(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an operator’s license and chauffeur’s license expire on the birthday of the individual to whom the license is issued in the fourth year following the date of the issuance of the license or on the date the individual is no longer considered to be legally present in the United States under section 307, whichever is earlier, unless suspended or revoked before that date. A license must not be issued for a period longer than 4 years. An individual holding a license at any time 12 months before the expiration of his or her license may apply for a new license as provided for in this chapter. A knowledge test for an original group designation or indorsement may be taken at any time during this period and the results are valid for 12 months. A license renewed under this subsection must be renewed for the time remaining on the license before its renewal combined with the 4-year renewal period.

    (2) The first operator’s license issued to an individual who at the time of application is less than 20-1/2 years of age expires on the licensee’s twenty-first birthday or on the date the individual is no longer considered to be legally present in the United States under section 307, whichever is earlier, unless suspended or revoked.

    (3) The first chauffeur’s license issued to an individual expires on the licensee’s birthday in the fourth year following the date of issuance or on the date the individual is no longer considered to be legally present in the United States under section 307, whichever is earlier, unless the license is suspended or revoked before that date. The chauffeur’s license of an individual who at the time of application is less than 20-1/2 years of age expires on the licensee’s twenty-first birthday or on the date the individual is no longer considered to be legally present in the United States under section 307, whichever is earlier, unless suspended or revoked. A subsequent chauffeur’s license expires on the birthday of the individual to whom the license is issued in the fourth year following the date of issuance of the license or on the date the individual is no longer considered to be legally present in the United States under section 307, whichever is earlier, unless the license is suspended or revoked before that date.

    (4) An individual may apply for an extension of his or her driving privileges if he or she is out of state on the date that his or her operator’s or chauffeur’s license expires. The extension may extend the license for 180 days beyond the expiration date or not more than 2 weeks after the applicant returns to Michigan, whichever occurs first. This subsection does not apply to an individual who fails to meet the requirements of 49 C.F.R. § part parts 383 and 391 with regard to medical certification documentation requirements.

    (5) The secretary of state may issue a renewal operator’s or chauffeur’s license to an individual who will be out of state for more than 180 days beyond the expiration date of his or her operator’s or chauffeur’s license, if the secretary of state has a digital image of the individual on file. The applicant for this renewal shall submit a statement evidencing a vision examination in accordance with the rules promulgated by the secretary of state under section 309 and any other statement required by this act or federal law. An individual is not eligible for consecutive renewals of a license under this subsection. This subsection does not apply to an individual who fails to meet the requirements of 49 C.F.R. § part parts 383 and 391 with regard to medical certification documentation requirements, or an individual with a hazardous material endorsement on his or her operator’s or chauffeur’s license.

    (6) The secretary of state may check the applicant’s driving record through the National Driver Register and the Commercial Driver’s License Information System before issuing a renewal under this section.

    (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an operator’s or chauffeur’s license that expires on or after March 1, 2020 is valid until March 31, 2021. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an operator’s or chauffeur’s license that expires after March 31, 2021 but before August 1, 2021 is valid until 120 days after the date of the expiration.