TVS owner licenses run one year from issue, so renewal is an annual ritual for every school in California. The good news: it is a fully online submission once your paperwork is together.
The short version: submit form OL 45A (plus OL 737 for each classroom or branch), attach your lesson plan form, and pay $101 through the DMV website.
Step 1: Gather the forms
- Renewal of Traffic Violator School Owner License (OL 45A)
- Classroom or branch renewal (OL 737) for each location, if applicable
- Your lesson plan form: OL 766 if you continue on a previously approved plan, or OL 764 if you are submitting a new one
Step 2: Submit online
Log in to the DMV occupational licensing portal, upload the completed forms, and pay electronically:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Owner renewal application | $100 |
| Family support program | $1 |
If you hold combined licenses, remember the DMV’s rule: when applying as owner and operator or owner and instructor together, only the owner fee is due.
The renewal date trap
Renewing the school is only half the job. Your operator license renews on its own one year clock and needs a 4 hour continuing education course, and instructor licenses run on a three year cycle. Schools slip when these dates drift apart and one quietly lapses.
We solve this for our customers: take any operator course with us and we track your renewal date and email you before it is due. If you run multiple schools, ask us about tracking every license in your group.
Start the 4 Hour Operator Renewal Course free »
Frequently asked questions
When should I file?
Ahead of your expiration date, not during its month. Online submission is fast but processing is not instant, and an expired owner license means your school is off the DMV list until it is fixed.
Does my operator license renew at the same time?
Not necessarily; each license has its own one year clock from its own issue date. Check both dates in the DMV occupational license lookup, and see how to renew a TVS operator license.
What if I changed my lesson plan this year?
Submit the new plan with OL 764 and the applicable review fee instead of OL 766.
