Your parent's next license renewal may not look like the last one. Massachusetts requires drivers 75 and older to renew in person at a registry branch. Hawaii issues a four-year license from age 72 and a two-year license from 80, instead of eight years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says some state departments of motor vehicles place restrictions on drivers once they reach a certain age. This guide sets out the license renewal rules for older drivers we have verified by state, each tied to the statute or licensing-agency page it comes from, so you can see what the next renewal will ask of your parent.

In This Guide

What Can Change at Renewal as a Driver Gets Older

The age-linked rules in our table fall into five kinds, and the age a rule starts varies widely: Maryland's vision check begins at 40.

Connecticut and Pennsylvania offer an option rather than a requirement: both let drivers 65 and older choose a two-year license., Oklahoma's row is a fee rule: Service Oklahoma says residents 65 and older can get a driver license free, for new licenses and renewals (commercial licenses excluded).

License Renewal Rules for Older Drivers by State

The table lists each verified state's rule at the age it starts. New York and Michigan appear with their standard rule, the one every renewing driver in those states follows, because that is what we have verified for them.

State Starting age What changes at renewal
Arizona 65 A standard license generally runs to the 65th birthday; the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) says most drivers then renew every five years
California 70 No renewal by mail; the DMV says drivers 70+ renew in person every five years
Colorado 80 Online renewal needs an eye doctor's form (DR 2498) for an exam within 6 months, plus DMV approval; in person, staff give a basic eye exam
Connecticut 65 Optional two-year license
District of Columbia 70 A licensed medical practitioner must complete a fitness-to-drive certification
Florida 80 License runs 6 years instead of 8; vision test required to renew
Georgia 64 Vision screening at each renewal; online renewal needs a vision report form or eye exam from the last two years
Hawaii 72 and 80 4-year license from 72 to 79, 2-year license from 80 (8 years otherwise)
Idaho 63 4-year license only; the 8-year option is limited to ages 21 to 62
Illinois 79, 81 and 87 In person from 79; 2-year license from 81; 1-year license and a driving test from 87
Indiana 75 and 85 3-year license from 75, 2-year from 85 (6 years otherwise); renew at a branch unless they submit an eye doctor's vision screening and renew within 30 days of it
Iowa 72 and 78 License term shortens year by year from 72; 2-year license from 78
Kansas 65 4-year license instead of 6 (an eyesight exam is part of every Kansas renewal, at any age)
Louisiana 70 No online renewal; mail renewal only with a diagnosed disability, plus a physician's sworn affidavit on cognitive function
Maine 62 Vision screening at every renewal from 62 (it starts at 40 on a less frequent schedule)
Maryland 40 Vision test, or an eye doctor's certification from an exam within 2 years, to renew
Massachusetts 75 Renew in person; pass the registry vision test or bring an eye doctor's certificate
Michigan Standard rule License runs 4 years; most drivers visit an office every 12 years, with a vision test and new photo at that visit
Missouri 70 3-year license instead of 6
Montana 75 4-year license instead of up to 12
Nebraska 72 No online renewal for a license expiring on or after the 72nd birthday
Nevada 65 and 71 4-year license from 65 (8 years otherwise); from 71, no online renewal, and mail renewal needs a doctor's statement and vision report
New Mexico 79 1-year license, renewed every year, no fee
New York Standard rule Renewal runs 8 years; every renewing driver must pass a vision test (at the DMV or through an approved provider)
North Carolina 66 5-year license instead of 8
North Dakota 70 and 78 No online renewal from 70; 4-year license cycle from 78 (6 years otherwise)
Ohio 65 4-year license only (no 8-year option); no online renewal
Oklahoma 65 License and renewals are free (not commercial licenses)
Oregon 65 Renew in person, with a DMV vision test or a Certificate of Vision
Pennsylvania 65 Optional two-year license (about four years otherwise)
Rhode Island 75 2-year license instead of 5
South Dakota 65 Renewing by mail or online needs a vision statement from an eye doctor
Texas 79 and 85 Renew in person with a vision exam from 79; 2-year license from 85
Utah 65 Must pass an eye exam to renew
Virginia 75 Renew in person with a vision screening or recent eye doctor report; license runs at most 5 years
Washington 70 Renew in person; no online or phone renewal

Where Each Row Comes From

Each row rests on the state's own statute, its licensing agency, or both. States are listed alphabetically.

States Where the Details Matter Most

Illinois changed its rules on July 1, 2026

Illinois' Road Safety and Fairness Act (Public Act 104-169) took effect July 1, 2026. Under it, every Illinois driver renewing at 79 or older must renew in person, and every driver 87 or older must pass a behind-the-wheel driving test. The Illinois Secretary of State says drivers ages 79 to 86 no longer take a routine driving test based on age alone, but they still renew in person, pass a vision test and, depending on their driving record, may have to take a written test. One timing rule catches families out: an Illinois driver whose license expired before July 1, 2026 and who renews after that date must still take the driving test if they are between 79 and 86.

