I'm a new resident in Pennsylvania: what do I do with my license?

Compare with the state you moved from

Choose the state you came from to see the main differences from Pennsylvania. Every value comes from that state's official manual (with the page number) or from its license guide. Where a manual does not state a rule, we say so instead of guessing.

Key rules in Pennsylvania

Each rule comes from the Pennsylvania driver manual or from the license guide, with its source.

Licensing and paperwork

• Deadline to switch your license

  60 days after moving, if you hold a valid license from another U.S. state or Canada.

  What the manual says

  • New Pennsylvania residents with a valid license from another state or Canada must obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license within 60 days of moving and surrender their out-of-state license.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 3

• Tests when you transfer a license

  Vision screening; no knowledge test if license is valid or expired 6 months or less; otherwise all three tests.

  What the manual says

  • How to apply

    Go in person to a Driver License Center. Some state-to-state services may not be available on Saturdays. You take a vision screening, fill in form DL-180R, and show proof of identity and residency and your Social Security card.

  • When the knowledge test is waived

    You do not need to take the knowledge test if your out-of-state license is valid or expired 6 months or less. If it expired more than 6 months ago, or you do not have it, you must apply for a learner's permit and take the vision, knowledge and road tests. Learner's permits from other states cannot be transferred.

  • When the knowledge test is waived

    You do not need to take the knowledge test if your out-of-state license is valid or expired 6 months or less. If it expired more than 6 months ago, or you do not have it, you must apply for a learner's permit and take the vision, knowledge and road tests. Learner's permits from other states cannot be transferred.

  Source: [1] [2] [3]

• Liability insurance

  Automobile liability insurance is required on a registered vehicle at all times; minimum coverage not stated.

  What the manual says

  • Pennsylvania law requires you to maintain automobile liability insurance on your registered vehicle at all times.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 80

• Change of address

  Notify PennDOT within 15 days of a change of name or address.

  What the manual says

  • Section 1515 of the Vehicle Code requires you to notify PennDOT within 15 days of a change in name or address.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 89

• How long the license lasts

  4 years, expiring the day after your birthday; age 65+ may choose 2-year renewal.

  What the manual says

  • How long your license lasts

    A Pennsylvania driver's license is valid for 4 years and expires on the day after your birthday. PennDOT sends you an invitation to renew 3 months before it expires, and you can renew online if nothing needs to change except your address. Drivers 65 or older may choose to renew every 2 years.

  • How long your license lasts

    A Pennsylvania driver's license is valid for 4 years and expires on the day after your birthday. PennDOT sends you an invitation to renew 3 months before it expires, and you can renew online if nothing needs to change except your address. Drivers 65 or older may choose to renew every 2 years.

  Source: [4]

Road rules

• Teen driving hours

  Junior license: no driving 11 p.m.-5 a.m. without a parent/guardian, except documented work, fire company or public service.

  What the manual says

  • Junior license holders may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless a parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse who is 18 or older is with them.

  • Follow the junior license limits

    • Do not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless your parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse who is 18 or older is with you.
    • Exception: you may drive at these hours for public or charitable service, as a member of a volunteer fire company, or for your job, if you carry a notarized affidavit (signed statement) or a certificate of authorization from your employer, supervisor or fire chief.
    • Do not carry more than 1 passenger under 18 who is not an immediate family member, unless your parent, guardian, person in loco parentis or spouse who is 18 or older is in the vehicle.
    • After your first 6 months on a junior license, the limit becomes 3 such passengers. This does not apply if you have ever been partly or fully responsible for a crash or convicted of a driving violation.
    • Do not carry more passengers than there are seat belts.
    • If you get 6 or more points on your driving record, or are convicted of driving 26 mph or more over the speed limit, your license is suspended. A first suspension lasts 90 days.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 3

  Source: [5] [6] [7]

• Passengers for teen drivers

  Junior license: max 1 non-family passenger under 18 without parent/guardian; 3 after 6 months with clean record.

  What the manual says

  • A junior license holder may not carry more than one passenger under age 18 who is not an immediate family member, unless a qualifying parent, guardian, person in loco parentis, or spouse is in the vehicle.
  • After the first six months of driving on a junior license, the limit increases to no more than three passengers under 18 who are not immediate family members, unless a qualifying adult is present.
  • The increased passenger limit does not apply to any junior driver who has ever been involved in an at-fault crash or who is convicted of any driving violation.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 4

• Alcohol limit under 21

  Zero tolerance: no drinking under 21; a blood alcohol level of .02 or greater counts as DUI.

  What the manual says

  • Pennsylvania, like every other state, has zero tolerance laws, meaning you may not drink if you are under age 21.
  • A driver under 21 is considered to be driving under the influence if their BAC is .02 or greater.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 33, 82

• Refusing a chemical test

  Breath/blood test expected after DUI arrest; first refusal means automatic 1-year suspension, even if found not guilty.

  What the manual says

  • The Implied Consent Law says you have agreed to take a chemical test of breath or blood just by being licensed to drive in Pennsylvania.
  • Refusing one or more chemical tests after a DUI arrest results in an automatic one-year suspension.
  • Even if found not guilty of DUI, your driving privilege will be suspended for one year for a first-time refusal to take the test.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 82

• Seat belts

  Drivers and front-seat passengers must buckle up; passengers 8 to under 18 must wear one in any seat.

