Mature Drivers

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 state driver licensing laws have specific provisions for older drivers.

  • 37 States and the District of Columbia have special provisions for mature drivers. These include: accelerated renewal frequency; restriction of online or mailed renewals; vision 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.

Sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and State Highway Safety Offices.

Laws last reviewed by SHSOs in March 2023. Last updated January 2024.

Short Term Description
As a result of impairments in functions important for driving, older drivers have a higher crash risk than middle aged adults. To address this issue, many state driver licensing laws have specific provisions for older drivers.
Wyoming
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Wyoming
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Wisconsin
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Wisconsin
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

West Virginia
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

West Virginia
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Washington
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 or 8 years

Washington
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: no electronic renewal

Virginia
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Virginia
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75 and over: renewal every 5 years in person with vision test (in person or physician report)

Vermont
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

Choice of 2 or 4 years

Vermont
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Utah
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

Utah
Provisions for Mature Drivers

65 and over: vision test required

Texas
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 years

Texas
Provisions for Mature Drivers

85 and over: renewal every 2 years 79 and over: no electronic or mail renewal

Tennessee
Provisions for Mature Drivers

60 and over: fee reduced 65 and over: no expiration

Tennessee
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

South Dakota
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

South Dakota
Provisions for Mature Drivers

65 and over: vision statement required

South Carolina
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

10 years

South Carolina
Provisions for Mature Drivers

65 and over: renewal and vision test every 5 years

Rhode Island
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

Rhode Island
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75 and over: renewal every 2 years

Pennsylvania
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Pennsylvania
Provisions for Mature Drivers

65 and over: choice of 2- or 4-year renewal

Oregon
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Oregon
Provisions for Mature Drivers

50 and over: vision test required

Oklahoma
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Oklahoma
Provisions for Mature Drivers

62-64: renewal fee reduced 65 and over: renewal fee waived

Ohio
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Ohio
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Northern Mariana Islands
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Northern Mariana Islands
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

3 years

North Dakota
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 years

North Dakota
Provisions for Mature Drivers

78 and older: renew every 4 years

North Carolina
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

North Carolina
Provisions for Mature Drivers

66 and over: renewal every 5 years 60 and over: parallel parking not required on road test

New York
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

New York
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

New Mexico
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

Choice of 4 or 8 years

New Mexico
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75 and over: renewal every year

New Jersey
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

New Jersey
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

New Hampshire
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

New Hampshire
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75 and over: road test required

Nevada
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Nevada
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: mail renewal must include medical report

Nebraska
Provisions for Mature Drivers

72 and over: no electronic renewal

Nebraska
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

Montana
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years (or 4 years by mail)

Montana
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75 and over: renewal every 4 years

Missouri
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 years

Missouri
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: renewal every 3 years

Mississippi
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

Choice of 4 or 8 years

Mississippi
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Minnesota
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Minnesota
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Michigan
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Michigan
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Massachusetts
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

Massachusetts
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75 and over: renewal in person only

Maryland
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

Maryland
Provisions for Mature Drivers

40 and over: vision test required

Maine
Provisions for Mature Drivers

65 and over: renewal every 4 years 40-61: vision test at every other renewal 62 and over: vision test at every renewal

Maine
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 years

Louisiana
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 years

Louisiana
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: no mail renewal

Kentucky
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Kentucky
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Kansas
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 years

Kansas
Provisions for Mature Drivers

65 and over: renewal every 4 years

Iowa
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Iowa
Provisions for Mature Drivers

78 and over: renewal every 2 years

Indiana
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 years

Indiana
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75-84: renewal every 3 years 85 and over: renewal every 2 years 70 and over: no electronic or mail renewal

Illinois
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Illinois
Provisions for Mature Drivers

81-86: renewal every 2 years 87 and over: renewal every year 75 and over: road test required

Idaho
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

Choice of 4 or 8 years for drivers ages 21-62

Idaho
Provisions for Mature Drivers

63 and over: renewal every 4 years

Hawaii
Provisions for Mature Drivers

80 and over: renewal every 2 years

Hawaii
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Georgia
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

Choice of 5 or 10 years; veterans valid until 65 years old

Georgia
Provisions for Mature Drivers

60 and over: renewal every 5 years 64 and over: vision test required

Florida
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Florida
Provisions for Mature Drivers

80 and over: renewal every 6 years with vision test (in person or physician's letter if renewing by mail or electronically)

District of Columbia
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

District of Columbia
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: no electronic renewal; medical certification required

Delaware
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Delaware
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Connecticut
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

Choice of 4 or 6 years

Connecticut
Provisions for Mature Drivers

65 and over: choice of 2- or 6-year renewal, mail renewal requires demonstration of hardship

Colorado
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

10 years

Colorado
Provisions for Mature Drivers

80 and older: electronic renewal requires passage of vision exam within the prior 6 months

California
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

California
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: mail or online renewal through Dec. 31, 2022

Arkansas
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: choice of 4- or 8-year renewal

Arkansas
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Arizona
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

Until age 60

Arizona
Provisions for Mature Drivers

60 and over: renewal every 5 years, mail renewal requires passage of vision exam within the prior 3 months 70 and over: no mail renewal

Alaska
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

Alaska
Provisions for Mature Drivers

69 and over: no mail renewal

Alabama
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Alabama
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

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