Yes, you can change the height on your driver’s license. In most states, height is self-reported rather than measured, so the fix is a routine correction through your state’s motor vehicle agency: fill out a correction or replacement form, pay a small fee, and receive an updated card. If your renewal is close, you can usually make the change then and skip the separate fee.
Update It at Your Next Renewal
The cheapest route is to wait for your scheduled renewal. Most states let you update personal details like height and weight during renewal at no cost beyond the standard renewal fee. Check your renewal date on your current card or your state DMV’s website. If it’s within a few months, this saves you a separate trip and a separate fee.
Request a Correction Before Renewal
If you’d rather not wait, ask for a corrected license outside your renewal cycle. The process varies by state, but the general steps are the same.
- Find the right form on your state DMV’s website. It may be called a change of information, amendment, or duplicate license form. Some states let you start online.
- Bring identification. Your current license is usually enough for a height correction. If your state asks for more, a birth certificate or passport will work.
- Plan on an in-person visit. Most states issue a new card with an updated photo for this kind of change, though some reuse your existing photo for minor corrections.
- Pay the correction fee, generally between $5 and $30. Your state DMV’s website will list the exact amount.
After processing, offices typically hand you a temporary paper document on the spot. The permanent card arrives by mail, usually within two to six weeks depending on the state.
Does the DMV Measure You?
Generally, no. When you apply or renew, the clerk asks your height and enters what you say. If the number looks roughly plausible, that’s the end of it. That’s why so many licenses carry the height someone reported at 16 or 17, before they finished growing, and never got around to updating.
Because the number is self-reported, correcting it is mostly a matter of stating the right one on your next form or visit. You are, however, signing a statement under penalty of law that the information is accurate.
The Legal Line on False Information
Rounding up an inch is common and unlikely to draw attention. Intentionally providing false information on a driver’s license application is a different matter. It’s a criminal offense in every state, generally charged as a misdemeanor, with potential fines and jail time. The exact charge and severity depend on how far off the information is, whether there was intent to deceive, and what the license was used for. Federal fraud statutes also cover false identification documents.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1028 – Fraud and Related Activity in Connection With Identification Documents Report your real height and you won’t have a problem.
Commercial Driver’s License Holders
If you hold a CDL, your height appears in two places: on the CDL card and on the DOT medical examination form that every commercial driver must complete. The Medical Examination Report Form (MCSA-5875) requires the examiner to record your height and weight during the physical.2Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Medical Examination Report Form MCSA-5875 There are no disqualifying height thresholds, but the measurement is taken by the examiner rather than self-reported. If the height on your CDL card doesn’t match your DOT physical, update the card through your state’s CDL office to avoid discrepancies during inspections or employment verification.
Keep Your Other IDs Consistent
Once the updated license arrives, destroy any older cards returned to you. Using an invalidated license as identification can create complications and, in some situations, legal problems.
If you also hold a passport, state ID card, or other government-issued identification, check whether the height on those documents still matches. A one-inch difference between your license and passport probably won’t cause issues, but a three-inch gap could raise questions during identity verification. Updating everything while the correct number is fresh saves you from dealing with it piecemeal later.