Vehicle & licence (FRSC)
How to renew your driver's licence in Nigeria.
How to renew your driver's licence in Nigeria in 2026: the FRSC fee for 3 or 5 years, what you need, and your one capture visit for photo and fingerprints.
A Nigerian driver's licence is issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), working with the state Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO). The card is produced centrally, which is why it can take a while to arrive after your capture.
This guide covers the renewal route specifically (not a first-time licence, which adds the VIO driving test). You confirm your details, pay, attend one short biometric capture for your photo and fingerprints, and wait for the licence to be produced.
Renewal vs new issue — know which one you are doing
If you already hold a licence — even an expired one — you are renewing. Renewal skips the VIO road test. You re-capture your biometrics and confirm your data. A first-time applicant must pass the VIO test before the FRSC will issue, which is a different and longer process.
An expired licence is still a renewal, not a new issue. But you are driving without a valid licence in the gap, so start the renewal before your current licence expires. The FRSC lets you renew from 30 days before the expiry date.
The 3-year vs 5-year choice
The FRSC offers two validity terms: 3 years and 5 years. The 5-year licence saves you one capture visit over the long run. Unless you expect your details to change soon (a name change after marriage, for example), the 5-year term is usually the better value.
The FRSC charges ₦15,000 for 3 years and ₦21,000 for 5 years. A motorcycle (class A) licence costs ₦7,000 or ₦11,000. Each class is charged separately, and payment channels may add their own charges, so check the total on the FRSC portal (nigeriadriverslicence.frsc.gov.ng).
On Docufy you pick the term on the form and see the all-in price for each term on the driver's licence renewal page, and again before you pay.
What to bring to capture
Renewals need very little, because the FRSC already has your record. On Docufy you upload these from your phone before the capture:
- Your old licence, front and back, and its licence number.
- Your NIN slip — the FRSC ties the licence to your National Identification Number.
- A recent passport photograph on a white background (the centre also takes a fresh photo at capture).
Step-by-step
The mechanics are the same whether you apply on the FRSC portal yourself or use a filing service like Docufy, where a vetted partner firm handles the paperwork:
1. Apply and pay
The application captures your licence number, NIN and the term you want (3 or 5 years). On Docufy you fill a short form on your phone, upload your papers and pay online.
2. Book your capture slot
Biometric capture happens at an FRSC Drivers Licence Centre. On Docufy the partner firm books the capture for you. This is the one in-person step and it cannot be skipped — fingerprints and a live photo are mandatory.
3. Attend capture
Go to the centre at your appointment time with your papers. Your photo and fingerprints are taken there. It is your only visit.
4. Collect the card
The card is produced centrally after capture. The FRSC sets the production time, and on Docufy you follow each step on your phone until the licence is issued.
How long does the whole thing take?
The capture visit is short; card production is the slow part, and the FRSC sets its pace. The Docufy page for this filing shows the target time in business days before you start. Start your renewal well before your current licence expires, so you are not driving on an expired card while you wait.
Renewing other vehicle papers at the same time
Your driver's licence is separate from your vehicle papers. If your vehicle licence is also due, you can renew it on Docufy with no office visit, as long as your insurance and roadworthiness certificates are current. The FRSC hub lists both. See the companion guide on vehicle licence renewal cost below.
For more on licences, plates and vehicle papers, see our licence and vehicle guides.
Questions
Frequently asked.
How much does it cost to renew a driver's licence in Nigeria in 2026?
The FRSC charges ₦15,000 for a 3-year licence and ₦21,000 for a 5-year one, and payment channels may add their own charges. On Docufy the price is one all-in figure for the term you pick, VAT included, shown on the driver's licence renewal page and again before you pay. It is fixed once you submit.
Do I need to take a driving test to renew?
No. The VIO road test is only for first-time licences. Renewal is biometric capture and document checks — no test.
My licence has already expired. Can I still renew it?
Yes. An expired licence is still renewed, not re-issued from scratch. You are driving without a valid licence in the gap, so renew promptly.
Do I have to go anywhere in person?
Yes, once. Driver's licence renewal needs one visit to an FRSC capture centre for your photo and fingerprints. On Docufy the form tells you this before you pay, and everything else happens on your phone.
Do I need my NIN to renew?
Yes. The FRSC links the driver's licence to your NIN, so you need your National Identification Number to complete a renewal.
Sources
Fees and rules last checked 27 Sep 2026. The agency that issues the document has the final word. See our editorial policy.
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