When 68-year-old Canberra resident Paul Richards received his driver’s licence renewal notice earlier this year, something about it looked different. Alongside the usual paperwork was a new requirement — a medical self-assessment declaration that hadn’t been part of the process before.
“I’ve had my licence for fifty years and never had an accident,” Paul said. “But I understand things need to keep up with the times. If it keeps everyone safer, I can fill in a form.”
Paul’s experience reflects a change that is about to affect a significant number of Australians. From February 28, 2026, updated driver licensing rules for people aged 65 and over are taking effect across multiple states and territories. The reforms introduce mandatory medical declarations, more structured review cycles, and expanded use of conditional licences — all aimed at keeping older Australians safely behind the wheel for as long as possible, while reducing the risk of preventable accidents.
These changes are not about removing licences. They’re about making sure the renewal process keeps pace with the reality that health and physical capability can change significantly with age — and that a framework designed decades ago may not fully reflect those realities today.
Why Are These Changes Happening Now?
Australia’s population is ageing, and the roads reflect that. Drivers aged 65 and over now represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the driving population. More older Australians are driving, driving further, and driving for longer into their later years than at any previous point in the nation’s history. That’s largely a positive thing — it speaks to better health outcomes, greater independence, and a more active older generation.
But road safety data tells a more complicated story. While older drivers as a group tend to drive more cautiously and are involved in fewer reckless or speeding-related incidents, when crashes do occur involving senior drivers, the severity of injuries — both to the older driver and to others — tends to be higher. Age-related changes in reaction time, vision, hearing, and cognitive processing, as well as the increasing prevalence of medical conditions and medications that affect driving ability, all contribute to this pattern.
A state transport spokesperson put the rationale plainly: the updated framework supports seniors to continue driving safely while reducing preventable road trauma. The emphasis, authorities are keen to stress, is on the word “safely” — not on finding reasons to take licences away.
The February 28 changes also bring several Australian jurisdictions into closer alignment with international road safety standards, many of which have had structured medical oversight of senior drivers for years.
What Is Actually Changing From February 28?
The specific details vary between states and territories, but the core elements of the reforms are broadly consistent across most jurisdictions. From February 28, drivers aged 65 and over will face mandatory medical self-assessment declarations as part of their standard licence renewal process. This is new — previously, medical declarations were generally only required in response to a specific health event or at the discretion of a GP.
For drivers aged 75 and above, the changes are more substantial. Renewal cycles are becoming more consistently structured, with annual or biannual medical reviews replacing the more variable arrangements that existed in some states. Drivers in this age group may be required to provide GP clearance, vision test results, and in some cases specialist reports for specific health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cognitive concerns.
The reforms also expand the use of conditional licences — a licensing category that allows drivers to remain on the road under specific, medically tailored restrictions. Rather than facing a binary choice between a full licence and no licence, more senior drivers will have access to conditions that reflect their actual capabilities and circumstances.
Additionally, the reporting obligations around at-fault crashes involving senior drivers are being tightened, and doctors’ obligations to report certain conditions that may impair driving safety are being more clearly defined in several states.
What Is a Conditional Licence and How Does It Work?
Conditional licences are one of the most important and least understood parts of this reform package. A conditional licence is simply a standard licence with specific restrictions attached — restrictions that are based on medical advice, driving history, and an assessment of where and when a person can drive safely.
Common conditions include things like daylight-only driving, restrictions on freeway or highway travel, a defined geographic radius within which driving is permitted, requirements for annual medical reviews, or the need for specific vehicle modifications such as hand controls or additional mirrors. The conditions are individually tailored — there is no one-size-fits-all template.
Brisbane resident Joan, 76, received a daylight-only condition after a vision review at her most recent renewal. For her, it changed very little about daily life. “I don’t drive at night much anyway,” she said. “Having it formally on my licence doesn’t really affect what I actually do.” Her experience is representative of many older drivers for whom conditional licences simply formalise adjustments they were already making voluntarily.
The key point that transport authorities want to get across is that a conditional licence is not a step toward losing your licence — it is a tool that allows people to keep driving when a full, unrestricted licence would no longer be appropriate. It is a solution, not a punishment.
How Renewal Requirements Are Changing by Age Group
| Age Group | Previous Requirement | From February 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 65–74 | Standard multi-year renewal, no mandatory medical | Medical self-assessment declaration required at renewal |
| 75–84 | Annual or biannual review (varied by state) | More consistent annual review with GP medical clearance |
| 85+ | Annual renewal with medical assessment | Continued strict annual checks — no change for most |
Requirements vary by state and territory. Check with your local transport authority for jurisdiction-specific details.
Which Medical Conditions Are Being Assessed?
The medical assessment process under the new framework covers a range of conditions that are known to affect driving safety. Vision disorders are assessed at renewal, since adequate eyesight is one of the most fundamental requirements for safe driving and one that can deteriorate gradually without the driver fully noticing the change.
