Home Car insurance Senior drivers Licensing-renewal procedures for elderly drivers Licensing-renewal procedures for elderly drivers Written by: Penny Gusner Penny Gusner Penny is an expert on insurance procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has extensive knowledge of all major insurance lines -- auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. She has been answering consumers’ questions as an analyst for more than 15 years and has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including the Washington Post and Kiplinger’s. | Reviewed by: Michelle Megna Michelle Megna Michelle, the former editorial director, insurance, at QuinStreet, is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News. | Updated on November 12, 2015 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. 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 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 Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (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.” Penny GusnerContributor . .Penny is an expert on insurance procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has extensive knowledge of all major insurance lines -- auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. 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