How medical conditions affect your licence
When you report a medical condition, we’ll consider what your doctor says on your Medical Certificate for Drivers form after your medical assessment. We'll decide whether we need to make any changes to your driver licence. We'll write to you with our decision.
What we may decide
A medical condition does not always mean you'll lose your licence. We might make no changes or we might add some licence conditions, if your doctor recommends them.
If you're medically fit to drive, we may decide you qualify for either:
- an unconditional licence
- a conditional licence.
If you're not medically fit to drive, we may suspend or cancel your licence.
Learn what to do if you don't agree with our decision.
Unconditional licence
If you meet the medical criteria for an unconditional licence, you will not have an M (medical) condition recorded on your driver licence. This means you’ll have no conditions or restrictions due to your medical condition on your driver licence.
If you’re 75 years or older, you must still carry a current medical certificate whenever you drive.
Conditional licence
Licence conditions help manage your medical condition so that you can continue to drive safely and keep your driver licence.
If you meet the medical criteria for a conditional licence, we'll record an M condition on your licence.
We’ll routinely review your medical certificate to monitor how your medical condition is affecting your ability to drive safely. This helps keep you and everyone safe. At the review period on your certificate, you must get a medical review to confirm your fitness to continue driving.
Your conditional licence may include driving restrictions and vehicle modifications that you must comply with to keep a driver licence.
Driving restrictions
Some examples of driving restrictions that could be added to your licence are:
- no driving on roads where the speed limit is more than 60km/h
- only drive during daylight hours
- only drive within a 10km radius of your home
- no driving on freeways or motorways
- no driving more than 2 hours in any 24-hour period.
- only drive during off-peak times
- must wear prescribed corrective lenses
- only driving a vehicle with specific modifications.
You must carry a current medical certificate whenever you drive and show your medical certificate to a police officer if you’re asked.
Vehicle modifications
Your doctor or specialist may also add a licence condition that you must drive a modified vehicle. This will support you to drive independently while maintaining safety for both you and others.
Some examples are:
- short stature – built up seat and extended pedals
- short leg/s – extended pedals
- left leg disability or left arm disability – automatic transmission
- reduced upper arm strength – power steering; steering knob with hand-operated controls
- reduced lower leg strength – power brakes
- loss of leg use – hand-operated controls
- loss of limb use or decreased limb use – prosthesis must be worn
- reduced movement in your head or torso – vehicle fitted with 2 external rear-view mirrors and other devices, such as another wide-angle internal mirror, to help you see around the vehicle including recognising emergency vehicles
- deafness in both ears – vehicle fitted with 2 external rear-view mirrors and other devices, such as another wide-angle internal mirror, to help you see around the vehicle including recognising emergency vehicles.
Read about the vehicle modifications and how to get approval.
Suspended or cancelled licence
Not fit to drive permanently
The doctor may say that you're not medically fit to drive, either long term or permanently. You'll be given a medical certificate saying that you don’t meet the criteria to hold a licence and that you should no longer drive. You'll need to surrender your licence.
If you don't voluntarily surrender your licence, your doctor may give us a copy of your medical certificate form. We may then write to you about suspending or cancelling your licence.
You must not drive if we suspend or cancel your licence. If we cancel your licence and your medical condition improves, read how to get your licence again.
Suspended for a specified time
If the doctor has written a time range that you're not fit to drive on your medical certificate, then you'll need to give us your medical certificate form. You must not drive during the time that your doctor says you're not fit to drive. You'll need to give us a current medical certificate form before you can drive again.
What if you don’t agree with the decision?
If you disagree with our decision about your driver licence, you may apply for a review of the decision or provide a new medical certificate confirming your ability to drive safely.