Mature Driver Laws
More and more Americans are outliving their ability to drive safely. As a result of impairments in three functions that are important for driving – vision, cognition and motor function – older drivers have a higher crash risk than middle aged adults.
To address this issue, many states have have enacted laws that contain specific licensing requirements for older drivers.
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33 States and the District of Columbia have special provisions for mature drivers. These include:
- Accelerated renewal frequency;
- Restriction of online or mailed renewals;
- Vistion test;
- Road test; or
- Reduced or waived renewal fees.
| State | Length of Regular Renewal Cycle (Yrs.) | Provisions for Mature Drivers |
| Alabama | 4 | |
| Alaska | 5 | >69: no mail renewal |
| Arizona | Until age 65 | >65: renewal every 5 yrs.,mail renewal requires passage of vision exam within the prior 3 months >70: no mail renewal |
| Arkansas | 4 | |
| California | 5 | >70: no mail renewal |
| Colorado | 10 | >61: renewal every
5 yrs. >66: no electronic renewal, mail renewal requires passage of vision exam within the prior 6 months |
| Connecticut | Choice of 4 or 6 | >65: choice of 2- or 6-year renewal, mail renewal requires demonstration of hardship |
| Delaware | 5 | |
| D.C. | 5 | >70: vision test, possible reaction test, and physician's letter |
| Florida | 8 | >80: renewal every 6 yrs. with vision test (in person or physician's letter if renewing by mail or electronically) |
| Georgia | Choice of 5 or 10; veterans valid until 65 yrs. | >60: renewal every 5 yrs. >64: vision test |
| Hawaii | 8 | >72: renewal every 2 yrs. |
| Idaho | Choice of 4 or 8 for drivers ages 21-62 | >63: renewal every 4 yrs. |
| Illinois | 4 | >81-86: renewal every
2 yrs. >87: renewal every year >75: road test |
| Indiana | 6 | 75-84: renewal every 3 yrs. >85: renewal every 2 yrs. >70: no electronic or mail renewal |
| Iowa | 5 | >70: renewal every 2 yrs. |
| Kansas | 6 | >65: renewal every 4 yrs. |
| Kentucky | 4 | |
| Louisiana | 4 | >70: no mail renewal |
| Maine | 6 | >65: renewal every 4 yrs. 40-61: vision test at every other renewal >62: vision test at every renewal |
| Maryland | 5 | >40: vision test |
| Massachusetts | 5 | >75: renewal in person only |
| Michigan | 4 | |
| Minnesota | 4 | |
| Mississippi | Choice of 4 or 8 | |
| Missouri | 6 | >70: renewal every 3 yrs. |
| Montana | 8 (or 4 by mail) | >75: renewal every 4 yrs. |
| Nebraska | 5 | >72: no electronic renewal |
| Nevada | 4 | >70: mail renewal must include medical report |
| New Hampshire | 5 | >75: road test |
| New Jersey | 4 | |
| New Mexico | Choice of 4 or 8 | >75: renewal every year |
| New York | 8 | |
| North Carolina | 8 | >66: renewal every 5 yrs. >60: parallel parking not required on road test |
| North Dakota | 6 | >78: renewal every 4 yrs. |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 3 | |
| Ohio | 4 | |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 62-64: fee reduced >65: fee waived |
| Oregon | 8 | >50: vision test |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | |
| Rhode Island | 5 | >75: renewal every 2 yrs. |
| South Carolina | 10 | >65: renewal and vision test every 5 yrs. |
| South Dakota | 5 | |
| Tennessee | 5 | >60: fee reduced >65: no expiration |
| Texas | 6 | >85: renewal every 2 yrs. >79: no electronic or mail renewal |
| Utah | 5 | >65: vision test |
| Vermont | 4 | |
| Virginia | 8 | >80: vision test |
| Washington | 5 | |
| West Virginia | 5 | |
| Wisconsin | 8 | |
| Wyoming | 4 | |
| Total States | Yrs. (# of States) 3 (Northern Mariana Islands) 4 (14) 5 (14 + D.C.) 6 (6) 8 (7) 10 (2) Until age 65 (1) Drivers' choice (5) Varies by method (1) |
33 States + D.C |
Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general information purposes only and is not to be considered legal authority. For clarification on any law, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.