Getting your license renewed is generally a pretty simple procedure. The state reviews your driving record, and if you don’t have suspensions or revocations, your new license will be issued. Most states require renewal applicants to appear in person and to pass a vision test — though some allow renewal electronically or by mail. The significant differences are the length of time between renewals, ranging from 2 to 10 years. In addition, many have provisions designed to guarantee that older adults continue to meet license requirements.
Renewal procedures for older drivers, typically between ages 65 to 70 and older, vary by state. Some states require elder drivers to renew their licenses in person rather than electronically or by mail. They may even require them to take vision and road tests that are not routinely required of younger drivers. These special renewal procedures for older drivers can apply in addition to the license renewal procedures that exist in all states for dealing with licensed drivers of any age who no longer meet the standards for licensure because of physical or mental infirmities.
Too old to drive?
If a person’s continued fitness to drive is in doubt (due to the person’s demeanor at renewal or because of a history of crashes or violations and reports by physicians or police), state licensing agencies may require renewal applicants to undergo physical or mental examinations or retake the standard licensing tests (vision, written and road). In cases of doubt, states typically have medical review boards composed of health care professionals who advise on licensing standards and on individual cases. Of course, no matter what age you are, a bad driving record will lead to a high car insurance quote.
After reviewing a person’s fitness to drive, the DMV may allow the person to retain the license or it may refuse to renew it. It can also suspend, revoke or restrict the license. Typical restrictions include prohibiting nighttime driving, requiring the vehicle to have additional mirrors, restricting driving to specified places or limiting how far an older person can drive from home.
The following chart indicates for the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia the periods for which licenses can be renewed, vision test requirements and method of renewal available for older drivers.
State | Renewal cycle for older drivers | Proof of adequate vision required for older drivers | Mail or online renewal for older drivers |
---|---|---|---|
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety | |||
Alabama | 4 years | No | No |
Alaska | 5 years | Every renewal for drivers 69 and older | Not available to drivers 69 and older |
Arizona | 5 years for people 65 and older | Every renewal | No |
Arkansas | 8 years | Every renewal | No |
California | 5 years | Every renewal for drivers 70 and older | Not available to drivers 70 and older |
Colorado | 5 years | Every renewal | By mail every other renewal for drivers 66 and over |
Connecticut | 2 or 6 years for people 65 and older (1) | Every renewal | No |
Delaware | 8 years | Every renewal | No |
District of Columbia | 8 years | Every renewal | Not available to drivers 70 and older. |
Florida | 6 years for people 80 and older | Every renewal for drivers 80 and older | Every other renewal |
Georgia | 6 years for people 80 and older | Every renewal for drivers 64 and older | Not available to drivers 65 and older |
Hawaii | 5 years for people 59 and older | Every renewal | By mail but limited to 2 consecutive renewals |
Idaho | 4 years for people 63 and older | Every renewal | Not available to drivers 70 and older |
Illinois | 2 years for drivers ages 81-86; 1 year for drivers 87 and older | Every renewal for drivers 75 and older | Not available to drivers 75 and older |
Indiana | 3 years for drivers 75-84; 2 years for drivers 85 and older
| Every renewal for drivers 75 and older
| Not available to drivers 75 and older |
Iowa | 2 years for drivers 72 and older | Every renewal for drivers 70 and older | Not available to drivers 70 and older |
Kansas | 4 years for drivers 65 and older | Every renewal | No |
Kentucky | 4 years | No | No |
Louisiana | 6 years | Every renewal for drivers 70 and older | Generally not available to drivers 70 and older (2) |
Maine | 4 years for drivers 65 and older | Every renewal for drivers 62 and older | Not available to drivers 62 and older |
Maryland | 8 years | Every renewal for drivers 40 and older | Every other renewal |
Massachusetts | 5 years | Every renewal for drivers 75 and older | Not available to drivers 75 and older |
Michigan | 4 years | When renewing in person | Every other renewal |
Minnesota | 4 years | Every renewal | No |
Mississippi | 4 or 8 years | No | Online for every other renewal |
Missouri | 3 years for drivers 70 and older | Every renewal | No |
Montana | 4 years for drivers 75 and older | Every renewal | Every other renewal (effective 1/01/17) |
Nebraska | 5 years | Every renewal for drivers 72 and older | Not available to drivers 72 and older |
Nevada | 4 years for drivers 65 and older | Every renewal for drivers 71 and older | Every other renewal for drivers 65 and older |
New Hampshire | 5 years | Every renewal | Online every other renewal |
New Jersey | 2 or 4 years for drivers 70 and older | Every 10 years | By mail unless new photo required (3) |
New Mexico | for years for drivers 67-74; annually for drivers 75 and older | Every renewal for drivers 75 and older | Not available for drivers 75 and older |
New York | 8 years | Every renewal | Both |
North Carolina | 5 years for drivers 66 and older | Every renewal | No |
North Dakota | 4 years for drivers 78 and older | Every renewal | No |
Ohio | 4 years | Every renewal | No |
Oklahoma | 4 years | No | No |
Oregon | 8 years | Every renewal for drivers 50 and older | No |
Pennsylvania | 2 or 4 years for drivers 65 and older | No | Both |
Rhode Island | 2 years for drivers 75 and older | Every renewal | Online every other renewal |
South Carolina | 5 years for drivers 65 and older | Every 5 years | By mail for 5 years, every other renewal |
South Dakota | 5 years | Every renewal for drivers 65 and older | Both every other renewal |
Tennessee | 8 years (effective 1/01/16) | No | Both |
Texas | 2 years for drivers 85 and older | Every renewal for drivers 79 and older | Not available to drivers 79 and older |
Utah | 5 years | Every renewal for drivers 65 and older | Online every other renewal |
Vermont | 2 or 4 years | No | By mail unless new photo required (4) |
Virginia | 5 years for drivers 75 and older | Every renewal for drivers 75 and older | Not available to drivers 75 and older |
Washington | 6 years | Every renewal | Not available to drivers 70 and older |
West Virginia | 8 years | Every renewal | No |
Wisconsin | 8 years | Every renewal | No |
Wyoming | 4 years | Every 8 years | By mail every other renewal |
(1) In Connecticut, people 65 and older may choose a 2-year or 6-year renewal cycle. A personal appearance at renewal generally is required. Upon a showing of hardship, people age 65 and older may renew by mail.
(2) In Louisiana, a driver age 70 and older can renew by mail or online if they have been medically diagnosed with a disability that precludes them from renewing in person. The driver must submit a sworn affidavit by a physician certifying that the driver possesses all cognitive functions reasonably necessary to be a prudent driver.
(3) New Jersey law states that a stored picture cannot be used for a period exceeding four additional years.
(4) Vermont law states that a driver is required to update their photo “no less often than once every eight years.”