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
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Wyoming
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

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
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: no electronic renewal

Washington
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 or 8 years

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
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Tennessee
Provisions for Mature Drivers

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

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
Provisions for Mature Drivers

75 and over: renewal every 2 years

Rhode Island
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 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
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

3 years

Northern Mariana Islands
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

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
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

New York
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

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
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

Nebraska
Provisions for Mature Drivers

72 and over: no electronic renewal

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
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Mississippi
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

Choice of 4 or 8 years

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
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 years

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

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
Provisions for Mature Drivers

65 and over: renewal every 4 years

Kansas
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

6 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
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

Hawaii
Provisions for Mature Drivers

80 and over: renewal every 2 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
Provisions for Mature Drivers

70 and over: no electronic renewal; medical certification required

District of Columbia
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

5 years

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
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

8 years

Arkansas
Provisions for Mature Drivers

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

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
Provisions for Mature Drivers

None

Alabama
Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

4 years

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