In New South Wales, drivers who hit 75 have to show a medical assessment every twelve months to prove they’re fit to drive. When you turn 85, it’s a step-up. Car licence holders will be asked to take an older driver assessment every two years, while heavy vehicle operators face it every year.
Queensland takes a tougher line. Anyone over 75 needs to have a valid medical certificate on them while driving. If you get pulled over and don’t have it, expect a $161 ticket. The certificate is a yearly job after a chat with your GP.
Victoria is a little easier to navigate. If you’re over 75, you still have to renew your licence, but it’s every three years instead of the usual ten. There aren’t formal tests, but anyone with a medical condition that could impact driving needs to let Transport Victoria know and follow their advice.
Western Australia asks drivers to see a doctor every year when they turn 80. After a visit, a doctor may decide you also need to do a road test to check how you handle a car. If you’re 85 or older and you have a Light Rigid or bigger licence, you must do a practical road test each year, too.
Doctor Visit: What Happens and What You Can Change
At the doctor’s office, the check looks at your vision, how fast you react, your thinking skills, and your ability to move so you can steer and control a car safely. These exams are not a ticket to the end of your driving; they’re a way to make sure you’re still up to the task.
Some places offer modified driving licences so you keep some driving freedom. In New South Wales, a modified licence may, for example, limit you to trips within your suburb, keeping your independence while keeping safety in focus.
Get Ready When Licence Is about to Expire
Plan ahead a few months before your 70th or any later 70s licence renewal. Booking your doctor visit 4 to 6 weeks before your birthday is wise so you don’t run the risk of your licence expiring. Service NSW has advised to make those appointments early because spots fill up fast.
Fitness to drive exams usually begin with your own doctor filling out a form after a standard visit. If that doctor has concerns, some states may also send you to a special assessor with extra knowledge about older drivers, but that’s only if they think it’s needed.
Staying on the Move and Staying Yourself
Renewing your driver’s licence isn’t just a check on a piece of plastic—it’s a way to keep the roads safer and, honestly, to keep you moving. If the idea of losing your licence worries you, take a bit of time to look into other ways to get around. Knowing your options now is way easier than figuring them out the last minute.
Local rides set up just for our community, discounted train- and-bus tickets, and rides apps that people our age have found user-friendly now make getting around possible even when the car keys have to be handed in.
When you read up on the small-print about eyesight tests and other rules, you stay ahead of the game and plan a route into the golden years that still has plenty of movement.
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