At least as far as the plastic to get the privilege to drive by our great rulers protecting us from chaos, here it's 10 years before you have to get a new one, apparently in the US you have gotten a new piece of plastic 2.5 times by then.
But i don't know what they charge you for that privilege, here they charge ~40 euros, that's ~40 euros too much (plus time wasted, though it usually takes no more then 10 minutes plus 2 when picking it up one week later. plus the cost of making a picture somewhere that is required.
It differs by state here in the U.S.S.A. In Pennsylvania it's every four years. In some states--or at least in Arizona--the same license is good for decades.
Ten years in California before you need to get a new picture and description. I recently updated mine and went from brown to gray in the process.
Correct. I have an Arizona license which I first received in 2008 after moving there. It doesn't expire until 2049 - and I have no intention of wasting my time or money renewing before that time.