New Mexico driver's license
Get your first license in New Mexico after moving to the US.
The short answer
Once you become a New Mexico resident, you hand in the license from your old state and apply for a New Mexico one.1 Moving in from another state, you pay $33.00 for a four-year license or $49.00 for an eight-year license, because a one-time driving records check is added.2 That payment gives you up to three attempts at the examination within six months of the application date.3 Every document you bring has to be current and valid.4 While you hold the instruction permit, you drive with an adult 21 or older who has held a license for at least three years.5
How it goes
- 1You arriveYou have moved to New Mexico and you want to drive here.
- 2Your permitYou practice on the road with a learner permit.
- 3The written testYou take the written test.
- 4Behind the wheelYou take the drive test behind the wheel.
- 5Your licenseYou pass the tests, and the license is yours.
What it costs
| What you pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| A first driver license, valid four years6 | $18.00 |
| A first driver license, valid eight years6 | $34.00 |
| A one-time driving records check, charged to everyone moving to New Mexico from another state2 | $15.00 |
| Most people pay, all in2 | $33.00 for a four-year license, $49.00 for an eight-year license |
If you just arrived in the US
Your immigration status
A person who is legally in the United States but not a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident alien may apply for a REAL ID-compliant New Mexico driver's license.7
If your license from another state has expired
New Mexico does not renew another state's license; once you establish residency you must surrender your out-of-state license and apply for a New Mexico license. If your license has been expired for one year or more, you must pass the written test, and if expired over five years you must pass both the written test and the road test.1
If you have no license to transfer
Applicants who do not qualify for a test waiver or transfer take the first-time applicant examinations, which include highway signs, traffic law knowledge, and a practical driving demonstration. No license is issued while driving privileges are suspended, revoked, or denied in any state.8
Documents you need
- Documents that are still validAll documents must be unexpired and valid. However, a driver's license, photo ID card, or photo learner's permit from a US state, US territory, or Canadian jurisdiction is accepted if it has a photograph and has not been expired for more than one year.4
Your Social Security Number
Giving your number, and who may see it
When you apply for a Standard Driver's License or an ID not intended for federal purposes, MVD does not require a unique identification number.9
For a REAL ID-compliant license, the department verifies your Social Security number through a federally approved method. An application for a standard driver's license requires proof of identity, age, and residence address, but does not require an SSN.10
Tests you take
Eye test
To pass, your vision must be 20/40 or better in at least one eye.11
Tries you get on the written test
If you fail the non-commercial written test, you may retake it as soon as you want, even the same day, but you may not take the test more than twice in a single week.12
If you score below eighty percent on any knowledge or skill test, you may retake that test after one week or more has passed since the date you last tested.13
A complete application and fee give you not more than three attempts to pass the examination within six months. If you fail three times, you must wait six months from the date of application before testing again.3
Practice questions for the written test
MVD's driver license section includes a Manuals page listed in its website navigation.14
Practising with your permit
Who can sit with you while you practise
While you hold the instructional permit, you must drive with an adult 21 or older who has been licensed for a minimum of 3 years.5
While you have the permit with you, you may drive on public highways when accompanied by a licensed driver who is twenty-one or older, has been licensed for at least three years in this state or in another state, and is sitting in the seat beside you. The seat rule does not apply when you are riding a motorcycle.15
What to bring to the drive test
Who comes with you
Children and pets should not be in the vehicle during the driving test, and it is strongly recommended that you take no other passengers.16
The car and its insurance
The road test does not begin until the vehicle passes a pre-test equipment inspection. You are disqualified if you cannot show how to adjust and use the rear-view mirrors, or how to operate the parking brake, horn, wipers, headlamps, taillamps, emergency flashers, or turn signals.17
Where to go
Who gives the tests
The road skills exam is administered by MVD or by an MVD-contracted driver education school.18
Booking an appointment
New Mexico's MVD online services, where you can schedule a visit or process a transaction, are at https://eservices.mvd.newmexico.gov/eTapestry/_/.19
Office locations
The MVD's maps and locations page is at https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/maps-and-locations/.20
Other states
U
Sources
Every numbered fact above is quoted from the page that publishes it, in the words it uses.
