Streamlined License Plates & PennDOT Services
General Information for New Residents
All new residents with out-of-state non-commercial driver's licenses must obtain a PA Driver's License within 60 days of establishing Pennsylvania residency.
To apply, you must appear in person at a Driver License Center. You will be required to surrender your out-of-state driver's license (valid or expired six months or less) before PennDOT can issue you a PA Driver's License. You will need to take a vision-screening test and complete Form DL-180R (PDF), "Application for Pennsylvania Non-Commercial Driver's License By Out-of-State Non-CDL Driver." In addition, you will need to show proof of identification and residency and your Social Security card.
Although a knowledge test is not required for new residents with out-of-state driver's licenses which are valid or expired six months or less, The Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PDF) is designed to help you become a safe driver and enjoy your driving privilege in our beautiful state.
A previous resident returning to Pennsylvania must meet all the same identification and residency requirements as a customer who has never been a PA resident.
All documents must show the same name and date of birth, or an association between the information on the documents. Additional documentation may be required if a connection between documents cannot be established (e.g. Marriage Certificate, Court Order of name change, Divorce Decree, etc.)
Out-of-state learner's permits cannot be transferred to Pennsylvania. In addition, if your out-of-state driver's license has been expired for more than six months, it cannot be transferred for a Pennsylvania Driver's License. You must apply for a Pennsylvania Learner's Permit (PDF) and complete all applicable knowledge and skills tests in order to obtain a Pennsylvania Driver's License.
NOTE: Birth certificates issued by the Puerto Rico Department of Health before July 1, 2010, were invalidated under a law passed by the government of Puerto Rico to combat fraud and protect the identity and credit of all persons bom in Puerto Rico. As of October 31, 2010, Pennsylvania no longer accepts as proof of identification Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010. New, more secure birth certificates are available online or by mail. Visit the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration website for full instructions on applying for new certificates.
A Photo ID card is a viable source of identification offered to individuals 10 years of age and older. To apply for a Photo ID card, you must appear in person at a PennDOT Driver License Center and present proof of identification and residency (Please note: If you are under the age of 18, proof of residency is not required; however a parent, guardian or person in loco parentis must accompany you to a PennDOT Driver License Center), along with a completed Form DL-54A (PDF), "Application for Initial Photo Identification Card." If you have an out-of-state driver's license or Photo ID card, you will need to surrender it at the time of application for a Pennsylvania Photo ID card. Please visit our fees page for the cost of the product you are requesting.
A previous resident returning to Pennsylvania must meet all the same identification and residency requirements as a customer who has never been a PA resident. All documents must show the same name and date of birth, or an association between the information on the documents. Additional documentation may be required if a connection between the documents cannot be established (e.g. Marriage Certificate, Court Order of name change, Divorce Decree, etc.)
All new residents with out-of-state CDL's must obtain a PA CDL within 30 days of establishing Pennsylvania residency. To apply, you must appear in person at one of our Driver License Centers. You will need to take a vision screening test and complete Form DL-180RCD (PDF}, "Application for Pennsylvania Commercial Driver's License By Out-of-State CDL Driver". In addition, you will need to show proof of identification and residency and your Social Security card.
A previous resident returning to Pennsylvania must meet all the same identification and residency requirements as a customer who has never been a PA resident.
All documents must show the same name and date of birth, or an association between the information on the documents. Additional documentation may be required if a connection between the documents cannot be established (e.g. Marriage Certificate, Court Order of name change, Divorce Decree, etc.)
NOTE: HAZMAT and school bus endorsements are not transferable. For more information on transferring a CDL with a HAZMAT endorsement, please visit our HAZMAT page. For more information about how to obtain the school bus endorsement, please visit the How to Become a School Bus Driver page.
Identification and Residency Requirements For U.S. Citizens
- Individuals applying for a Non-Commercial Driver's License must be at least 16 years of age.
- Individuals applying for an Identification {ID) Card must be at least 10 years of age.
- Individuals transferring a Non-Commercial Driver's License must be at least 16 1/2 years of age.
- Individuals applying for a Pennsylvania Learner's Permit must be at least 16 years of age.
- Out-of-state Learner's Permits can not be transferred to Pennsylvania.
- Individuals applying for or transferring a Commercial Driver's License must be at least 18 years of age for intrastate driving or 21 years of age or older for interstate driving.
If you are under the age of 18 and are a resident of Pennsylvania you will need to show:
- one form of identification from List A, and
- your Social Security Card.
If you are 18 years of age or older and you are a resident of Pennsylvania you will need to show:
- one form of identification from List A,
- two forms of proof of residency from List B, and
- your Social Security Card.
New residents of Pennsylvania who hold a valid driver's license from another state in the United States must get a Pennsylvania Driver's License within 60 days after moving to PA and surrender their out-of-state driver's license and/or ID card.
If you are a new resident of Pennsylvania and your prior state's driver's license has been expired for more than six months or you do not possess your prior state's driver's license you will be required to apply for a PA Learner's Permit and take the Vision, Knowledge and Road Tests.
New residents of Pennsylvania who hold a valid driver's license from Puerto Rico or a U.S. territory or possession may transfer their valid driver's license to a PA Non-Commercial Driver's License.
New residents of Pennsylvania who hold a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) from another state in the United States may transfer their CDL to a PA CDL.
If you are under the age of 18 and are a new resident of Pennsylvania you will need to show:
- one form of identification from List A, o your Social Security Card, and
- your out-of-state driver's license and/or ID Card.
If you are 18 years of age or older and you are a new resident of Pennsylvania, you will need to show:
- one form of identification from List A,
- two forms of proof of residency from List B,
- your Social Security Card, and
- your out-of-state driver's license and/or ID Card.
THE CLOSEST DRIVER CENTER
- DUBLIN PHOTO DRIVER LICENSE CENTER -161 NORTH MAIN STREET DUBLIN PA 18917
- NORISTOWN PHOTO DRIVER LICENSE CENTER - 1700 MARKLEY STREET NORRISTOWN PA 19401
Acceptable Forms of Identification
Birth Certificate with raised seal (U.S. issued by an authorized government agency, including U.S. territories or Puerto Rico. Non-U.S. Birth Certificates will not be accepted.) Note: Birth Certificates from Puerto Rico must have an issue date of 7/1/10 or later to be acceptable.
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (USCIS Form N-560) or Consular Report of Birth Abroad (DOS Form FS-240)
- Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS Form N-550 or N-570)
- Valid U.S. Passport
NOTE: Only valid Passports and original documents will be accepted. If the name on your original document differs from your current name, you must provide documentation that connects the names, such as an original Marriage, Certificate, Divorce Decree, or Court Order document.
Acceptable list of Documents for Proof of Residency for Applicants 18 Years of Age or older: PUB 195US (7-18)
- Tax Records
- Lease Agreements
- Mortgage Documents
- W-2 form
- Current Weapons Permit
- Current Utility Bills (water, gas, electric, cable, etc.)
NOTE: If you reside with someone, and have no bills in your name, you will still need to provide two proofs of residency. One proof is to bring the person with whom you reside along with their Drivers License or Photo ID to the Driver License Center. You will also need to provide a second proof of residency such as official mail (bank statement, tax notice, magazine etc.) that has your name and address on it. The address must match that of the person with whom you reside.
PLEASE NOTE: All documents must show the same name and date of birth, or an association between the information on the documents. Additional documentation may be required if a connection between documents cannot be established (e.g. Marriage Certificate, Court Order of name change, Divorce Decree, etc.)