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If you move to Pennsylvania with a driver’s license from another state or Canada, you must get a Pennsylvania license within 60 days of establishing residency. You apply in person at a PennDOT Driver License Center, pass a vision screening and surrender your old license, and there is no knowledge or road test if your license is valid or expired six months or less. This guide covers the steps, the fee, foreign licenses, and the other jobs a new resident has: vehicle title, inspection and address updates.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Out-of-state or Canadian license: switch within 60 days of becoming a Pennsylvania resident.
- Form: DL-180R, plus proof of identity and residency and your Social Security card.
- Out-of-state new driver four-year license fee: $39.50 (two-year license at 65 and over: $27.50).
- Vehicle title and registration: apply within 20 days of establishing residency.
- Out-of-state learner’s permits cannot be transferred.
How to transfer an out-of-state license to PA: step by step
- Fill in Form DL-180R, “Application for Pennsylvania Non-Commercial Driver’s License By Out-of-State Non-CDL Driver”.
- Gather documents: proof of identification, proof of Pennsylvania residency, and your Social Security card. PennDOT has a separate process if you do not have the card. All documents must show the same name and date of birth, or link to each other (for example a marriage certificate or court order for a name change).
- Visit a Driver License Center in person. Some state-to-state services may not be available on Saturdays.
- Take the vision screening. If you do not meet the standard, the examiner gives you Form DL-102 for an eye doctor or family physician to complete.
- Surrender your out-of-state license and pay the fee.
PennDOT issues temporary licenses valid for 15 days while it runs a facial recognition check on your photo. The temporary card can be used to prove your name, age and address like a permanent one.
When you have to test again
| Your situation | What PennDOT requires |
|---|---|
| Out-of-state license, valid or expired six months or less | Vision screening only; no knowledge or road test |
| Out-of-state license expired more than six months | Cannot be transferred. Apply for a learner’s permit (DL-180) and take all applicable knowledge and skills tests |
| Out-of-state learner’s permit | Cannot be transferred. Start with a Pennsylvania learner’s permit |
| Commercial driver’s license | Different rule: transfer within 30 days using Form DL-180RCD |
If you are starting over with a permit, see the Pennsylvania learner’s permit and DL-180 physical. Teens under 18 moving with an out-of-state license should ask PennDOT how junior license rules apply to them before visiting.
Driving in Pennsylvania on a foreign license
- Visitors who are at least 16, hold a valid license from their home country and can understand traffic control devices may drive in Pennsylvania. You may drive only the vehicle types your license covers, and must follow its restrictions.
- An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not required. If you have one, carry it with your original license; it is not valid on its own.
- PUB 95 (4-21) says a valid foreign license can be used for up to one year from your date of entry into the US, or until it expires, whichever comes first.
Countries with a Pennsylvania license reciprocity agreement
PUB 95 (4-21) lists reciprocity agreements with France, Germany, Korea and Taiwan. Holders of a valid non-commercial license from these countries can transfer it without a knowledge or road test, but a vision test is given. Transfers from Puerto Rico, France or Germany cannot be completed the same day. This list comes from the 2021 manual, so confirm it with PennDOT’s Customer Call Center (717-412-5300) before your visit. The manual gives no testing exemption for other countries’ licenses, so ask PennDOT what you need to take.
More on foreign licenses across the US: driving in the US on a foreign license.
Your vehicle: title, registration and inspection
- Title and registration within 20 days of establishing residency. You need a valid Pennsylvania photo license or ID first, so it makes sense to get your license early rather than using the full 60 days.
- Form MV-1 is completed by an authorized agent (most notaries, dealers and messenger services). Bring your out-of-state title, proof of Pennsylvania insurance, a VIN tracing or verification, and the fees and any sales tax.
- Some counties add a $5 yearly local use fee per registered vehicle.
- Safety inspection every 12 months at an authorized station. A vehicle can be inspected up to 90 days before the sticker expires. In many counties you also need an emissions inspection (cars, vans and light-duty trucks from model year 1975 or newer) before the safety inspection. Source: PUB 95 (4-21).
A current inspection sticker also matters if you ever take a road test in the car: see the PA road test vehicle check.
Changing your name or address later
Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Section 1515 requires you to tell PennDOT within 15 days of a name or address change, even if you are moving out of state. Address changes can be made online or by calling 717-412-5300, and there is no fee for a non-commercial license. Name changes use Form DL-80. You get an update card that you must carry with your license.
Common questions
How long do I have to change my license after moving to PA?
60 days from establishing Pennsylvania residency for a regular license; 30 days for a CDL.
Do I have to take a test to transfer my license to Pennsylvania?
Only a vision screening, if your out-of-state license is valid or expired six months or less.
How much does it cost to transfer a license to PA?
$39.50 for an out-of-state new driver four-year license as of November 2026 ($45.50 with motorcycle). Check the current figure on PennDOT’s fees page before your visit.
Can I transfer my learner’s permit from another state?
No. You need a Pennsylvania learner’s permit.
Can I keep my old state’s license as well?
No. You must surrender it before PennDOT issues a Pennsylvania license.
Is REAL ID automatic when I transfer?
REAL ID has its own document rules. See REAL ID and your first US driver’s license, and for moves between other states, transferring a license to another state.
Back to the main guide: how to get a driver’s license in Pennsylvania.
Sources
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services, “Moving to Pennsylvania” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services, “Motor Vehicle Information for New Residents” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services, “Driving in Pennsylvania with a Foreign Driver’s License” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services, “Payments and Fees” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Online Driver’s Manual: Applying for a Learner’s Permit” and “Chapter 5, Laws and Related Issues” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, PUB 95 (4-21)” (pa.gov)