Will You Have to Retake Your Driving Test? What Retirees Must Know About State DMV Rules

See which states require older drivers to retake vision tests to keep their licenses — and the one state that makes retirees retake their road test.

By Donna LeValley Edited by Alexandra Twin

Last updated 8 October 2026 In Features

Elderly business man driving a car — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Choosing where to spend your golden years involves more than just calculating tax rates and climate; it’s about maintaining your mobility and independence.

While a driver’s license often feels like a permanent rite of passage, many states introduce new hurdles for older adults, from mandatory vision screenings to actual behind-the-wheel re-evaluations.

Most states have one or more driver’s license renewal provisions specific to older drivers, such as shorter renewal cycles, required vision or road testing, and in-person renewal rather than online renewal or by mail. The ages at which these additional requirements apply vary by state and are shown in the tables below.

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As you look toward retirement, understanding the "milestone" ages — such as 62, 70 or 75 — at which your home or adopted state might require a return to the DMV can help you stay ahead of the curve and not get caught off guard by a surprise expiration.

States requiring a road (driving) test

Until recently, Illinois was the only state that broadly mandated a behind-the-wheel driving test based specifically on age. Illinois drivers age 79 and older were previously required to pass a behind-the-wheel test to renew their licenses. The legislature repealed this rule over the summer.

As of July 1, 2026, age-based road tests for drivers ages 79 to 86 were eliminated following the passage of the Road Safety and Fairness Act (HB 1226). Now, the annual road test requirement begins at age 87.

Rather than requiring road tests, most states mandate a combination of in-person renewals and vision tests for older drivers.

States with mandatory vision tests (age-specific)

Close-up rear view of a senior man looking at eye chart at medical office

You don't need perfect vision to drive, but your vision must meet a basic standard, which is why most state DMVs use vision tests.

A 2018 study titled "Self-reported Eyeglass Use by US Medicare Beneficiaries Aged 65 Years or Older" found that approximately 40.5 million beneficiaries used eyeglasses for either distance or near vision correction. (In most cases, Medicare does not cover vision tests, corrective glasses or contact lenses).

Only seven states — Alabama, Connecticut, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Vermont — do not require a vision test at renewal for any drivers.

Meanwhile, 19 states require vision testing of older drivers at every renewal, beginning at varying ages ranging from 40 years (Maine and Maryland) up to 80 years (Florida). Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia require vision tests of all drivers at every renewal, every other renewal or at a set period.

Before you make an appointment for a vision test at your local DMV, check to see if you can skip the line. Many states now allow you to have your eye doctor fill out a vision report form in advance of your appointment to renew your license. In some cases, your eye care professional can report information to the authorities or an online registry.

If you don't see your state's name on this list, that means the rules for how often you must take an eye test to renew your license are the same for all drivers, regardless of age.

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State	Age/How often	State	Age/How often
Alaska	69-plus: Must pass at every renewal.	Arkansas	65-plus: Must pass at every other renewal.
California	70-plus: Must pass at every renewal.	Florida	80-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.
Illinois	79-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal (effective 07/01/26).	Indiana	75-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal
Iowa	70-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.	Louisiana	70-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.
Maine	62-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal. (And, first renewal after 40.)	Maryland	40-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.
Massachusetts	75-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.	Nebraska	72-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.
Nevada	71-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.	New Mexico	75-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.
Ohio	65-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.	Oregon	50-plus: if renewing in person.
South Dakota	65-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.	Texas	79-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.
Utah	65-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal.	Virginia	75-plus: Must pass a vision test at every renewal

States with shorter renewal cycles

Time To Renew: Vintage Alarm Clock On Wooden Table With Bold Message On Wall

Rather than requiring a new road test, many states "check in" more often by shortening the time between renewals. For convenience, some states allow drivers to choose a shorter renewal period after reaching a certain age.

Some states (18) cap the age at which a person can renew a license online or by mail and instead require in-person license renewals, beginning as young as age 62 in Maine and as late as age 79 in Texas. In stark contrast, six states — Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin — don't offer mail or online renewals regardless of the driver’s age.

