Driving Tests

Moving to Pennsylvania: Transfer Your Driver's License Within 60 Days

informational·how to guide·Published May 4, 2026

How long do you have to transfer your driver's license to Pennsylvania?

PennDOT says you have 60 days from the day you establish Pennsylvania residency to get a Pennsylvania license. You apply in person at a Driver License Center with Form DL-180R, take a vision-screening test, surrender your old license and pay $39.50 for a four-year license. You need no knowledge test if your old license is valid or expired six months or less.

Where these rules come from

The rules come from the PennDOT page Moving to Pennsylvania, the PennDOT page Motor vehicle information for new residents and Form DL-180R. Other details come from the PennDOT fees page, the Get a Driver License page, the REAL ID FAQs, the online Pennsylvania Driver's Manual and the document lists PUB 195US (U.S. citizens) and PUB 195NC (non-U.S. citizens). The law that lets PennDOT license a driver from another state without a learner's permit is 75 Pa.C.S. section 1508(b). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services (pa.gov/dmv) before you drive.

Do you have to test with an out-of-state license?

You do not take the knowledge test if your license from another state is valid, or expired six months or less. Instead, you take a vision-screening test at the Driver License Center. You surrender your old license before PennDOT issues the Pennsylvania one. Final approval depends on a check of your past driving record, and the DL-180R says that PennDOT may also require a physical exam.

Which path fits your old license?

Your out-of-state non-commercial license is valid, or expired six months or less

You transfer it. Apply in person with Form DL-180R, take the vision-screening test and surrender the old license. No knowledge test is required.

Your license is from Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory

You can transfer a valid license too. A transfer from Puerto Rico cannot be completed on the same day.

Your license expired more than six months ago

You cannot transfer it. You apply for a Pennsylvania learner's permit and take the vision, knowledge and road tests. The Pennsylvania learner's permit steps show how to start.

You hold only an out-of-state learner's permit

It cannot be transferred to Pennsylvania. See the teen section below.

You hold an out-of-state commercial license (CDL)

You have 30 days, not 60, and you use Form DL-180RCD. This guide covers non-commercial licenses.

What to bring to the Driver License Center

Your out-of-state license, and any out-of-state ID card. You surrender the license when you apply.
Form DL-180R, the application for a Pennsylvania non-commercial license by an out-of-state driver. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian (or a spouse 18 or older) signs the consent section.
U.S. citizens: one proof of identity from List A, such as a U.S. birth certificate with a raised seal or a valid U.S. passport.
Non-U.S. citizens: original immigration documents that show your current lawful status, and a valid passport, depending on your status.
Your original Social Security card, not laminated. If you are not eligible for a Social Security number, bring a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration.
If you are 18 or older: two proofs of residency with your name and Pennsylvania street address, such as a lease, a utility bill or a pay stub. Under 18, you need no proof of residency.
No bills in your name? One proof can be the person you live with, who comes with you and shows their driver's license or photo ID. The second can be post-marked mail with your name at the same address.
A way to pay. Driver License Centers take debit or credit cards, checks and money orders, but no cash.
Papers that link your names. All documents must show the same name and date of birth, or a link between them, such as a marriage certificate.

Steps to transfer your license

1
Gather your documents
Collect the items in the list above and fill in Form DL-180R.
2
Go in person
Visit a PennDOT Driver License Center. You must apply in person. Some state-to-state services may not be available on Saturdays.
3
Take the vision-screening test
PennDOT tests your vision at the center.
4
Surrender your old license and pay
Hand over your out-of-state license and pay the fee: $39.50 for a four-year license.
5
Use your temporary license
PennDOT issues a temporary license that is valid for 15 days.

What does the transfer cost?

A four-year Pennsylvania license costs $39.50 when you transfer from another state. If you are 65 or older, you can choose a two-year license for $27.50 instead. A four-year license that also includes the motorcycle class (Class M) costs $45.50. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, as of 2026, and you pay them at the Driver License Center.

Your Pennsylvania deadlines at a glance

Your Pennsylvania deadlines at a glance
What	Deadline	Where you apply
Non-commercial driver's license	60 days after you establish residency	Driver License Center, Form DL-180R
Commercial license (CDL)	30 days after you establish residency	Driver License Center, Form DL-180RCD
Vehicle title and registration	20 days after you establish residency	Authorized agent, Form MV-1
Vehicle safety inspection	10 days after you register the vehicle	Official inspection station

What about your car?

Your car has a shorter deadline: apply for Pennsylvania title and registration within 20 days. The agent must see valid Pennsylvania identification, such as a Pennsylvania photo driver's license or photo ID card, so get your license early. You can get it before the 60 days end. Bring your out-of-state title and proof of Pennsylvania insurance. Form MV-1 is not online; most notaries, dealers and messenger services are authorized agents who complete it. A lender that holds your title may ask you to refinance the loan. You pay no Pennsylvania sales tax if your out-of-state title is valid and you owned the car for six months before the move.

What if you are a teen with a permit?

An out-of-state learner's permit cannot be transferred to Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania initial learner's permit is for anyone 16 or older who never had a license, so a teen with only a permit starts the Pennsylvania permit steps. A teen who transfers a license must be at least 16 1/2 years old. If you are under 18 and hold a junior or provisional license from another state, call PennDOT at 717-412-5300 before you drive and ask how the Pennsylvania junior license rules apply to you.

Do you have a license from Canada or another country?

A valid license from Canada falls under the same 60-day rule. A license from any other country follows different rules. If you are not a U.S. citizen, the documents you need depend on your immigration status, and some statuses, such as B-1 and B-2 temporary visitors, are not eligible for a Pennsylvania license. Read the Pennsylvania foreign driver's license guide for the rules on a license from another country.

Key takeaways

PennDOT says you have 60 days after you establish Pennsylvania residency to get a Pennsylvania non-commercial license.
Apply in person with Form DL-180R, take a vision-screening test and surrender your old license. The fee is $39.50 for four years.
No knowledge test is required if your old license is valid or expired six months or less. After more than six months, you start with a learner's permit.
Apply for your car's title and registration within 20 days, and get your license early, because the agent asks for Pennsylvania identification.
Next step: refresh the Pennsylvania road rules with the free Pennsylvania Class C permit practice test.

Moving to Pennsylvania: common questions

My old license is lost. Can I still transfer it?

Not without the card. If you do not have your prior state's license, you must apply for a Pennsylvania learner's permit and take the vision, knowledge and road tests, as a new driver does. The same rule applies to a license that expired more than six months ago.

What if my license is suspended in another state?

Report it on Form DL-180R. The form asks if your driving privilege is suspended or revoked in any state, and if you have pending charges or violations that could lead to a suspension. If the record check finds outstanding violations, PennDOT denies the application and can cancel a license that it already issued.

Can I keep my old state's license too?

No. You must surrender every valid license from another state before PennDOT issues yours. Also, a Pennsylvania permit, license or ID card cancels any permit, license or ID card from another state, so you cannot hold a license in both states.

Do I need a REAL ID when I transfer my license?

No. REAL ID is optional. You need it only if you want to use your Pennsylvania license to board a domestic flight, enter a military base or enter a federal building that requires ID. If you have a passport or military ID, you do not need it. A REAL ID adds a one-time $30 fee to the license fee.

I lived in Pennsylvania before. Are the rules easier?

No. A former Pennsylvania resident who returns must meet all the same identification and residency requirements as a person who never lived in Pennsylvania. Bring the same proof of identity, proofs of residency and Social Security card as any other new resident.