Connecticut Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

Maintaining control of a motor vehicle involves a complex interaction of reflexes and situational awareness that can diminish with age, putting senior drivers at an increased risk of collisions. According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), in 2021, drivers ages 65 and older were involved in 14% of fatal traffic accidents in the state. While CTDOT doesn't currently have any specific regulations aimed at seniors, the agency can restrict an individual's driving privileges if it finds such restrictions necessary to promote road safety.

Procedure for Renewing Driver's Licenses in CT

Connecticut driver's licenses are valid for either six or eight years. No matter what your age, you can renew your license for six years for a fee of $72 (in 2025) or eight years for a $96 fee. Drivers ages 65 or older can request a two-year driver's license renewal for $24, but the two-year renewal period isn't mandatory.

Connecticut is one of the few states that doesn't require a vision test when renewing your driver's license. Senior drivers can join younger drivers in renewing their license online at the CT.gov renewal portal. You can also choose to make an appointment at your local DMV office. If you have a major medical condition and can't visit in person, you can use the renew by mail form and send the completed paperwork to the following address:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Central Issuance Operations Unit
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06109

Don't forget to include a check or money order for any licensing fees if you're going to renew by mail.

Documents Required for CT License Renewal

Even though you don't need to take a vision, road, or written test to renew your license, you'll need to have certain documents proving your identity. For online renewal, you'll need to provide the following information:

• your first and last name exactly as it appears on your current driver's license
• your date of birth
• your current street address
• your driver's license number
• your Social Security number, and
• a credit or debit card (for payment of renewal fees).

Before the DMV can process your online renewal application, you'll need to watch a brief safe driving video. After you've completed these steps, you can expect to receive your new license in the mail within 30 days.

If you're renewing in person, you should bring the following documents with you to the DMV:

• your current driver's license. If you don't have your current license, you must present one acceptable form of identification (if the DMV doesn't have your image on file, you'll need to have two acceptable forms of ID), and
• an acceptable form of payment (such as cash, personal check, or debit card) for the licensing fee.

Drivers who've changed their name since the last time they were issued a license should bring evidence of the name change (such as a marriage license, civil union certificate, divorce decree, or probate court document) with them to the DMV appointment.

Possible License Restrictions for Connecticut Drivers

Connecticut's DMV commissioner can require any resident who is renewing their driver's license to demonstrate that they can properly operate a motor vehicle, if they have a health problem that interferes with their ability to drive safely. The commissioner also has the ability to restrict the licensee's driving privileges to situations that aren't hazardous, given the driver's health.

The most common license restriction for drivers of all ages is the need to wear corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contacts, while driving. But there are other driving restrictions as well. For example, CT drivers may have the following conditions attached to their licenses:

• driving limited to daylight hours (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset)
• no driving on roads other than limited access highways
• driving limited to vehicles with automatic transmissions (no "stick shifts")
• driving limited to vehicles with external mirrors located on both sides of the vehicle to reflect a view of the roadway at least 200 feet to the rear
• driving limited to vehicles with special controls or equipment, and
• driver must wear a working hearing aid.

If you're discovered to be driving in violation of any of the above license restrictions, your driving privileges can be suspended or revoked. For information on getting a license restored, call the CT DMV at 860-263-5720.

Requesting an Unsafe Driver Investigation in Connecticut

Relatives, friends, and doctors of a potentially unsafe elderly driver can submit a notarized affidavit to the DMV expressing their concerns. The DMV may then contact the driver named in the report to tell them that their ability to operate a motor vehicle is under review and provide the driver with medical forms for their doctor to complete. Keep in mind that the driver named in the report is allowed to see the affidavit, so your identity may not be kept anonymous.

Disabled Driver Parking Placards

Disabled Connecticut residents (and guardians of a disabled person) can get a placard that allows them to park in designated accessible spaces. You'll need to have a licensed physician, physician's assistant, optometrist, ophthalmologist, or the state Board of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) to attest that you have a qualifying medical condition. Qualifying medical conditions include:

• an inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest
• an inability to walk without the use of (or assistance from) a brace, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other ambulatory aid
• having lung disease that causes a significant reduction in lung functioning, as demonstrated by an FEV₁ value of less than one liter or arterial-oxygen tension at rest less than 60 mm/hg
• needing to use portable oxygen
• having a heart condition that causes a degree of functional limitations categorized as Class III or Class IV by the American Heart Association
• having a severe limitation in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition, and
• being legally blind.

Veterans with PTSD can qualify if a VA psychiatrist has confirmed diagnosis of the disorder and the veteran has limited mobility (as defined above). To get a disabled parking placard, you'll need to complete the application form and submit it to the DMV either online, in person, or by mailing the form to the address located in the top right corner of the application.

Learn More About Connecticut Driving Rules for Seniors

Knowing when to ask for help is a major factor in keeping senior drivers safe and independent, so it's key to recognize your limitations and the limitations of loved ones who are getting behind the wheel. The state of Connecticut maintains a useful webpage—the Center for Experienced Drivers—that includes links to resources such as senior driving classes. A related guide called How to Help an Older Driver is geared mainly towards friends and family of aging drivers, but can also help drivers self-assess their skills. (While the pamphlet is a little dated, the advice contained within is pretty timeless.)

Senior drivers generally are at an increased risk of involvement with traffic-related injuries. Age-related loss of vision and slower reaction times can contribute to a higher chance of an automobile collision. If you're a senior driver dealing with the aftermath of a collision or driving infraction, you may want to contact an attorney to help you fight your traffic ticket, handle your car accident claim, or get your license reinstated.