You asked (1) how many states require vision or other types of testing for renewals of drivers’ licenses, and what kinds of tests are required; (2) how frequently are the tests required; (3) how many states have age-specific testing requirements; and (4) what changes have taken place in testing requirements over the past five years.

This memo addresses testing requirements for private passenger vehicles licenses; additional requirements may apply to other types of licenses. In addition, several states require vision or other tests for a renewal applicant under specific circumstances, such as having a poor driving history or at the recommendation of the state’s medical advisory board.

SUMMARY

Most states (all but Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia) currently require renewal applicants to pass a vision test when they renew their driver’s license, although several states do not impose such requirements when a person renews his license by mail or over the Internet (these states require drivers to renew in person at specified intervals. ) All of the states that require testing test visual acuity and most test the applicant’s field of vision. In addition, Illinois, Kansas, and North Carolina require all renewal applicants to pass a written test.

South Carolina and Utah only require vision testing for elderly drivers, and Virginia has a similar requirement that will go into effect in July 2004. Maine and Oregon have vision testing requirements that apply to middle-aged as well as elderly drivers. In Pennsylvania, a monthly random sample of 1,650 drivers who are 45 and older and up for license renewal are requested to submit a physical and vision exam report prior to renewing. Illinois and New Hampshire require elderly drivers to pass a road test to renew their licenses. In contrast, the law in Maryland, Minnesota, and Nevada specifies that age alone is not grounds for reexamination of drivers and Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination by reason of age with regard to licensing.

The period of time between tests varies significantly by state, although most have four to six year testing cycles. Thirteen states require elderly drivers to take vision tests more frequently than younger drivers, either as a result of shorter license renewal periods or bars on elderly drivers renewing their licenses by mail.

In the past five years, Florida has adopted more rigorous vision testing requirements for elderly drivers renewing their licenses. In addition to the changes in testing requirements, several states have generally lengthened the period a license is valid but retained a shorter license period for older drivers.

LICENSE RENEWAL TESTING REQUIREMENTS

Table 1 describes the tests that are generally required for a license renewal, the frequency of the testing requirement, and age-specific testing requirements. As noted above, Connecticut as well as Alabama, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, and West Virginia do not currently have generally applicable testing requirements. (Connecticut will have a vision testing requirement starting in 2005). The information in the table is taken from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as of March 2003. It is available online at http: //www. hwysafety. org/safety_facts/state_laws/older_drivers. htm. An American Medical Association Website, http: //www. ama-assn. org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/433/chapter8. pdf, provides additional information about specific vision tests in each state.

Table 1: Testing Requirements for License Renewals

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All of the above states require applicants for renewal to pass a visual acuity test. Thirty-one states (Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) also test the applicant’s field of vision. Illinois, Kansas, and North Carolina require all renewal applicants to pass a written test.

South Carolina and Utah only require vision testing for drivers 65 and older. Starting July 1, 2004, Virginia will begin requiring vision testing for drivers 80 and older. In Maine, vision testing is required at the first renewal after driver's 40th birthday, then at every second renewal until age 62, and thereafter at every renewal. In Oregon, vision testing is required every 8 years for drivers 50 and older. In Illinois and New Hampshire, applicants 75 and older must take a road test.

Thirteen states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, and Rhode Island) require elderly drivers to take vision tests more frequently than younger drivers, either as a result of shorter license renewal periods or bars on elderly drivers renewing their licenses by mail. For example, in Alaska, a driver under age 69 is required to have his vision tested every other renewal cycle (every 10 years), when he must renew in person. An older person must have his vision tested every five years because he cannot renew by mail. In states such as Arizona, older drivers are subject to more frequent vision testing because they have shorter license renewal periods.

RECENT CHANGES IN TESTING REQUIREMENTS

According to National Conference of State Legislatures staff, most of the changes adopted in drivers’ licensing laws over the past five years have dealt with the length of the license, rather than with testing requirements.

Legislation adopted in Florida in 2003, requires a licensee who is over 79 years of age to take a vision test for each renewal. Under prior law, all drivers had to pass the test for every third renewal period, when they had to renew in person. The legislation specifies that elderly drivers can take the test at any driver’s license office; or if applying for an extension by mail, submit to a vision test administered by a licensed physician. The physician must send the results of the test to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on a form signed by the physician, and the test must meet vision standards equivalent to the department’s vision test. The bill also prohibits a person who is over 79 years of age from submitting an application for a renewal by electronic or telephonic means. 2003 Fla. Laws Ch. 273.

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