Renew and Replace ID Cards in Georgia
The process of obtaining a copy of ID card in Georgia and the procedure to renew ID card credentials are services offered by the state Department of Driver Services (DDS) to owners of official ID cards.
Applicants can complete the GA DMV ID renewal and the ID card replacement via various methods, unlike the process to obtain a new ID card, which requires the applicant to visit a local DDS location. To learn how to replace ID card credentials or renew an expired ID card in GA, read the following sections.
How to Renew Your ID Card in Georgia
The standard procedure to complete the Georgia state ID renewal requires applicants to visit a nearby customer service center and submit the required documents and fee payment in person. The convenient option to renew ID card online, on the other hand, is only available to state residents who meet certain requirements. The following list outlines the eligibility criteria for the online ID card renewal in GA:
- You are a state resident.
- You are a United States citizen.
- You hold only one state-issued document.
- You own a Secure ID card, which meets the requirements of the REAL ID Act.
In addition to the online and in-person methods to renew ID cards, in certain circumstances, state residents may also be eligible to complete the procedure by mail.
Mail-in identification card renewal is available to individuals who are temporarily residing outside of Georgia for reasons such as military duty, working or studying and to those who cannot make an in-person visit due to a physical disability. Applicants who finalize the mail-in renewal procedure will not obtain a Secure ID credential and they will be unable to renew via the same method during their next renewal period.
Note: Applicants can initiate the Georgia ID card renewal procedure up to five months prior to the credential’s expiration date and up to 24 months after its date of expiration.
How to Renew ID Cards in Georgia Online
State residents who qualify for the online ID card renewal in Georgia will first be required to create a customer account through the DDS online services website. You can initiate the process of renewing ID card credentials via the internet after logging into your DDS account with your new username and password.
The system will process the request for a DMV identification card renewal after the applicant provides several types of information and pays the applicable fee. The department will mail your renewed credential to your address on file within a week of receiving the cost payment. However, if you also update your address during the same GA state ID renewal transaction, the delivery time will take two to three weeks.
How to Renew ID Cards in Georgia by Mail
To renew ID cards in Georgia by mail, eligible applicants will be required to fill out the standard application form for ID cards or driving licenses (Form DDS-23MIR) and mail it along with a document proving their eligibility and the payment for the fee to the address on the form.
The paperwork necessary to complete the mail-in DMV ID renewal will vary depending on your reason to temporarily reside outside of the state. For example, if you choose to complete the process of renewing ID cards in GA by mail because you are an active military member, you will be required to submit a letter signed by your commanding officer confirming your status.
An expired ID card that has not been valid for two years cannot be renewed by mail. After processing your mail-in request, the department will send out an eight-year regular ID card and mail it to your out-of-state address within 10 days.
Note: The acceptable forms of payment for the mail-in ID card renewal include checks, money orders or credit card authorizations.
How to Renew ID Cards in Georgia in Person
When renewing identification cards in Georgia in person, state residents will be required to complete several steps, such as submitting any required supporting documentation, having their photo taken, surrendering their current ID card and paying the applicable fees.
Applicants completing the procedure to renew ID cards for the first time after July 1st, 2012, will only be able to do so in person in order to obtain the new Secure ID version of their credential. In such cases, the full set of documents for the GA state ID renewal must include one proof of identity and legal U.S. presence, proof of a Social Security Number and two proofs of a residential address.
After accepting your ID card renewal application, the department will issue you a temporary credential with a limited validity, which can be used until you receive the renewed card by mail.
How to Replace Your ID Card in Georgia
Obtaining an ID card copy in Georgia is a procedure that can be completed in person through a nearby DDS branch office or via the department’s internet services website. While applicants with damaged, stolen or lost ID card credentials can always complete the replacement procedure in person, the option to replace ID card online in GA can only be utilized after meeting certain eligibility requirements.
You can initiate the online procedure to replace identification cards only if you are a state resident and a U.S. citizen and you have only one valid state-issued credential. Both REAL ID and standard ID cards can be replaced online. To upgrade to a Secure ID card, you will be required to apply for a replacement in person.
You are not allowed to order more than three replacement ID card credentials via the internet in the same 12-month period.
How to Replace ID Cards in Georgia Online
To obtain a duplicate ID card in Georgia via the internet, applicants will first be required to create a user account through the DDS online services webpage and subsequently enter their login information.
State residents will finalize the ID card replacement transaction by completing several steps, such as providing their personal information and paying the applicable fee with an acceptable form of payment. The department will mail the replacement ID card to the applicant’s mailing address within seven days of accepting the fee payment.
How to Replace ID Cards in Georgia in Person
State residents who choose to complete the Georgia DMV ID replacement procedure in person, and those who are ineligible for the online option, will be required to collect the necessary items prior to making their office visit. Depending on whether you are obtaining a copy of ID card of a standard credential or a duplicate of a Secure ID document, the required paperwork may vary.
Note that the department encourages applicants for a GA replacement ID card who have a regular card to upgrade it by requesting a Secure ID copy. In such cases, you will be required to collect the necessary proofs of identity, Social Security Number, state residency and lawful U.S. presence, in addition to the payment for the fee.
Georgia ID Card Renewal and Replacement Fees
When renewing ID cards in Georgia or obtaining an ID card copy, applicants will be required to arrange payment for the applicable fees as one of the final steps in both procedures. The cost for a replacement ID card is different than the one that applies for the state ID renewal.
Other factors that may affect the price of these procedures includes the method used to complete them and whether or not the applicant is eligible for a free-of-charge ID card. For instance, the DMV ID renewal of a standard state ID can currently be completed by paying the regular $32 fee. However, if you utilize the option to renew ID card online in GA, you will receive a $5 discount.
Additionally, certain groups of applicants, such as veterans and indigent and handicapped individuals are eligible to renew their credentials free of charge. Georgia DMV ID replacement, on the other hand, can be completed by paying a $5 fee.
However, if your stolen, damaged or lost ID card is nearing its expiration date, your request for a replacement will be processed as an ID card renewal.