Florida Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

Florida is home to more than 8% of the nation's senior citizens, with nearly 20% of the state's population aged 65 or older. While older Florida drivers (65+) account for about 12% of car accidents in the state, they're involved in a disproportionately high number of fatal crashes—around 20%.

The many rules and regulations enforced by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) apply to drivers of all ages and stages, but the state imposes a few special requirements and restrictions on older drivers. Specifically, Florida:

• requires drivers 80 and older to renew their licenses every six years (those 79 and younger can receive eight-year licenses), and
• accepts requests from family members and others for the FLHSMV to conduct unsafe driver investigations.

Florida License Renewal Rules for Older Drivers

When it's time to renew your Florida driver's license, special rules apply to drivers 80 and older.

When Do Older Florida Drivers Have to Renew Their License?

Florida driver's licenses are valid for eight years for all drivers 79 and younger. Once you turn 80, you'll need to renew your license every six years.

Do I Need a Vision Test to Renew My License?

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (commonly called the Florida DMV) requires drivers 79 and younger to pass a vision test at every other renewal. Drivers 80 and older must pass a vision test at every renewal.

When you need a vision test, you can take it for free at the license service center. Or if you renew online, you or your doctor can submit a Mature Driver Vision Test form. For the form to be valid, the exam must be performed by one of the following Florida-licensed health care providers:

• medical doctor (MD)
• osteopathic physician (DO), or
• optometrist.

A licensed physician at a federally established veterans' hospital can also perform your vision exam and complete the Mature Driver Vision Test form. The form is valid for one year after the date of the exam.

Can I Renew My Driver's License Online?

Florida drivers of all ages have the option to renew their licenses online using the state's online portal, but not twice in a row. You must visit a Florida driver's license service center in person at least every other renewal.

Online renewal requires an extra step for Florida drivers over 79. If you're 80 or older, you or your eye doctor must have electronically submitted your vision test results before you can renew your license online. (Fla. Stat. 322.18(5)(b).) Otherwise, you'll need to visit a driver's license service center to submit your test results in person or take the vision test.

Do I Need a Hearing Test to Renew My License?

If you renew your Florida driver's license in person, you must pass a hearing test, either administered by an examiner at the driver's license service center or a licensed physician. But if you renew your license online, the state doesn't require you to have a hearing test.

If you don't pass the hearing test, you can still renew your license, but you'll be required to have an additional outside mirror on your vehicle or wear a hearing aid while driving.

Possible License Restrictions for Older Florida Drivers

The Florida DMV can place restrictions or conditions on your driver's license after administering a driving test or another examination and discussing possible restrictions with you.

The most common restriction for older drivers is the requirement for corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses). In Florida, other common requirements the DMV can impose on older drivers include:

• no nighttime driving
• must wear a medical alert bracelet or hearing aid while driving, or
• the vehicle must have:
• an additional left-side rearview mirror
• automatic transmission
• power steering
• mechanical directional signals
• hand controls
• pedal extensions
• a left-foot accelerator, or
• a steering wheel with a knob or grip.

Florida Driver Improvement Programs

Drivers can improve their skills by taking an education and training class specifically developed for drivers 55 and older. Local course offerings called Mature Driver Courses can also help some older drivers qualify for reductions in auto insurance costs.

How to Request an Unsafe Driver Investigation in Florida

The Florida DMV will accept information from any doctor, person, or agency representative who knows of a physical or mental condition that could prevent an older person from driving safely. You must file a Medical Referral Form (form 72190) to request an unsafe driver investigation. You can download the form (in English or Spanish) from the FLHSMV website.

The report form must be complete or it's invalid. A valid report form includes all the following information:

• the driver's full name, date of birth, and address, and
• a full description of the medical condition (physical or mental) that you believe is affecting the person's ability to drive.

You must also include your name, address, and telephone number on the form, though the FLHSMV keeps all reports confidential.

An unsafe driver investigation can include interviews with people who know the driver, such as:

• family members
• neighbors, or
• the driver's doctor.

DMV investigators might also require the driver to submit medical tests or retake the written or road test—even an extended road test (three regular road tests given back-to-back). The extended test allows the examiner to observe your driving for a longer time and assess how fatigue, distraction, and continuous, repetitive actions affect your driving. If you refuse any of the required tests, the state will suspend or revoke your license.

Depending on the outcome of the unsafe driver investigation, the DMV could suspend or revoke your driving privileges, if warranted, or allow you to keep your license. The state could also issue a new license that's subject to restrictions—like limiting you to daytime-only driving or requiring an additional outside mirror on your car. (Fla. Stat. § 322.221.)

How to Get a License Reinstated

For information on how to get back a license that has been suspended or revoked in Florida, get in touch with the local:

• Bureau of Administrative Reviews office
• DMV office
• tax collector licensing agent, or
• the FLHSMV's Customer Service Center.

You'll find contact information for all these offices on the FLHSMV website.

Florida's Ombudsman Program

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles doesn't operate an ombudsman program, per se. But there are processes for appeals and complaints.

If you need help with a complaint or appeal, you can contact the Consumer Advocate by email: [email protected]. Or call the main Customer Service Center in Tallahassee on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 850-617-2000.

If your driving privilege is suspended or revoked, you might be eligible to apply for a hardship license or reinstatement. To learn more about your options, contact your local driver's license office or regional Administrative Review office (near the bottom of your county office contact page).

The FLHSMV Office of Inspector General (OIG) addresses issues like fraud, waste, and administrative violations. You can report misconduct within the FLHSMV by completing an online complaint form.

How to Get Parking Placards or License Plates for a Driver with a Disability

You can get a disabled parking permit (placard)—whether you drive yourself or someone else drives you—if you're legally blind or have impaired mobility. You must provide medical certification of your disabling condition. The FLHSMV accepts certification from any of the following health care providers licensed in Florida:

• physicians (MD or DO)
• chiropractors
• optometrists
• podiatrists
• physician assistants, and
• advanced practice registered nurses under the protocol of a licensed physician.

The state will also accept certification from a doctor licensed in another state, but you'll need to submit additional documentation verifying the physician's credentials and knowledge of Florida's parking permit eligibility guidelines.

State law limits the issuance of parking permits to Florida residents who have driver's licenses or state ID cards and one or more of the following conditions:

• a severe heart condition
• severe lung disease
• the inability to walk
• a severe limitation in walking, or
• a condition requiring the use of portable oxygen. (Fla. Stat. § 320.0848(b)1.)

You can get long-term permits and short-term permits, depending on how long your disabling condition is expected to affect your mobility. Long-term parking permits are free of charge, but must be renewed every four years. Short-term permits cost $15, are valid for up to six months, and can be renewed if needed.

To get a disabled parking placard, you'll need to complete and sign the Application for Disabled Person Parking Permit (Form HSMV 83039). You'll need to have your health care provider complete and sign the certification portion of the form. Then submit your completed application to your local tax collector's office or motor vehicle license service center, including the fee (if you're getting a temporary parking permit).

Learn More About Florida Driving Rules for Seniors

The FLHSMV website has a wealth of information for Florida drivers, including links to the Florida Driver's Handbook and required forms. Of special interest is the MyDMV Portal, where you can check the status of your driver's, renew eligible licenses, and renew motor vehicle plates and parking permits.