§ 66-5-21 — Expiration of license; limited issuance period; four-year

issuance period; eight-year issuance period; renewal. A. Except as provided in Subsections B through H of this section and Sections 66-5- 19 and 66-5-67 NMSA 1978, all licenses shall be issued for a period of four years, and each license shall expire four years after the effective date of the license or shall expire thirty days after the applicant's seventy-ninth birthday. A license issued pursuant to Section 66-5-19 NMSA 1978 shall expire thirty days after the applicant's birthday in the year in which the license expires. Each license is renewable within ninety days prior to its expiration or at an earlier date approved by the department. The fee for the license shall be as provided in Section 66-5-44 NMSA 1978. The department may provide for renewal by mail or telephonic or electronic means of a license issued pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, pursuant to regulations adopted by the department that ensure adequate security measures to safeguard personal information that is obtained in the issuance of a license, except the department shall not renew by mail or telephonic or electronic means a license if prohibited by federal law. The department may require an examination upon renewal of the license. B. Except as provided in Subsection E of this section, at the option of an applicant, a REAL ID-compliant driver's license may be issued for a period of eight years, provided that the applicant: (1) pays the amount required for a REAL ID-compliant driver's license issued for a term of eight years; (2) otherwise qualifies for a four-year REAL ID-compliant driver's license; and (3) will not reach the age of seventy-nine during the last four years of the eight-year REAL ID-compliant driver's license period or reach the age of twenty-one during any year within the term of the license. C. A REAL ID-compliant driver's license issued pursuant to the provisions of Subsection B of this section shall expire eight years after the effective date of the license. D. A license issued prior to an applicant's twenty-first birthday shall expire thirty days after the applicant's twenty-first birthday. A license issued prior to an applicant's twenty-first birthday may be issued for a period of up to five years. E. A REAL ID-compliant driver's license issued to a foreign national shall expire on the earliest of: (1) thirty days after the applicant's twenty-first birthday, if issued prior to the applicant's twenty-first birthday; (2) thirty days after the applicant's seventy-ninth birthday; (3) four years after the effective date of the license or eight years after the effective date of the license if the applicant opted for a period of eight years pursuant to Subsection B of this section; or (4) the expiration date of the applicant's lawful status; provided that if that date cannot be determined by the department and the applicant is not a legal permanent resident, the REAL ID-compliant driver's license shall expire one year after the effective date of the license. F. A standard driver's license issued to an applicant shall expire on the earliest of: (1) thirty days after the applicant's twenty-first birthday, if issued prior to the applicant's twenty-first birthday; (2) thirty days after the applicant's seventy-ninth birthday; or (3) four years after the effective date of the license. G. At the option of an applicant, a standard driver's license may be issued for a period of eight years; provided that the applicant: (1) pays the amount required for a standard driver's license issued for a term of eight years; (2) otherwise qualifies for a four-year standard driver's license; and (3) will not reach the age of seventy-nine during the last four years of the eight-year standard driver's license period or reach the age of twenty-one during any year within the term of the license. H. The secretary shall adopt regulations providing for the proration of driver's license fees due to shortened licensure periods permitted pursuant to Subsection A of Section 66-5-19 NMSA 1978 and for licensure periods authorized pursuant to the provisions of this section.

Legislative History

1953 Comp., § 64-5-21, enacted by Laws 1978, ch. 35, § 243; 1981, ch. 360, §