N.M. Stat. § 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.