- Viral articles falsely claimed new strict federal driving rules for elderly drivers starting July 1.
- Multiple sources confirmed the story with changing dates was entirely fabricated and false.
- In reality, no sweeping federal changes exist, only minor state-level updates for senior drivers.
Our lead image is entirely crafted by artificial intelligence. The background, the person, and even the vehicle interior are all fake. Fortunately, this particular image isn’t harmful and isn’t likely to mislead anyone into believing a specific narrative. That’s not the case with the subject of this story, though. A few months ago, an article, possibly AI-generated, began circulating online. It claimed that new federal driving rules were about to take effect for elderly drivers.
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A Breakdown of the False Claims
That’s simply not true, but let’s take a closer look at the claims made in the article. Its main focus was that drivers aged 70 and older would be subject to new rules starting July 1 in order to continue driving. Those over 70 but under 80, it claimed, would need to renew their licenses in person and take a vision test every four years.
Read: Texas Is Finally Getting Rid Of Paper License Plates
Anyone over 80 but younger than 87 would need to renew their license every two years, and they might also face a cognitive screening test. Finally, those over 86 would face a mandatory driving test and a vision test and would have to renew every year. It even went as far as to say that while this was a federal directive, states would be free to enact it with their own adjustments.
What Actually Happened?
Of course, July 1 came and went, and nothing changed. Many articles of this nature simply started saying that now the rules would come into effect on August 1 instead. It’s tough to say where it originated, but here’s an example of it on a site that appears to also show several other similarly inflammatory articles.
Other similar stories have popped up saying that the same rules will go into effect in other nations like Canada and Australia as well. Importantly, several sources have confirmed that these types of articles aren’t genuine.
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Verified As Fake
Snopes and AL.com are two of many outlets that confirmed the article’s illegitimacy. Additionally, AI detection software suggests that the text of the linked article is largely, if not entirely, generated by artificial intelligence. For now, the truth is that very little is changing nationwide for elderly drivers.
For now, there are no sweeping nationwide changes planned for elderly drivers in the United States. Some states are indeed discussing adjustments, but these are limited in scope and nothing like what the articles described. For instance, Illinois is considering raising the age threshold at which senior drivers need to take a driving test, but even that change would be a small one by comparison.
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Here’s a list, compiled by the insurer Progressive, outlining the rules that apply to each state.
State-by-State Rules for Older Drivers
Alabama:
- Renew license every 4 years
- Vision test requirement: None
- Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal
Alaska:
- Renew license every 5 years
- Vision test requirement: Age 69 and older every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted 69 and older
Arizona:
- Renew license every 5 years for 65 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: No
Arkansas:
- Renew license every 4 or 8 years for 70 and older (personal choice)
- Vision test requirement: Every other renewal for all drivers
- Mail or online renewal availability: No
California:
- Renew license every 5 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 70 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older
Colorado:
- Renew license every 5 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both if photograph is newer than 16 years
Connecticut:
- Renew license every 2 years permitted for 65 and older (personal choice)
- Vision test requirement: None
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both, every other renewal
District of Columbia:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted 70 and older
Delaware:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: No
Florida:
- Renew license every 6 years for 80 and older
- Vision test requirement: 80 and older, every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal
Georgia:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal
Hawaii:
- Renew license every 4 years for ages 72–79. Drivers 80 and older renew every two years.
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: By mail, limited to two consecutive renewals. Must appear in person at least every 16 years.
Idaho:
- Renew license every 4 years for 63 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older
Illinois:
- Renew license every 2 years for 81–86; every year for 87 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 75 and older
Indiana:
- Renew license every 3 years for 75–84; every two years for 85 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal
Iowa:
- Renew license every two years for 78 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 70 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older
Kansas:
- Renew license every 4 years for 65 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 65 and older
Kentucky:
- Renew license every 4 or 8 years (personal choice)
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both if photograph is newer than 16 years
Louisiana:
- Renew license every 6 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 70 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older
Maine:
- Renew license every 4 years for 65 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 62 and older
- Mail or online renewal: Not permitted for 62 and older
Maryland:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 40 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both if photograph is newer than 16 years
Massachusetts:
- Renew license every 5 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 75 and older
Michigan:
- Renew license every 4 years
- Vision test requirement: When renewing in person
- Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal
Minnesota:
- Renew license every 4 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: No
Mississippi:
- Renew license every 4 or 8 years (personal choice)
- Vision test requirement: No
- Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal
Missouri:
- Renew license every 3 years for 70 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: No
Montana:
- Renew license every 4 years for 75 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal
Nebraska:
- Renew license every 5 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 72 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: 72 and older not permitted
Nevada:
- Renew license every 4 years for 65 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 71 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Every other renewal for 65 and older
New Hampshire:
- Renew license every 5 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal
New Jersey:
- Renew license every two or 4 years for 70 and older (personal choice)
- Vision test requirement: Every 10 years
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both, unless new photo required
New Mexico:
- Renew license every 4 years for 71–78; every year for 79 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: 75 and older not permitted
New York:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both
North Carolina:
- Renew license every 5 years for 66 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Online every renewal
North Dakota:
- Renew license every 4 years for 78 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: 70 and older not permitted
Ohio:
- Renew license every 4 years for 65 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 65 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: 65 and older not permitted
Oklahoma:
- Renew license every 4 or 8 years (personal choice)
- Vision test requirement: No
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both every other renewal
Oregon:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: 50 and older if renewing in person
- Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal
Pennsylvania:
- Renew license every two or 4 years for 65 and older (personal choice)
- Vision test requirement: No
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both
Rhode Island:
- Renew license every two years for 75 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal: online every other renewal
South Carolina:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both
South Dakota:
- Renew license every five years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 65 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both, every other renewal
Tennessee:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: No
- Mail or online renewal availability: Both
Texas:
- Renew license every two years for 85 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 79 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 79 and older
Utah:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 65 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Online every other renewal
Vermont:
- Renew license every two or 4 years
- Vision test requirement: No
- Mail or online renewal availability: By mail unless new photo required
Virginia:
- Renew license every 5 years for 75 and older
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal for 75 and older
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 75 and older
Washington:
- Renew license every 6 or 8 years (personal choice)
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Not permitted for 70 and older
West Virginia:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: Online, every other renewal
Wisconsin:
- Renew license every 8 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: No
Wyoming:
- Renew license every 5 years
- Vision test requirement: Every renewal
- Mail or online renewal availability: By mail every renewal