- 1
“Once you have established residency in New Mexico, you are required to surrender your license from any other state and apply for a New Mexico license.”
mvd.newmexico.gov/…/drivers-licenseChecked August 11, 2026
- 2
“State law now requires a DWI records check on all drivers moving to New Mexico from out-of-state. To pay for the records check, those drivers are charged an additional one-time $15.00 fee, increasing their total to $33.00 for a four-year license or $49.00 for an eight-year license.”
mvd.newmexico.gov/…/apply-for-a-new-driving-credentialChecked August 4, 2026
- 3
“submission of a complete application with payment of the fee entitles the applicant to not more than three attempts to pass the examination within a period of six months from the date of application.”
nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa/en/4422/1/document.doChecked August 2, 2026
- 4
“All documents must be unexpired and valid”
realfile.tax.newmexico.gov/RevisedStandardacceptabledocs3.10.23.pdfChecked August 1, 2026
- 5
“Drive with an adult 21 or older who has been licensed for a minimum of 3 years;”
mvd.newmexico.gov/…/apply-for-a-learners-permitChecked August 1, 2026
- 6
“The fee is $18.00 for a four-year license or $34.00 for an eight-year license.”
mvd.newmexico.gov/…/drivers-licenseChecked August 1, 2026
- 7
“A person who is legally in the United States but not a United States citizen, United States national or permanent resident alien may apply for a REAL ID compliant New Mexico driver’s license,”
srca.nm.gov/parts/title18/18.019.0005.htmlChecked August 1, 2026
- 8
“A. The department shall examine every first-time applicant for a driver's license or a motorcycle endorsement and may examine other applicants for a driver's license or motorcycle endorsement. The examination shall include a test of the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs regulating, warning and directing traffic, the applicant's knowledge of the traffic laws of this state and an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle”
nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa/en/4422/1/document.doChecked August 11, 2026
- 9
“When processing a Standard Driver’s License or not intended for federal purpose ID the collection of a unique identification number is not required.”
- 10
“For an applicant for a REAL ID- compliant driver's license or a renewal of a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, the department shall verify the applicant's lawful status and social security number, if applicable, through a method approved by the federal government.”
nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa/en/4422/1/document.doChecked August 2, 2026
- 11
“vision screening 20/40 or better in at least one eye”
mvd.newmexico.gov/chapter-2-non-commercial-licenseChecked August 4, 2026
- 12
“An applicant who fails the non-commercial written/knowledge test may retake the test as soon as they want to, even the same day, but may not take the test more than twice in a single week.”
mvd.newmexico.gov/chapter-2-non-commercial-licenseChecked August 11, 2026
- 13
“Any driver who does not achieve a score of eighty percent or higher on any knowledge or skill test may retake a test on that subject after one week or more has intervened since the date last tested.”
srca.nm.gov/parts/title18/18.019.0005.htmlChecked August 6, 2026
- 14
“Where’s My License? / ID Cards / Mobile ID / Manuals / Military / Veteran Designation”
mvd.newmexico.gov/…/apply-for-a-new-driving-credentialChecked July 26, 2026
- 15
“This permit entitles the applicant, while having the permit in the applicant's immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle upon the public highways when accompanied by a licensed driver who is twenty-one years of age or older, who has been licensed for at least three years in this state or in another state and who is occupying a seat beside the driver except in the event the permittee is operating a motorcycle.”
nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa/en/4422/1/document.doChecked August 2, 2026
- 16
“Children or pets should not be allowed in the vehicle during the driving test. It is strongly recommended that no other passengers be taken.”
mvd.newmexico.gov/chapter-11-road-and-written-test-requirementsChecked August 11, 2026
- 17
“Do not begin any road test unless you have performed the pre-road test vehicle. inspection and the vehicle has passed the inspection. ... If the applicant cannot perform all the pre-road test vehicle equipment inspection requirements to include how to; ... adjust the rear-view mirrors or how to use them; ... use the parking brake, horn, wipers, headlamps, taillamps, emergency flashers, or signals.”
mvd.newmexico.gov/chapter-11-road-and-written-test-requirementsChecked August 11, 2026
- 18
“Pass the MVD Road Skills Exam. If the teen has taken the “approved” MVD Road Skills Exam with an MVD “contracted” ‘Driver Education School,’ the teen must provide the completed MVD Record of Completion with the passing test scores.”
mvd.newmexico.gov/…/apply-for-a-learners-permitChecked August 11, 2026
- 19
“Please see our online services to schedule an appointment or to process a transaction online. https://eservices.mvd.newmexico.gov/eTapestry/_/”
mvd.newmexico.gov/maps-and-locationsChecked July 26, 2026
- 20
“https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/maps-and-locations/ CAPTURED: 2026-07-26 via connected Chrome (get_page_text of ); www.mv”
mvd.newmexico.gov/maps-and-locationsChecked July 26, 2026
Applying for a driver's license in New Mexico?
Answer a few questions and see the steps that apply to you.