(a) General rule.--Every driver's license shall expire on the day after the licensee's birthdate at intervals of not more than four years as may be determined by the department. Every license shall be renewable on or before its expiration upon application, payment of the required fee, and satisfactory completion of any examination required or authorized by this chapter.
(b) Examination of applicants for renewal.--The department may require persons applying for renewal of a driver's license to take and successfully pass a physical examination or a vision examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, or both examinations, if the department has reason to believe, either based on knowledge of the person or on statistical inference, that the person may be a traffic safety hazard. The department may require the applicant to take and successfully pass such additional tests as the department may find reasonably necessary to determine the applicant's qualification according to the type or general class of license applied for and such examination may include any or all of the other tests required or authorized upon original application by section 1508 (relating to examination of applicant for driver's license). Upon refusal or neglect of the person to submit to the examination, the driver's license shall not be renewed until such time as the examination is successfully completed.
(c) Reexamination requested by court.--The department shall reexamine any person when requested to do so by a court. Upon the conclusion of such examination, the department may take any of the actions described in subsection (b) and shall report its findings and action to the court if such report is requested.
(d) Military personnel and dependents.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a driver's license held by any person who enters or is on active service in the armed forces of the United States or the spouse or dependent child of the member of the armed forces who resides with such person shall continue in full force and effect so long as the active service continues and the person is absent from this Commonwealth, and for a further period of 45 days following the date of the person's discharge or separation from active service or return to this Commonwealth, unless the driver's license is sooner suspended, cancelled or revoked for cause according to law. A driver's license which otherwise would have expired under subsection (a) shall be valid only if the licensee has in immediate possession, together with the driver's license, papers indicating actual service outside this Commonwealth, or discharge or separation, as the case may be, or proof thereof if a spouse or child.
(e) Noncitizen license expiration and renewal.--
(1) Except as otherwise provided, a license issued on the basis of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) credentials or documents shall expire on the date appearing on the INS credentials or documents provided by the applicant under section 1506(a.1) (relating to application for driver's license or learner's permit).
(2) If the expiration date of the INS credentials or documents exceeds four years, the license shall expire one day after the applicant's date of birth but not more than four years from the date of issuance of the license.
(3) Upon presenting INS credentials or documents indicating continued legal presence in the United States, the person may apply for a renewal of the license.
(4) If a person has been granted permanent legal status in the United States by the INS, the department may in its discretion require the person to present his INS credentials or documents for only the first license application or renewal.
(5) License renewals issued under this subsection shall be for the length of time as set forth in paragraph (1) or (2).
(Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. one year; Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1278, No.152, eff. 270 days)
2002 Amendment. Act 152 added subsec. (e).
1998 Amendment. Act 151 amended subsec. (a).
Cross References. Section 1514 is referred to in sections 1510, 1550 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 15 - Licensing of Drivers
Section 1501 - Drivers required to be licensed
Section 1502 - Persons exempt from licensing
Section 1503 - Persons ineligible for licensing; license issuance to minors; junior driver's license
Section 1504 - Classes of licenses
Section 1505 - Learners' permits
Section 1506 - Application for driver's license or learner's permit
Section 1507 - Application for driver's license or learner's permit by minor
Section 1508 - Examination of applicant for driver's license
Section 1508.1 - Physical examinations
Section 1509 - Qualifications for school bus driver endorsement
Section 1510 - Issuance and content of driver's license
Section 1511 - Carrying and exhibiting driver's license on demand
Section 1512 - Restrictions on drivers' licenses
Section 1513 - Duplicate and substitute drivers' licenses and learners' permits
Section 1514 - Expiration and renewal of drivers' licenses
Section 1515 - Notice of change of name or address
Section 1516 - Department records
Section 1517 - Medical Advisory Board
Section 1518 - Reports on mental or physical disabilities or disorders
Section 1519 - Determination of incompetency
Section 1520 - Acknowledgment of littering provisions
Section 1531 - Administration of system by department
Section 1532 - Suspension of operating privilege
Section 1533 - Suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to citation
Section 1534 - Notice of acceptance of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
Section 1535 - Schedule of convictions and points
Section 1536 - Notice of assignment of points
Section 1537 - Removal of points
Section 1538 - School, examination or hearing on accumulation of points or excessive speeding
Section 1539 - Suspension of operating privilege on accumulation of points
Section 1540 - Surrender of license
Section 1541 - Period of disqualification, revocation or suspension of operating privilege
Section 1542 - Revocation of habitual offender's license
Section 1543 - Driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked
Section 1544 - Additional period of revocation or suspension
Section 1545 - Restoration of operating privilege
Section 1546 - Suspension or revocation of nonresident's operating privilege
Section 1547 - Chemical testing to determine amount of alcohol or controlled substance
Section 1548 - Requirements for driving under influence offenders
Section 1549 - Establishment of schools
Section 1550 - Judicial review
Section 1551 - Notice of department action
Section 1552 - Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
Section 1553 - Occupational limited license
Section 1554 - Probationary license
Section 1555 - Delay of suspension, revocation or disqualification
Section 1556 - Ignition interlock limited license
Section 1571 - Violations concerning licenses
Section 1572 - Cancellation of driver's license
Section 1573 - Displaying a foreign license during suspension or revocation
Section 1574 - Permitting unauthorized person to drive
Section 1575 - Permitting violation of title
Section 1576 - Local authorities liable for negligence of their employees (Repealed)
Section 1581 - Driver's License Compact
Section 1583 - Compensation of compact administrator
Section 1584 - Furnishing of information to other states