(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.