Driver's License and Photo Centers in Berks County

Berks County has two PennDOT driver license centers, one in Shillington and one in Exeter Township, where you can renew or replace a license, get a photo ID card, take a driver's test, or apply for a REAL ID. Both are open Tuesday through Saturday, photo service is walk-in, and driver tests need an appointment.

These are state offices run by PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, not the county. The county has no role in licensing drivers. Our guide to how Berks County government works explains which services the state handles and which the county and your township do.

Where the two centers are

Both Berks centers keep the same hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. They are closed Sunday and Monday and on state holidays.

Reading (Shillington): Shillington Shopping Center, 530 East Lancaster Ave., Suite 5, Shillington, PA 19607.

Exeter Township: 4375 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, PA 19606.

Locations and hours can change. Confirm the nearest center and its current hours with the PennDOT locator at pa.gov/agencies/dmv/find-a-location.

What you can do there

Both Berks sites are full driver license centers, not photo-only stops, so between them they cover the range of driver services:

• New driver's licenses and photo ID cards
• License and ID renewals and replacements
• Transfers of an out-of-state license
• Knowledge (written) tests and non-commercial road tests, by appointment
• REAL ID applications

You can apply for a REAL ID at either center, but the card is mailed to you rather than handed over the counter. A photo, whether for a renewal or a new card, is walk-in: PennDOT does not take photo appointments. A driver's test is different. Schedule it ahead at dmv.pa.gov or by calling 1-800-423-5542.

What to bring

For a photo, PennDOT asks you to bring your signed temporary license or renewal document plus one other form of identification that has your signature on it. Acceptable signature ID includes:

• A Pennsylvania driver's license or photo ID card
• A photo ID such as a military, bank, employee, school, or out-of-state license
• A passport, or citizenship or naturalization papers, or a weapons permit
• A non-photo item such as a voter registration card, Medicare card, PA learner's permit, or vehicle registration

A REAL ID or a first-time license requires more documents, such as proof of identity, your Social Security card, and proof of Pennsylvania residency. Check the exact list on dmv.pa.gov before you go, because a missing document means a second trip.

You may not need to visit at all

Many transactions do not require a trip to a center. At dmv.pa.gov you can renew a license or ID, change your address, order a replacement, and get a driver record online. A new photo, when one is required, has to be taken in person, and if you are pre-verified you can apply for a REAL ID online and get it in the mail.

Best times to go

Lines are longest on the first two and last two days of each month, when renewals cluster. Any other day tends to move faster. Getting there when the doors open at 8:30 a.m. also helps.

FAQ

Where is the closest PennDOT license center in Berks County?

There are two: the Shillington center at 530 East Lancaster Ave., Suite 5, in the Shillington Shopping Center, and the Exeter Township center at 4375 Perkiomen Ave., Reading. Both are open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Do I need an appointment to renew my license or get a photo?

No. Photo and renewal service is walk-in, and PennDOT does not offer photo appointments. Only driver's tests, written and road, need to be scheduled in advance.

Can I renew my driver's license online instead of going in?

Yes, in most cases. A standard renewal that does not require a new photo can be done at dmv.pa.gov. You still have to visit a center in person for a first-time license, a REAL ID (unless pre-verified), or when PennDOT requires a new photo.

How do I schedule a driver's test in Berks County?

Schedule the knowledge test or road test at dmv.pa.gov or by calling 1-800-423-5542. Both Berks centers give tests; the photo counter is separate and does not take appointments.

Are these county offices?

No. Driver and vehicle services are run by PennDOT, a state agency. The county does not license drivers. For questions about a center, call PennDOT at 717-412-5300 (TDD users dial 711).

Sources and contact

• PennDOT Driver License Center Location Flyer (DL-105LF) for the Berks locations and hours
• PennDOT Find a Location locator and service list
• dmv.pa.gov for online services and test scheduling

PennDOT Driver License Center information: 717-412-5300; test scheduling 1-800-423-5542.

Riders who cannot drive to a center can get there on the BARTA bus or by BARTA shared ride and paratransit. To report a pothole or a road-sign problem once you are driving, our guide to reporting a road problem sorts out county, PennDOT, and township roads.