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.
-
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.
NOTE: GHSA does not compile any additional data on mature driver laws other than what is presented here. For more information, consult the appropriate State Highway Safety Office.
| 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.