Section 40-5-32. Expiration and renewal of licenses; reexamination required

   (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, every driver's license shall expire on the licensee's birthday in the fifth year following the issuance of such license. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any commercial license that contains an H or X endorsement as defined in subsection (c) of Code Section 40-5-150 shall expire on the date of expiration of the licensee's security threat assessment conducted by the Transportation Security Administration of the United States Department of Homeland Security. An applicant for a Class C, E, F, or M noncommercial driver's license who is under age 60 shall at the applicant's option apply for a license which shall expire on the licensee's birthday in the fifth or eighth year following the issuance of such license. Every such license shall be renewed on or before its expiration upon application, payment of the required fee, and, if applicable, satisfactory completion of the examination required or authorized by subsection (c) of this Code section.

   (2) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (c) of this Code section, every veteran's or honorary license shall expire on the licensee's birthday in the eighth year following the issuance thereof until the holder reaches age 65 and shall thereafter be subject to renewal pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection on or before his or her birthday every five years. The department may allow a veteran or honorary license holder to retain his or her expired veteran's or honorary license as a souvenir.

   (3) The commissioner shall issue such rules and regulations as are required to enforce this subsection.

(b) An application for driver's license renewal may be submitted by means of:

   (1) Personal appearance before the department; or

   (2) Subject to rules or regulations of the department which shall be consistent with considerations of public safety and efficiency of service to licensees, means other than such personal appearance which may include without limitation by mail or electronically. The department may by such rules or regulations exempt persons renewing drivers' licenses under this paragraph from the license surrender requirement of subsection (c) of Code Section 40-5-20.

(c) (1) The department shall require every person who is age 64 or older applying for renewal of a driver's license to take and pass successfully such test of his or her eyesight as the department shall prescribe.

   (2) The commissioner may issue such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this subsection.

Ga. L. 1937, p. 322, art. 4, § 5; Ga. L. 1943, p. 196, § 5; Ga. L. 1947, p. 294, § 1; Ga. L. 1951, p. 157, § 7; Ga. L. 1955, p. 662, § 1; Ga. L. 1955, Ex. Sess., p. 35, § 1; Ga. L. 1961, p. 136, § 2; Ga. L. 1961, p. 433, § 1; Code 1933, § 68B-213, enacted by Ga. L. 1975, p. 1008, § 1; Ga. L. 1977, p. 307, § 2; Ga. L. 1977, p. 576, § 1; Ga. L. 1989, p. 519, § 12; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 4; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 5-11; Ga. L. 2002, p. 1045, § 2; Ga. L. 2004, p. 749, § 5; Ga. L. 2005, p. 334, § 17-10/HB 501; Ga. L. 2010, p. 932, § 9/HB 396.