Pennsylvania Lost Learner's Permit: File DL-31, $6 Fee, Replace at Any PennDOT Center

Replacing a lost Pennsylvania learner's permit requires using Form DL-31. You cannot use the online driver services portal. The process involves a $6.00 fee and specific steps for applicants under 18.

Download the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual to review permit rules while waiting for your replacement.

Replacing a Lost Pennsylvania PennDOT Learner's Permit

You must apply for a duplicate instruction permit either in person or by mail. The replacement will have the same expiration date as your original.

Download Form DL-31 from the PennDOT website. Fill it completely before visiting a center or mailing it to PennDOT.

For mail-in applications, send your completed form to: PennDOT, P.O. Box 68272, Harrisburg, PA 17106-8272.

Do You Need a Police Report for a Stolen Pennsylvania Learner's Permit?

PennDOT's DL-31 replacement instructions do not list a police report as a requirement for the duplicate permit. You may still choose to report a theft separately for identity-protection reasons.

How Do You Replace a Pennsylvania Learner's Permit That Is Damaged or Unreadable?

Use the same DL-31 replacement process. PennDOT specifically allows a replacement when a learner's permit is lost, stolen, damaged, or never received.

Replacement Methods and Processing Time at Pennsylvania PennDOT

Choose between in-person or mail-in replacement based on how quickly you need the permit. In-person gives you instant results, while mail requires patience.

Find your nearest Driver License Center location on the PennDOT Driver Services page. All centers now accept credit and debit cards, so you're not limited to checks or money orders anymore.

Complete Pennsylvania permit details are on the Pennsylvania permit guide.

Replacing a learner's permit does not upgrade it to REAL ID. REAL ID is a separate driver's-license or photo-ID application; see the REAL ID requirements page.

What if You Lose Your Pennsylvania Learner's Permit While Out of State?

You can send DL-31 and the required payment by mail if you cannot visit a Pennsylvania Driver License Center. Confirm the delivery address with PennDOT: an out-of-state address requires an eligible exception. Mailed permits arrive within seven to ten working days after processing.

Does a Replacement Learner's Permit Get a New Expiration Date or Permit Number?

The replacement is valid for the remaining period of the original permit, so the expiration date does not restart. PennDOT's public duplicate-permit page does not state whether the printed permit number changes, so do not assume it will stay the same.

Can You Legally Drive While Waiting for a Pennsylvania Permit Replacement?

A replacement request does not make a phone photo or photocopy of the permit a substitute for the required physical learner's permit. If you do not have the permit with you, use the dedicated forgot-permit guidance for the driving consequences and next steps.

Common Lost, Stolen, and Replacement Permit Scenarios

These examples show common Pennsylvania learner's permit replacement problems and how to avoid them.

• A student in West Philly had their wallet stolen. They filed a police report for identity theft protection, then went to the PennDOT Center on Domino Lane with a birth certificate and a money order. Because they had all documents, they got their duplicate driving permit in 20 minutes.
• An applicant from Squirrel Hill mailed Form DL-31 but forgot the notary seal on their parent's signature. PennDOT mailed the entire packet back two weeks later, rejecting it. They had to get it notarized correctly and resend it, adding over 15 days to the wait.
• Someone finds a lost permit after it has expired. A duplicate does not renew its validity; an expired permit needs the DL-31 extension process. A new DL-180 and knowledge test are required if the road test has not been completed within three years of the physical examination date.

What Should You Do if You Find Your Old Permit After PennDOT Issues a Replacement?

Do not rely on the recovered copy once a duplicate has been issued. Keep and use the current PennDOT-issued replacement, and contact PennDOT if you need instructions for disposing of or returning the old document.

Completing Form DL-31 for a Replacement Permit

Replace a lost Pennsylvania learner's permit by filing Form DL-31 in person at any PennDOT Driver License Center. The replacement fee is $6.00. Form DL-31 has specific requirements that cause rejections if missed. Get these right the first time to avoid delays.

• Fee: Include a $6.00 check or money order. The fee is waived only if you check 'Never Received' and apply within 90 days of the original issue.
• Parental Consent: Applicants under 18 need Section E completed by a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse age 18 or older.
• Notarization: DL-31 Section D is required when the applicant is under 18 or the permit was never received. Mailing an ordinary replacement application does not, by itself, make notarization mandatory for an adult.
• Use blue or black ink and press firmly when signing. Applications from the Scranton center are often rejected for faint signatures that don't scan, forcing a resubmission.

A replacement does not extend an expired permit. See Permit Validity & Renewal in the Pennsylvania eligibility guide for the extension process and the three-year physical-examination limit.