The license term also shortens. Under 625 ILCS 5/6-115(g), an Illinois license issued to a driver 81 through 86 expires 2 years from issuance, and one issued at 87 or older expires 12 months from issuance. The Secretary of State's own summary table lists ages 81 to 86 as every four years, which conflicts with the statute; we follow the statute.

Texas: in person from 79

The Texas Department of Public Safety says drivers 79 and older must renew in person at a driver license office and pass the vision exam, and a specialist reviews the application's medical history to decide whether any more testing is required. Texas drivers 85 and older receive a 2-year license.

Florida: a vision test at 80, online or in person

A Florida driver 80 or older must pass a vision test to renew, either at a driver license office or, for an online renewal, from a Florida-licensed physician or optometrist who sends the results to the state in advance. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) says the vision test at a driver license service center carries no additional charge.

Nevada: two birthdays to watch

A Nevada license issued at 65 or older expires on the fourth anniversary of the licensee's birthday. From 71, a Nevada driver who wants to renew by mail must also send a licensed physician's statement that they can drive safely and a vision report, and the Nevada DMV says drivers 71 and older can't renew online.

District of Columbia: a practitioner's certification at 70

DC DMV says a driver 70 or older may renew in person or online if eligible, and either way a licensed medical practitioner completes the Mature Driver Fitness to Drive Certification: on the separate form for an online renewal, or on the license application for an in-person one.

State Not Listed? What That Means

If your parent's state isn't in the table, we have not yet verified that state's license renewal rules for older drivers. That is all it means. It does not mean the state has no age-linked rule, and you shouldn't plan around that assumption. Check the state's driver licensing agency directly: search its own .gov site for "renew" plus "mature driver" or "senior driver," and read the renewal notice the agency mails, which is usually the most specific source for one driver's next renewal. NHTSA's guidance points the same way: find out whether your state defines older drivers at a certain age and what that means for renewal, restrictions and tests.

What Families Can Do Before the Renewal Date

  1. Find the expiration date and the renewal notice. In California, the DMV says the renewal notice tells a driver 70 or older whether a knowledge test is required.
  2. Check whether online renewal is still an option. Online license renewal ends at a set birthday in some states, so a parent who has always renewed online may need an office visit this time. The table above shows which verified states end it, and at what age.,
  3. Book the eye exam early, and bring the right form. Several states accept an eye doctor's report instead of the office test, and some put a time limit on it. Oregon's Certificate of Vision must reflect a test within the previous six months, Colorado's Form DR 2498 an exam within 6 months, and Virginia's vision report an exam within 90 days.,, New York accepts a Vision Test Report (MV-619) from an approved provider so the license can be renewed online or by mail.
  4. Plan the trip if renewal is in person. If your parent no longer drives comfortably to an office, our guide to senior transportation covers ride options.
  5. Use the renewal as an opening to talk. A renewal date can be a natural moment to raise driving. Our guide to when an older adult should stop driving covers the warning signs and how to have that conversation, and if you're worried a parent is unsafe now, here is how to report an unsafe older driver to the DMV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an age when you have to stop driving?

The National Institute on Aging says "there is not one recommended age to quit driving," and NHTSA says decisions about your ability to drive "should never be based on age alone." That is guidance about judging one driver, not a summary of state law, so check the table and your state's licensing agency for what renewal asks at your parent's age. Whether an older adult should keep driving is a separate question, covered in our guide to when to stop driving.

Do older drivers have to take a road test to renew?

In Illinois, yes, from 87. Illinois drivers 79 to 86 no longer take a routine driving test based on age alone, though they still renew in person. In Texas, a specialist reviews a 79-plus driver's medical history at the office visit to decide whether more testing is needed. Check your own state's renewal notice for any test it names.

Can older drivers renew their license online?

In some states, yes, if they bring an eye doctor's paperwork. Colorado lets drivers 80 and older renew online if they upload an eye doctor's form, and the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) lets drivers 75 and older renew online within 30 days of a vision screening by an ophthalmologist or optometrist., Other states end online renewal at a set birthday; the table shows where.

Do seniors pay less to renew a driver's license?

In some states, yes. Service Oklahoma says residents 65 and older can get a driver license free, and New Mexico's Motor Vehicle Division says applicants 79 and older receive a one-year license with no fee charged.,

Learn More

CaregiverWhen Should an Older Adult Stop Driving? How to Know and What to DoThere's no set age to stop driving. The warning signs it may be time, how to have the conversation, dementia and driving, and how to stay mobile after. CaregiverHow to Report an Unsafe Older Driver to the DMVIn almost every state you can report an unsafe elderly driver to the DMV in writing. What to include, what happens next, and whether your parent will know. CaregiverSenior Transportation: How to Get Around When You No Longer DriveSenior transportation options when an older adult stops driving: aging-network rides, ADA paratransit, Medicaid medical rides, and how to pick the right one. CaregiverUnderstanding the Stages of Dementia: What to Expect as a CaregiverA caregiver's guide to the stages of dementia: mild, moderate, and severe, what changes at each stage, the signs of each transition, and how to plan ahead.

Find personalized help planning for a parent's driving and transportation at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.