to obtain a replacement. A replacement drivers license may also be necessary if your card is damaged or has outdated information. As a resident of the state, you are required to have a valid driving license to operate a vehicle on public roads. A missing, marred or incorrect license is not considered valid credentials and you may be cited for driving without proper authorization on hand. There may be several times in your life when you will need to obtain a replacement copy of your license.
While The New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) does not allow you to obtain a drivers license copy online at this time, you can request a duplicate by mail and in person. Each method will require you to furnish certain details and documents as well as pay a fee for a new card. If you need to update information like make a name correction on your license, then you will need additional forms. Keep reading the information organized below to learn how to replace drivers license credentials in New Hampshire.
When is a replacement drivers license required in New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire DMV issues a drivers license replacement to qualifying drivers who need one. You will need to replace lost drivers license cards that go missing or disappear due to theft before driving. Not replacing a license can cause you to receive a ticket during a traffic stop as well as leave you open to identity theft and fraud committed in your name.
You should also report any theft to local law enforcement. You should also seek to replace drivers license cards that have been broken, bent, faded or frayed in a way that leaves the text or photo unclear.
Not only is a valid copy of drivers license credentials required to drive legally in NH, it is most people’s primary form of photo ID. Another time to get a duplicate drivers license is when your physical appearance has markedly changed, such as after losing a lot of weight or reassigning your gender.This is because the photo on your current credentials should always be a close match with your up-to-date appearance.
Additionally, if you legally change your name or move to a new address, then you must update the DMV to keep your driving credential current. If your request is due to a name change, then you must provide proof of your new name with an original marriage license, divorce decree or other court-ordered name change document. To obtain your license copy, you may also have to provide supporting documentation of a new address or change of gender if applicable.
How to Replace Your Drivers License by Mail in New Hampshire
Mail-in replacement drivers license services are reserved for licensed NH drivers who are temporarily living out-of-state when the need for a duplicate arises. Please review the out-of-state drivers section below to find out how to get copy of drivers license by mail if you are temporarily residing somewhere other than New Hampshire.
How to Replace Your New Hampshire Drivers License in Person
In-person drivers license replacement is easily achieved at any of the NH DMV offices in the state. When you go for your DMV duplicate license appointment, you will complete an application for a copy of your license.
If your photo is on file at the DMV, then the clerk can use that to verify your identification. If not, then you must bring proof of identification that fits the type of license you wish to obtain, such as one that is REAL ID compliant or non-compliant. The NH DMV provides an exhaustive list of acceptable documents for each type of license or you can call your local branch office and find out what to bring.
In short, when replacing drivers license documentation of either type, you will need to show proof of your identity, proof of your Social Security Number and proof of your New Hampshire residency. For a REAL ID-compliant copy, you will need two proofs of residency while a non-compliant request requires only one. In some cases, applicants for a non-compliant copy of drivers license documentation must show two proofs of ID instead of one.
After providing the supporting documentation and paying the replacement drivers license fee, you will receive a temporary license. This replacement is valid for up to 60 days while you wait for your new drivers license to arrive in the mail.
Note: You should ask about drivers license renewal when you visit a DMV in person about a replacement card. If your driving credentials are close to expiring, then you may be able to renew and avoid the duplicate card fee.
Out-of-State Drivers License Replacement in New Hampshire
You may wonder, “Where can I get a copy of my drivers license if I am temporarily living out-of-state?” Fortunately, you may request a replacement drivers license by mail if your original credentials become lost, stolen or damaged before you can return to New Hampshire and replace it. However, you will be unable to order a replacement by mail if your photo is not on file with the DMV.
Just like when you replace drivers license credentials in person, you must complete the application. Because you must explain why you are replacing drivers license documentation while living out-of-state, you must also complete a form about designed for residents who are temporarily away.
This form has space for you to explain the reason for your absence from NH and include your out-of-state mailing address. You must also provide the fee payment in the form of a check or money order payable to the State of NH-DMV. You will mail all documents to the NH Department of Safety’s DMV Driver Licensing in Concord.
The NH DMV will send a temporary DMV duplicate license that will be valid for up to six months. Once you are living in New Hampshire again, you must visit the DMV in person to finish applying for a proper photo drivers license.
New Hampshire Drivers License Replacement Fees
The fee to replace drivers license credentials in New Hampshire must be paid in full at the time make you request, and it may be paid by cash, check money order or major credit/debit card depending on your request method. Likewise, the fee for a duplicate license copy also varies.