Below find the rules for renewing a license or eligibility to renew by mail or online in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

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State renewal periods and if they offer renewals by mail or online
State	Renewal interval	Mail or online renewal permitted?	State	Renewal interval	Mail or online renewal permitted?
Alabama	everyone- 4 years	online, every other renewal	Alaska	everyone- 5 years	not permitted at age 69 and older
Arizona	60-plus, 5 years	not permitted for all drivers	Arkansas	people 70-plus can choose to renew for 4 or 8 years	not permitted for all drivers
California	everyone- 5 years	not permitted at age 70 and older without vision test; not permitted at age 80 and older	Colorado	everyone- 5 years	both, if photograph is newer than 16 years
Connecticut	65-plus can choose to renew for 2 or 8 years	both, every other renewal	Delaware	everyone- 8 years	not permitted for all drivers
District of Columbia	everyone- 8 years	not permitted at age 70 and older	Florida	80-plus, 6 years	both, every other renewal
Georgia	everyone- 8 years	both, every other renewal	Hawaii	72-plus, 2 years	both, limited to two consecutive renewals, but must appear in person at least every 16 years
Idaho	63-plus, 2 years	not permitted at age 70 and older	Illinois	79-80, 4 years; 81-86, 2 years, 87 and older, 1 year (effective 07/01/26)	not permitted at age 79 and older (became effective 07/01/26)
Indiana	3 years for people ages 75-84: 2 years for people age 85-plus	both, every other renewal	Iowa	78-plus, 2 years	not permitted at age 70 and older
Kansas	65-plus, 4 years	not permitted at age 65 and older	Kentucky	everyone- 4 or 8 years, personal option	both, if photograph is newer than 16 years
Louisiana	everyone- 6 years	not permitted at age 70 and older	Maine	65-plus, 4 years	not permitted at age 62 and older
Maryland	everyone- 8 years	both, if photograph is newer than 16 years	Massachusetts	everyone- 5 years	not permitted at age 75 and older
Michigan	everyone- 4 years	both, every other renewal	Minnesota	everyone- 5 years	not permitted for all drivers
Mississippi	everyone- 4 or 8 years, personal option	online, every other renewal	Missouri	70-plus, 3 years	not permitted for all drivers
Montana	75-plus, 4 years	both, every other renewal	Nebraska	everyone- 5 years	not permitted at age 72 and older
Nevada	65-plus, 4 years	both, every other renewal for people 65 and older	New Jersey	70-plus, can choose to renew 2 or 4 years	both
New Hampshire	everyone- 5 years	online, every other renewal	New Mexico	71-78, 4 years; 79 and older every year	not permitted at 75 and older
New York	everyone- 8 years	both, must keep the same type of license	North Carolina	66-plus, 5 years	online, every other renewal
North Dakota	78 and older, 4 years	not permitted at age 70 and older	Ohio	65-plus, 4 years	not permitted at age 65 and older
Oklahoma	everyone- 4 or 8 years, personal option	both, every other renewal	Oregon	everyone- 8 years	online, every other renewal
Pennsylvania	65-plus can choose to renew for 2 or 4 years	both	Rhode Island	75-plus, 2 years	online, every other renewal
South Carolina	everyone- 8 years	both	South Dakota	everyone- 5 years	both, every other renewal
Tennessee	84 and under- 8 years and 85 and older- 2 years	not permitted at age 79 and older	Texas	79-84 are issued 8-year licenses. At 85-plus, you must renew every two years.	not permitted at age 79 and older
Utah	everyone- 8 years	online, every other renewal	Vermont	everyone can choose to renew for 2 or 4 years	by mail, unless new photo required
Virginia	75-plus, 5 years	not permitted 75 and older	Washington	can choose to renew for 6 or 8 years	not permitted 70 and older
West Virginia	everyone- 8 years	online, every other renewal	Wisconsin	everyone- 8 years	not permitted for all drivers
Wyoming	everyone- 5 years	by mail, every other renewal	Row 26 - Cell 3	Row 26 - Cell 4	Row 26 - Cell 5

Staying behind the wheel

Ultimately, a little preparation goes a long way in navigating these age-related driving requirements. If you're considering a move to a new state for retirement, take a moment to look beyond the housing market and local amenities to see how the DMV handles senior renewals.

Understanding these regulations early allows you to integrate vision, health and mobility planning into your broader retirement strategy, ensuring that you remain in the driver's seat — both literally and figuratively — for years to come.

Donna joined Kiplinger as a personal finance writer in 2023. She spent more than a decade as the contributing editor of J.K.Lasser's Your Income Tax Guide and edited state specific legal treatises at ALM Media. She has shared her expertise as a guest on Bloomberg, CNN, Fox, NPR, CNBC and many other media outlets around the nation. She is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School and the University at Buffalo.