Table 1 State driver licensing policies in effect on January 1 of selected years in relation to driver age, 46 U.S. states, 1986–2011

Renewal period

Driver age (years)

  40-54

4.1 (3–6)

4.2 (3–6)

4.5 (3–12)

5.3 (4–12)

5.5 (4–12)

5.7 (4–12)

  55-59

4.1 (3–6)

4.2 (3–6)

4.5 (3–12)

5.3 (4–12)

5.5 (4–12)

5.7 (4–12)

  60-64

4.1 (3–6)

4.2 (3–6)

4.3 (3–6)

5.3 (4–12)

5.4 (4–12)

5.6 (4–12)

  65-69

4.1 (2–6)

4.1 (2–6)

4.2 (2–6)

5.0 (4–8)

5.1 (4–8)

5.2 (4–8)

  70-74

3.9 (2–6)

4.0 (2–6)

4.1 (2–6)

4.7 (2–8)

4.8 (2–8)

5.0 (2–8)

  75-79

3.9 (2–6)

4.0 (2–6)

4.1 (2–6)

4.4 (1–8)

4.5 (1–8)

4.6 (1–8)

  80-84

3.9 (2–6)

3.9 (2–6)

4.1 (2–6)

4.4 (1–8)

4.4 (1–8)

4.5 (1–8)

  85+

3.9 (2–6)

3.9 (2–6)

4.1 (2–6)

4.4 (1–8)

4.4 (1–8)

4.4 (1–8)

In-person renewal

Number of states requiring renewal to be performed in-person: Every renewal (every other renewal, every third renewal)

  40-54

34 (6,1)

32 (8,1)

29 (10,2)

26 (13,2)

24 (17,2)

22 (20,1)

  55-59

34 (6,1)

32 (8,1)

29 (10,2)

26 (13,2)

24 (17,2)

22 (20,1)

  60-64

34 (6,1)

32 (8,1)

29 (10,2)

26 (13,2)

25 (16,2)

23 (19,1)

  65-69

34 (6,1)

33 (7,1)

30 (9,2)

26 (13,2)

25 (16,2)

23 (19,1)

  70-74

35 (5,1)

34 (7,0)

32 (8,1)

29 (11,1)

29 (13,1)

28 (15,0)

  75-79

36 (5,1)

36 (6,0)

34 (7,1)

31 (10,1)

31 (11,1)

31 (12,0)

  80-84

36 (5,1)

36 (6,0)

34 (7,1)

31 (10,1)

32 (10,1)

33 (10,0)

  85+

36 (5,1)

36 (6,0)

34 (7,1)

31 (10,1)

32 (10,1)

33 (10,0)

Vision test*

Number of states requiring a vision test: At mandatory in-person renewal (outside of mandatory in-person renewal)

  40-54

34 (0)

35 (0)

35 (0)

35 (0)

35 (1)

36 (1)

  55-59

34 (0)

35 (0)

35 (0)

35 (0)

36 (1)

37 (1)

  60-64

34 (0)

35 (0)

35 (1)

35 (1)

36 (2)

37 (2)

  65-69

34 (1)

35 (1)

35 (1)

35 (1)

37 (2)

38 (3)

  70-74

34 (1)

35 (1)

35 (2)

35 (2)

37 (3)

38 (4)

  75-79

34 (1)

35 (1)

35 (2)

35 (2)

37 (3)

38 (4)

  80-84

34 (1)

35 (1)

35 (2)

35 (2)

37 (4)

38 (5)

  85+

34 (1)

35 (1)

35 (2)

35 (2)

37 (4)

38 (5)

Knowledge test

Number of states requiring knowledge test at every in-person renewal

  40-54

2

2

2

1

0

0

  55-59

2

2

2

1

0

0

  60-64

2

2

2

1

0

0

  65-69

2

2

2

1

0

0

  70-74

2

3

3

2

1

1

  75-79

3

4

4

3

1

1

  80-84

3

4

4

3

1

1

  85+

3

4

4

3

1

1

On-road driving test

Number of states requiring on-road driving test at every in-person renewal

  <70

0

0

0

0

0

0

  70-74

1

0

0

0

0

0

  75-79

3

3

3

3

2

2

  80-84

3

3

3

3

2

2

  85+

3

3

3

3

2

2

Reporting law for physicians*

Number of states in which reporting by physicians is mandatory

6

6

6

6

6

6