Even more depressing was the trip home after last week’s unsettling incident. Zelda’s sister, responding to Zelda’s frantic phone call, came to pick us up in her sporty two-door sedan. I managed to climb into the back seat — not easy with two hip replacements and two knees that should have been replaced long ago but never were — but when we arrived at my home, I could not get out of the car. In order for what’s left of my knees to support me, I have to stand straight, perpendicular to the floor. Not an option in the seriously restricted space in that back seat. I twisted, turned, squirmed… I thought we would have to call for the jaws of life to extricate me!
After at least twenty minutes of this bizarre ballet, I finally managed to propel myself out, cursing myself for never having had knee replacements, momentarily forgetting my driving dilemma.
Shakespeare was wrong, by the way. “To be or not to be?” is not the question — especially for a Catholic, like me, for whom “not to be” — i.e., suicide — is not an option. No, the real question is “To drive or not to drive?”
If I can hold out until self-driving cars are readily available, that could solve my problem. Hurry up, technology!
©2018 Rose Madeline Mula for SeniorWomen.com
License renewal procedures, From the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Older Drivers, License Renewal Procedures; Updated October 2018
License renewal procedures vary from state to state but tend to follow the same pattern. Initial applicants are generally required to provide proof of identity and take vision, written and road tests. For renewal, an applicant is typically checked for suspensions or revocations and in most states is required to take a vision test or provide evidence of one.
In recent years, many states have lengthened the renewal cycle for the general population and given license holders the opportunity to renew online or by mail. These changes reduce administrative costs in addition to making the process more convenient for the public.
In 18 states, there are shorter renewal periods required for drivers older than a specified age. Eighteen states require more frequent vision screening/testing for older drivers. In those states that allow drivers to renew their licenses by mail or online, 16 states and the District of Columbia do not allow this option for older drivers. Colorado limits drivers 66 and older to renewing only by mail every other renewal cycle while drivers under age 66 can renew by mail or online up to 2 consecutive renewals. In addition, the District of Columbia requires a physician's approval for drivers 70 and older to renew their licenses. Illinois requires applicants older than 75 to take a road test at every renewal.
The table below provides the length of time for which licenses can be renewed, renewal methods and vision certification requirements for the general population and the older driver population in each state and the District of Columbia. The information is compiled from state codes and supplemented when necessary with information from regulations, official websites, or communications with licensing agencies. The table does not encompass exceptions to license renewal requirements such as for military personnel who are deployed overseas.
In addition to age-specific requirements, licensing agencies have the authority to go beyond the standard procedures if they have doubts about any person's fitness to drive. If a person's appearance or demeanor at renewal raises concerns or there is a history of crashes or violations or reports by physicians, police or others, state licensing agencies may require renewal applicants to undergo physical or cognitive exams or to retake the standard licensing tests (vision, written or road). Many states also have medical review boards composed of health care professionals. The boards advise on licensing standards in general and on the licensing of individual drivers.
After reviewing a person's fitness to drive, the licensing agency may renew, remove, or restrict the license. Typical restrictions prohibit nighttime driving or limit driving to specified places or within a specific radius from the driver's home. Licensing agencies also have the authority to shorten the renewal cycle for individual license holders.
| State | License renewal cycle | Proof of adequate vision required at renewal | Mail or online renewal permitted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General population | Older population | General population | Older population | General population | Older population | |
| State | License renewal cycle | Proof of adequate vision required at renewal | Mail or online renewal permitted | |||
| General population | Older population | General population | Older population | General population | Older population | |
| Alabama | 4 years | 4 years | no | no | online, every other renewal | online, every other renewal |
| Alaska | 5 years | 5 years | when renewing in person | 69 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal | not permitted 69 and older |
| Arizona | 12 years | 5 years for people 65 and older | every renewal | every renewal | no | no |
| Arkansas | 8 years | 4 or 8 years for people 70 and older, personal option | every renewal | every renewal | no | no |
| California | 5 years | 5 years | when renewing in person | 70 and older, every renewal | both, limited to 2 consecutive renewals | not permitted 70 and older |
| Colorado | 5 years | 5 years | every renewal | every renewal | both, limited to 2 consecutive renewals online or every other renewal by mail | by mail, every other renewal for people 66 and older |
| Connecticut | 6 years | 2 years or 6 years for people 65 and older, personal option | no | no | no1 | no1 |
| Delaware | 8 years | 8 years | every renewal | every renewal | no | no |
| District of Columbia | 8 years | 8 years | every renewal | every renewal | both, every other renewal | not permitted 70 and older |
| Florida | 8 years | 6 years for people 80 and older | when renewing in person | 80 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal | both, every other renewal |
