A drivers license in New Mexico is required for all residents, though visitors can use their out-of-state licenses. The New Mexico DMV drivers license application process is similar for minors and adults, as well as for residents born in New Mexico and residents who have moved from out of state. All applicants need to bring four different forms to prove their identity and residency, and they all need to complete the same application.

However, there are significant differences too, with minors being required to take drivers education and obtain several permits before they can get their licenses. In this article, you will learn all that you need to know about getting a DMV license in New Mexico, including the fees you need to pay, the application you need to submit and more. The different requirements for minors, adults, residents and people from out of state will all be covered.

How to Apply for a Drivers License in New Mexico as an Adult (18 or Older)

If you are at least 18 years old, you will not need to get a permit before you get your license. Learn how to get a drivers license in New Mexico if you are an adult: the tests you need to take and the official papers you need to bring.

If you are at least 18 years old, you will not be required to get a permit before you get a license. New Mexico drivers license eligibility applies to any adult who is legally in the US, residing in the state of New Mexico. Though you can renew your drivers license online in New Mexico, you will have to go in-person in order to get your license originally. An appointment is not required, but you will need to complete a DWI class called “None for the Road” if you are between the ages of 18 and 24.

When determining where to get a drivers license in New Mexico, choose the DMV office that is most convenient for you. You can go to any office in the state. To get a new drivers license in New Mexico, you need to go to the DMV in-person in order to present four documents:

• One document proving who you are
• Two documents proving that you are a New Mexico resident
• One document proving your identification number

The document proving who you are will most likely be either a birth certificate or passport, but you can also use a Permanent Resident Card or Employment Authorization certification. To prove your residency in New Mexico, you will not need to provide a government-authorized document. Bills, bank correspondence and tax forms may all be used.

The identification number is essentially your Social Security Number, which means you may present a Social Security Card. A W-2, pay stub or foreign passport may also be used.

If any of your forms are written in a different language, you will need to get them translated. Then, you will need to get them notarized. The notary cannot be the one who translates the official paper.

These drivers license requirements are designed to make your license REAL ID compliant. REAL ID is required for the purposes of federal identification, which for most people will come up when they are boarding a domestic flight. If you cannot prove your identification number, you will still be able to get driving privileges.

Instead of a license, you will get a Driver Authorization Card. This card cannot be used for federal identification. Instead, you will need to use a US passport. It should be noted that while a passport can be used in place of a REAL ID, a REAL ID cannot be used in place of a passport.

You will also need to fill out a New Mexico driving license application, but this form is not available online, so you will have to fill it out in-person. The form will require you to divulge basic information about yourself, such as your name, address and Social Security Number.

Required Tests to Get a Drivers License in New Mexico

What else do you need to get your license in New Mexico? There are three tests you are required to take. They are the:

• Eye Exam.
• Knowledge Test.
• Skills Test.

You can prepare for your knowledge test by taking a driver’s license practice exam.

Drivers license cost in New Mexico is $18, but these licenses will only last four years. For an eight-year license, you will need to pay $34.

Getting a New Mexico Drivers License as a New Resident

If you apply for a drivers license in New Mexico while holding a license from a different state, you will not be required to take the knowledge test. As well, you will not be required to take the skills test, unless your driving privileges were cancelled or suspended. New Mexico cannot reinstate a license from another state, so you will need to contact that state’s driving authority in order to reinstate your privileges.

Out-of-state residents will still be required to submit the four documents listed above, along with an application. The price of converting a license to a New Mexico license is $33 for four years. If you want your license to be valid for eight years, you will need to pay $49.

How to Apply for a Drivers License in New Mexico as a Teen (Younger Than 18)

To get a DMV license in New Mexico as a minor, you first need to get two permits.Learn about them below. You must be at least 15 years old to get a learner’s permit to drive, and 15 and a half years old to get a provisional license. If you are less than 18 years old, you will need to have a parent sign their consent whether you apply for a permit or a license. You also need to be a resident of New Mexico who is legally allowed to be in the US.

In order to get an instruction permit if you are less than 18 years old, you must have proof of driver’s education. The course does not need to be completed by the time you go to the office. These New Mexico drivers license services are provided by private businesses, but they need to be endorsed by either the Traffic Safety Bureau or the Motor Vehicle Division.

Steps to Get a Drivers License in New Mexico as a Teen

Drivers license information in New Mexico is similar for adults and teens. You will not need an appointment to apply for your license, and you will need to submit an application form with information about your name, address and Social Security Number.

The biggest difference is the instructional permit and the provisional license, both of which minors need to get before they can get a license with full privileges. To get the instructional permit, you will need to submit proof of your driver’s education, as well as the four documents detailed in the section above. You will then need to complete an eye exam and knowledge exam. You will also need to get the signed consent of a parent or guardian.

After six months, the completion of your drivers education and 50 hours of driving with an adult who is at least 21 years old, you will be able to get your provisional license. To apply for a provisional license in New Mexico, you will need to successfully complete a skills test, as well as having a parent sign your application stating that you drove for at least 50 hours. You need to spend at least 10 hours driving during the night.

Once you have your provisional license, you will need to drive with it for a year. If no disciplinary action is taken against you for your driving, you will be able to submit an application for your license. If you are less than 18 years old, your parent will need to sign their consent for you to get your license.

New Mexico Drivers License Costs

Drivers license cost in New Mexico varies based on whether you already hold a license or permit and how long you want the license to last. Below you will find the various fees:

• $18 for a drivers license that is valid for four years
• $34 for a drivers license that is valid for eight years
• $33 to convert an out-of-state license to a New Mexico license that lasts four years
• $49 to convert an out-of-state license to a New Mexico license that lasts eight years
• $10 for a permit
• $18 for a provisional license

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