Getting a medical assessment for Fitness to Drive

To get, keep or renew a driver or rider licence in NSW, you may need to organise a medical assessment. Here's what to do.

Do you have a medical condition that affects your ability to drive or ride safely?

To get, hold or renew your licence, you may need to book a medical assessment with your medical doctor or specialist.

This includes people who:

• are over 75 years
• have a long-term medical condition or disability
• are upgrading a licence class and have a medical condition that affects driving
• have experienced a recent injury, illness or medical condition
• are first applying for a Class MC (Multi Combination) licence – then at different intervals based on age (see Austroads).

You must notify Transport for NSW of any medical condition or recent surgery that affects your driving.

If you're a NSW driver or rider licence holder, you must notify Transport for NSW as soon as the medical condition occurs, not just when you renew your licence.

You can also report someone else's medical condition that may affect their driving.

• emailing medicalunit@transport.nsw.gov.au
• visiting a service centre
• phoning 13 22 13.

We may ask you, or the reported person, to take a fitness to drive medical assessment.

Transport for NSW may send you a letter asking you to take a fitness to drive medical assessment. Most requests arrive 8 weeks before the assessment is due. You're likely to receive the letter on or close to your birthday.

The letter tells you:

• what type of doctor or specialist you need to see
• the due date
• whether you'll also need to sit a driving test.

If you received a letter and believe you do not need a medical assessment, contact us on 13 22 13.

Getting an assessment without a letter

You can still book a medical assessment without a letter from Transport for NSW.

Doctors can complete and submit the electronic form online. Alternatively, you can get a form from a service centre.

If your doctor requires the paper version of this form, visit a Service NSW service centre or call 13 22 13 to request one, and once completed by your doctor, take it to a service centre to be submitted to Transport for NSW.

To arrange a Fitness to Drive assessment you need to:

• book an appointment with your doctor before the due date
• take the letter from Transport for NSW (if provided) to your appointment.

Medicare may help in covering the cost of an age or health-related medical assessment.

Late assessments and due date extensions

If your assessment is late, we may suspend your driver licence.

In some circumstances we allow date extensions. This is decided on a case-by-case basis. You need to prove you've arranged to book an appointment well before the due date.

This applies even if the appointment can't be made until after the due date.

We can't issue an extension if you've reached the due date and/or received a suspension notice.

You can also complete your medical assessment early by up to six months before your due date.

To request an extension of time or your medical assessment early, please contact Service NSW on 13 22 13.

Your doctor or other health professional will do the assessment. They’ll evaluate your medical fitness to drive and consider if any disability, injury, illness or medical condition affects your ability to drive safely. They do this using Assessing Fitness to Drive standards (Austroads).

For your convenience, ask your doctor to fill out the assessment online. Your doctor will receive instant confirmation the report has been securely transmitted to Transport for NSW. Your doctor may print you a copy of the form for your records.

If your doctor requires the paper version of this form, visit a Service NSW service centre or call 13 22 13 to request one, and once completed by your doctor, take it to a service centre to be submitted to Transport for NSW.

Your doctor will advise how your medical condition can affect your ability to drive safely, and how it can be managed.

Your doctor will advise Transport for NSW on how you meet the appropriate medical standards.

Transport for NSW will make the final decision about your licence.

If you do not meet the medical standards, we may need to suspend, vary, refuse or cancel your licence. If we make a decision to change your licence, we'll notify you in writing. The notice will outline why we have made this decision and the actions you can take.

Sometimes we may apply conditions to your licence. These are legal requirements you must follow when driving or riding. You must get regular medical reviews.

Occupational therapist reviews

You may need a driving assessment by an occupational therapist to get or renew your licence.

Driver trained occupational therapists are qualified to assess all areas of driving. This includes:

• cognition, memory, judgement
• reflexes, motor function
• driving behaviour
• knowledge of road rules, application of road rules
• response times.

To find a qualified occupational therapist, see Occupational Therapy Australia.