  What the manual says

  • Pennsylvania law requires all drivers and front seat passengers in cars, light trucks, and motor homes to wear seat belts.
  • Passengers age 8 or older but under 18 must wear seat belts no matter where they are riding in the vehicle.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 89

• Child safety seats

  Under 4: child safety seat; 4 to under 8: booster seat; under 2: rear-facing until the seat's limits.

  What the manual says

  • Children under age 4 must be buckled into a federally-approved child safety seat secured to the vehicle by the seat belt or LATCH system, no matter where they ride.
  • Children ages 4 and older but under 8 must be buckled into a federally-approved booster seat secured by the seat belt system and used with lap and shoulder belts.
  • Children younger than age 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat until they outgrow the maximum weight and height limits designated by the car seat manufacturer.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 90

• Phone use while driving

  Texting ban: using a wireless device to text, email or browse while driving is a primary offense.

  What the manual says

  • Violating the anti-texting law is a primary, summary offense with convictions carrying a $50 fine.
  • An IWCD is defined as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer, or similar device used for texting, instant messaging, emailing, or browsing the Internet.
  • The texting ban does not include the use of a GPS device or a system or device that is physically or electronically integrated into the vehicle.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 93

• School buses

  Stop 10+ feet away for flashing red lights and stop arm; exception: opposite side of a median-divided highway.

  What the manual says

  • You must observe school zone speed limits and stop for school buses when red signals are flashing.
  • You must stop at least 10 feet away from a school bus stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
  • The one exception is when you are driving on the opposite side of a divided highway (with a physical barrier, guide rail, or median); you must still reduce speed and drive with caution.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 55, 58

• Move Over law

  Move to a non-adjacent lane if possible; otherwise slow to at least 20 mph below the posted limit.

  What the manual says

  • The Move Over law requires motorists to move into a lane that is not adjacent to an emergency response area and/or a disabled vehicle.
  • If drivers cannot move over, they must reduce their speed to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 59

• Headlights

  Required when you can't see people or vehicles 1,000 feet ahead, and in all posted work zones.

  What the manual says

  • State law requires headlight use when you cannot see pedestrians or vehicles on the highway for a distance of 1,000 feet ahead.
  • Turning on your headlights in a work zone is the law for all posted work zones, not just active ones, no matter what time of day.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 40, 18

• Right turn on red

  Allowed after stopping and yielding to pedestrians and traffic, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted.

  What the manual says

  • You may turn right on red unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted, but you must first stop and yield to pedestrians and other traffic.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 7

• Speed limits

  School zones: 15 mph when lights flash or during posted times; Pennsylvania's maximum speed limit is 70 mph.

  What the manual says

  • In school zones, the speed limit is 15 mph when the school zone sign's lights are flashing or during the posted time period.
  • The manual states the maximum speed limit in Pennsylvania is 70 mph.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 39

• Points and suspension

  6+ points: special written exam the first time, Departmental hearing the second. Junior license: 6+ points means 90-day suspension.

  What the manual says

  • When a driving record reaches six or more points for the first time, the driver receives a written notice to take a written special point examination.
  • When the record is reduced below six points and reaches six or more a second time, the driver must attend a Departmental hearing.
  • Junior license holders receive a mandatory 90-day suspension for accumulating six or more points, or for a conviction of driving 26 mph or more over the posted speed limit.

  Source: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (Pub 95), page 79, 4

Official steps for moving to Pennsylvania

• Deadline: 60 days

  If you have a valid driver's license from another U.S. state or from Canada, you must get a Pennsylvania driver's license within 60 days after you move to Pennsylvania. You must be at least 16 and a half to transfer a license.

  Source: [1] [5] [2]

• How to apply

  Go in person to a Driver License Center. Some state-to-state services may not be available on Saturdays. You take a vision screening, fill in form DL-180R, and show proof of identity and residency and your Social Security card.

  Source: [1]

• When the knowledge test is waived

  You do not need to take the knowledge test if your out-of-state license is valid or expired 6 months or less. If it expired more than 6 months ago, or you do not have it, you must apply for a learner's permit and take the vision, knowledge and road tests. Learner's permits from other states cannot be transferred.

  Source: [1] [2] [3]

• Surrender your old license

  You must surrender (hand in) your out-of-state license (valid, or expired 6 months or less) before PennDOT can give you a Pennsylvania license. Getting a Pennsylvania permit, license or ID card cancels any permit, license or ID card from another state. It is illegal to hold more than one valid driver's license.

  Source: [1] [8] [9]

• Licenses from U.S. territories and other countries

  A valid license from Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory or possession can be transferred. Because of agreements with France, Germany, Korea and Taiwan, a valid non-commercial license from those countries can be transferred without the road or knowledge test, but you still take a vision test. A person with a valid driver's license from their own country may drive in Pennsylvania for up to 1 year from entering the United States, or until that license expires, whichever comes first.

  Source: [2] [6] [10]

Sources

1. Moving to Pennsylvania (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
2. Identification and Residency Requirements for U.S. Citizens (PUB 195US) (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
3. Transfer a Driver's License from Another State (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
4. Renew a Driver's License (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
5. Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95) (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
6. Online Driver's Manual, Chapter 1: Applying for a Learner's Permit (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
7. A Guide to Obtaining a Pennsylvania Junior Learner's Permit and Junior Driver's License (PUB 178) (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
8. Non-Commercial Learner's Permit Application (DL-180) (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
9. Driver Licenses, Learner's Permits, and ID Cards FAQs (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
10. Driver and Licensing Miscellaneous FAQs (pa.gov) — Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)