Driving laws for older drivers by state

If you’re an older driver, you may be nervous about whether you’ll have to give up your driver’s license at a certain age. Of if you have an older driver in your family, you might wonder, “Is there a maximum driving age?” Driving laws are different in every state. However, there are no states that require older drivers to surrender their license because of their age.

To simplify things, we’ve compiled a list of some elderly driving laws by state, including how often you must renew your license and whether you’re required to take vision or written tests to maintain your driving privileges.

Tips for older drivers renewing a driver’s license:

1. Find your state in the list.
2. Visit the website for your local motor vehicles department to learn about the current senior citizen driving laws for your state.
3. Review your state’s driver’s handbook to refresh your memory on the driving laws.
4. Be prepared to take a written knowledge test or a driving test if required before you can renew your license.

Elderly driving laws by state

Alabama:

• Renew license every four years
• Vision test requirement: None
• Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal

Alaska:

• Renew license every five years
• Vision test requirement: Age 69 and older every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted 69 and older

Arizona:

• Renew license every five years for 65 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: No

Arkansas:

• Renew license every four or eight years for 70 and older (personal choice)
• Vision test requirement: Every other renewal for all drivers
• Mail or online renewal availability: No

California:

• Renew license every five years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 70 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older

Colorado:

• Renew license every five years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both if photograph is newer than 16 years

Colorado has a special page on their website to answer questions about their senior citizen driving laws for drivers over age 65.

Connecticut:

• Renew license every two years permitted for 65 and older (personal choice)
• Vision test requirement: None
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both, every other renewal

District of Columbia:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted 70 and older

Delaware:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: No

Florida:

• Renew license every six years for 80 and older
• Vision test requirement: 80 and older, every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal

Georgia:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal

Hawaii:

• Renew license every four years for ages 72–79. Drivers 80 and older renew every two years.
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: By mail, limited to two consecutive renewals. Must appear in person at least every 16 years.

Idaho:

• Renew license every four years for 63 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older

Illinois:

• Renew license every two years for 81–86; every year for 87 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 75 and older

Indiana:

• Renew license every three years for 75–84; every two years for 85 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal

Iowa:

• Renew license every two years for 78 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 70 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older

Kansas:

• Renew license every four years for 65 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 65 and older

Kentucky:

• Renew license every four or eight years (personal choice)
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both if photograph is newer than 16 years

Louisiana:

• Renew license every six years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 70 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older

Maine:

• Renew license every four years for 65 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 62 and older
• Mail or online renewal: Not permitted for 62 and older

Maryland:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 40 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both if photograph is newer than 16 years

Massachusetts:

• Renew license every five years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 75 and older

Michigan:

• Renew license every four years
• Vision test requirement: When renewing in person
• Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal

Minnesota:

• Renew license every four years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: No

Mississippi:

• Renew license every four or eight years (personal choice)
• Vision test requirement: No
• Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal

Missouri:

• Renew license every three years for 70 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: No

Montana:

• Renew license every four years for 75 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal

Nebraska:

• Renew license every five years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 72 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: 72 and older not permitted

Nevada:

• Renew license every four years for 65 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 71 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal for 65 and older

New Hampshire:

• Renew license every five years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal

New Jersey:

• Renew license every two or four years for 70 and older (personal choice)
• Vision test requirement: Every 10 years
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both, unless new photo required

New Mexico:

• Renew license every four years for 71–78; every year for 79 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: 75 and older not permitted

New York:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both

North Carolina:

• Renew license every five years for 66 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Online every renewal

North Dakota:

• Renew license every four years for 78 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: 70 and older not permitted

Ohio:

• Renew license every four years for 65 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 65 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: 65 and older not permitted

Oklahoma:

• Renew license every four or eight years (personal choice)
• Vision test requirement: No
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both every other renewal

Oregon:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: 50 and older if renewing in person
• Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal

Pennsylvania:

• Renew license every two or four years for 65 and older (personal choice)
• Vision test requirement: No
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both

Rhode Island:

• Renew license every two years for 75 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal: online every other renewal

South Carolina:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both

South Dakota:

• Renew license every five years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 65 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both, every other renewal

Tennessee:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: No
• Mail or online renewal availability: Both

Texas:

• Renew license every two years for 85 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 79 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 79 and older

Utah:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 65 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal

Vermont:

• Renew license every two or four years
• Vision test requirement: No
• Mail or online renewal availability: By mail unless new photo required

Virginia:

• Renew license every five years for 75 and older
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 75 and older

Washington:

• Renew license every six or eight years (personal choice)
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older

West Virginia:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: Online, every other renewal

Wisconsin:

• Renew license every eight years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: No

Wyoming:

• Renew license every five years
• Vision test requirement: Every renewal
• Mail or online renewal availability: By mail every renewal

This information on senior driving laws comes from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and from the individual state motor vehicles division websites and is current as of April 2023.

If you’re an older driver looking to renew your driver’s license, it may also be time to consider your options regarding car insurance for seniors. We also have information about car insurance requirements for every state.