Cardiovascular conditions — including heart disease, irregular heart rhythms, and a history of stroke — are assessed because they can affect both sustained concentration and the ability to respond quickly in an emergency. Diabetes, particularly when managed with insulin, is assessed because of the risk of hypoglycaemia behind the wheel. Neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and various forms of dementia, are assessed because of their progressive impact on coordination, judgment, and reaction time.
Doctors in most Australian states already have a legal obligation to report conditions that may significantly impair a patient’s ability to drive safely. The 2026 reforms clarify and in some cases strengthen these reporting obligations, making the process more consistent across jurisdictions.
Importantly, having one of these conditions does not automatically mean losing a licence. Many people with well-managed chronic conditions drive safely for years. The assessment process is about identifying risk and responding proportionately — which often means a conditional licence or a more frequent review rather than licence cancellation.
What Experts Are Saying
Dr. Karen Mitchell, a road safety researcher who has studied senior driver licensing policies across Australia and internationally, describes the reforms as a shift toward early intervention rather than crisis response. Her view is that the previous system — in which medical concerns were often only addressed after an accident or a serious health event — left a gap that these reforms are designed to close.
“Older drivers are not inherently unsafe,” Dr. Mitchell is careful to emphasise. “But age-related health risks do increase, and regular assessment creates the opportunity to identify and address those risks before something goes wrong rather than after.” She points to evidence from countries with longer-established senior driver assessment frameworks showing that structured oversight, combined with access to conditional licensing, tends to extend the period during which older drivers can remain safely on the road — not shorten it.
She also raises the importance of what happens when people do lose their licences, and why getting the balance right matters beyond road safety. Social isolation, reduced access to healthcare, loss of independence, and increased rates of depression are all documented consequences of licence loss among older adults. Conditional licensing, she argues, is partly a mental health and social inclusion policy as much as it is a road safety one.
Practical Steps for Drivers Approaching These Changes
If you are 65 or older and your licence renewal is coming up in the near future, the most important thing you can do right now is book an appointment with your GP before the renewal deadline arrives. Medical appointments can take weeks to secure, and if your renewal requires a medical declaration or clearance, leaving it until the last minute risks a gap in your licence validity.
Talk openly with your doctor about any medications you’re currently taking that might affect alertness, reaction time, or coordination. Many common medications — including some antihistamines, blood pressure drugs, and sedatives — have driving implications that aren’t always discussed unless specifically raised. Your GP is also the right person to help you think through whether a voluntary driving assessment might be useful, independent of the formal renewal process.
It’s also worth having a frank conversation with family members about the changes and what they mean for your specific situation. Family members are often the first to notice subtle changes in driving behaviour, and keeping those lines of communication open is helpful for everyone involved. If the worst does happen and a licence is restricted or cancelled, knowing what alternative transport options exist — community transport services, ride-share apps, local public transport — reduces the shock and gives everyone time to plan.
Finally, be aware that licensing decisions can be appealed in most Australian states. If you believe a restriction or cancellation is unwarranted, you have the right to seek a review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning 65 automatically cancel or restrict my licence?
No. Age alone does not cancel or restrict a licence. The changes introduce medical declaration requirements at renewal — they do not trigger automatic cancellations.
What exactly happens at the age of 75?
Drivers aged 75 and over will face more consistent annual medical review requirements and shorter renewal periods in most states. A GP medical clearance becomes a standard part of the process.
Will I need to do a driving test?
An on-road assessment may be required in some circumstances — for example, following a medical concern or at-fault accident — but is not a standard requirement for all drivers turning 65.
Can I appeal a licensing decision I disagree with?
Yes. Review and appeal processes are available in all Australian states and territories. Ask your transport authority for details on the process in your jurisdiction.
Will a conditional licence affect my car insurance?
You must comply with any conditions on your licence for your insurance to remain valid. Driving outside your conditions — for example, driving at night when your licence restricts you to daylight — would void your coverage.
What if I voluntarily give up my licence? Is there any financial support?
Some states offer transport concessions or community transport programs for seniors who no longer drive. Check with your state government or local council for what’s available in your area.
Where can I find the specific rules for my state?
Contact your state or territory transport authority directly, or visit their official website. Rules do vary between jurisdictions, and it’s important to check the details that apply where you live.
Independence With a Safety Net
For Paul Richards in Canberra, the February 28 changes represent a small administrative adjustment to a licence he has held without incident for half a century. For Joan in Brisbane, a daylight-only condition simply formalises a habit she already had. For many thousands of other older Australians, the reforms will pass largely unnoticed — a GP visit, a form completed, a licence renewed without issue.
For others, the process will surface health concerns that genuinely do need to be addressed, and the outcome — a conditional licence, or in some cases a restriction — will ultimately be in everyone’s best interest, including their own.
The goal of the February 28 reforms is not to take independence away from older Australians. It is to create a more honest, more structured, and more consistent system for making sure that independence is exercised safely. Getting on the road should feel like a right earned through demonstrated fitness to drive — not something that simply continues by default regardless of what’s changed.
If your renewal is coming up, don’t wait — book your GP appointment now and give yourself time to navigate the process without the pressure of a deadline.