Obtaining a driver’s license is subject to a number of regulations set forth by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. However, the state is more concerned with safety than eligibility when it comes to senior drivers.
In 2024, there were 444 fatal crashes affecting older persons, according to the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, which tracks crash and injury data throughout the state.
According to research, California has experienced 616 fatalities annually on average during the last ten years.
In California, what age is too old to drive?
The California DMV and state law state as follows:
- Updated DMV guidelines have relaxed the requirement that California drivers take a written test every five years after turning 70.
- The majority of senior drivers can now renew their licenses without having to complete a written knowledge test.
In an announcement from September, California DMV Director Steve Gordon stated that the agency had removed “the written knowledge test for those without traffic violations on their record in order to improve customer service.”
According to the DMV website, if a test is necessary, select the “eLearning” option when completing your online application.
Who must take the knowledge test in order to renew their driver’s license?
When renewing their California driver’s licenses, first-time drivers and those with a bad driving record must still pass a written knowledge test.
Those who have been found guilty of driving while intoxicated also do. The DMV states that if any of the following describe you, you will have to take the test:
- Two or more collisions in the two years before to the expiration of your license.
- Three mishaps in the three years before to expiration. a suspension for DUI during the previous two years.
- Several points for violations over the two years before to renewal.
Do senior drivers need to visit the DMV office in order to renew their licenses?
Drivers 70 years of age or older in California are required to renew their licenses in person rather than online.
This procedure included upgrading their license photo and undergoing a vision test. The DMV advises beginning a renewal application online to save time during an in-person appointment.
Which mental or physical health issues can lead to a license suspension?
The DMV may suspend your license in accordance with California Vehicle Code 12806 if you have:
- A condition that results in “lapses of consciousness.”
- A condition that may return after causing a lapse of consciousness or “episode of marked confusion” within the previous three years.
- Any further mental or physical health issues that can make it difficult for you to drive safely.
Read Also: Big Change Coming to License Plates After Four Decades, DMV Confirms
Certain medical disorders that frequently affect elderly drivers may result in a driver’s license suspension, according to Shouse California Law Group. These conditions include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cataracts
- Degeneration of the eyes
- Diabetes
According to the law firm, the DMV may also suspend your license if you take drugs that cause lightheadedness, drowsiness, or blurred vision since it may question your mental or physical health.