| Georgia | 8 years | 8 years | every renewal | every renewal | online, every other renewal | not permitted 64 and older |
| Hawaii | 8 years | 2 years for people 72 and older | every renewal | every renewal | by mail, limited to 2 consecutive renewals, but must appear in person at least every 16 years | by mail, limited to 2 consecutive renewals, but must appear in person at least every 16 years |
| Idaho | 4 or 8 years, personal option | 4 years for people 63 and older | every renewal | every renewal | by mail, every other renewal; must choose 4-year license | not permitted 70 and older |
| Illinois | 4 years | 2 years for people 81 - 86; 1 year for people 87 and older | when renewing in person | 75 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal | not permitted 75 and older |
| Indiana | 6 years | 3 years for people 75-84: 2 years for people 85 and older | when renewing in person | 75 and older, every renewal | online, every other renewal | not permitted 75 and older |
| Iowa | 8 years or 74th birthday, whichever occurs first2 | 2 years for people 72 and older | when renewing in person | 70 and older, every renewal | online, every other renewal | not permitted 70 and older |
| Kansas | 6 years | 4 years for people 65 and older | every renewal | every renewal | no1 | no1 |
| Kentucky | 8 years3 (effective 01/01/19) | 8 years3 (effective 01/01/19) | no | no | no1 | no1 |
| Louisiana | 6 years | 6 years | when renewing in person | 70 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal | not permitted 70 and older4 |
| Maine | 6 years | 4 years for people 65 and older | first renewal after 40 and every other renewal until 62 | 62 and older, every renewal | both, unless proof of vision required | not permitted 62 and older |
| Maryland | 8 years | 8 years | when renewing in person | 40 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal | both, every other renewal |
| Massachusetts | 5 years | 5 years | when renewing in person | 75 and older, every renewal | online, every other renewal | not permitted 75 and older |
| Michigan | 4 years | 4 years | when renewing in person | when renewing in person | both, every other renewal | both, every other renewal |
| Minnesota | 4 years | 4 years | every renewal | every renewal | no | no |
| Mississippi | 4 or 8 years, personal option | 4 or 8 years, personal option | no | no | online, every other renewal | online, every other renewal |
| Missouri | 6 years | 3 years for people 70 and older | every renewal | every renewal | no | no |
| Montana | 8 years or 75th birthday, whichever occurs first | 4 years for people 75 and older | every renewal | every renewal | both, every other renewal | both, every other renewal |
| Nebraska | 5 years | 5 years | when renewing in person | 72 and older, every renewal | online, every other renewal | not permitted 72 and older |
| Nevada | 4 years (odd number birth years); 8 years (even number birth years); 8 years all licenses starting in 2018 | 4 years for people 65 and older | when renewing in person | 71 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal; available only for holders of a 4-year license | both, every other renewal for people 65 and older |
| New Hampshire | 5 years | 5 years | every renewal | every renewal | online, every other renewal | online, every other renewal |
| New Jersey | 4 years | 2 or 4 years for people 70 and older, personal option | every 10 years5 | every 10 years5 | by mail, unless new photo required6 | by mail, unless new photo required6 |
| New Mexico | 4 or 8 years, personal option | 4 years for people 67-74; 1 year for people 75 and older | when renewing in person | 75 and older, every renewal | online, every other renewal; by mail, unless new photo required | not permitted 75 and older |
| New York | 8 years | 8 years | every renewal | every renewal | both | both |
| North Carolina | 8 years | 5 years for people 66 and older | every renewal | every renewal | online, every other renewal | online, every other renewal |
| North Dakota | 6 years | 4 years for people 78 and older | every renewal | every renewal | both, every other renewal | not permitted 65 and older |
| Ohio | 4 years | 4 years | every renewal | every renewal | no | no |
| Oklahoma | 4 years | 4 years | no | no | no1 | no1 |
| Oregon | 8 years | 8 years | no | 50 and older, every renewal | no | no |
| Pennsylvania | 4 years | 2 years or 4 years for people 65 and older, personal option | no | no | both | both |
| Rhode Island | 5 years | 2 years for people 75 and older | every renewal | every renewal | online, every other renewal | online, every other renewal |
| South Carolina | 8 years | 8 years | every renewal | every renewal | both | both |
| South Dakota | 5 years | 5 years | when renewing in person | 65 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal | both, every other renewal |
| Tennessee | 8 years7 | 8 years7 | no | no | both | both |
| Texas | 6 years | 2 years for people 85 and older | when renewing in person | 79 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal | not permitted 79 and older |
| Utah | 5 years | 5 years | when renewing in person | 65 and older, every renewal | online, every other renewal | online, every other renewal |
| Vermont | 2 or 4 years | 2 or 4 years | no | no | by mail, unless new photo required8 | by mail, unless new photo required8 |
| Virginia | 8 years | 5 years for people 75 and older | when renewing in person | 75 and older, every renewal | both, every other renewal | not permitted 75 and older |
| Washington | 6 years | 6 years | every renewal | every renewal | both, every other renewal | not permitted 70 and older |
| West Virginia | 8 years | 8 years | every renewal | every renewal | online, every other renewal | online, every other renewal |
| Wisconsin | 8 years | 8 years | every renewal | every renewal | no | no |
| Wyoming | 4 years | 4 years | every 8 years | every 8 years | by mail, every other renewal | by mail, every other renewal |
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