New Jersey Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

More than 35% of New Jersey residents are seniors (65 or older)—and that number is rising. So is the number of seniors licensed to drive, which increased by 16% between 2019 and 2023.

While older drivers are generally safer and involved in fewer crashes than younger ones, fatal accidents involving New Jersey seniors rose by 20% during the same period.

As the number of older drivers increases, so does the risk of age-related impairments that can affect driving ability. Drivers over 70 are also more likely to be killed in a serious crash than their younger counterparts.

Yet, the State of New Jersey imposes no special driving laws or license renewal rules for seniors based on age. The rules and regulations enforced by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) apply to drivers of all ages.

Still, some of the legal controls discussed here, such as possible restrictions on a driver's license and procedures for securing disability parking plates and placards, are especially relevant for older drivers.

License Renewal Rules for Older Drivers in New Jersey

Most of New Jersey's license renewal rules apply to all drivers. For example, each time you renew a driver's license in New Jersey, you must meet the MVC's 6-point ID requirement to prove your identity, Social Security number, and address.

New Jersey has only a few license renewal rules that apply specifically to older drivers. For example, while younger drivers must update their license photos every 12 years, drivers 65 and older don't need to. They can keep the photo the MVC already has on file for all future renewals. (NJ Stat. § 39:3-10f.)

When Must New Jersey Seniors Renew Their Driver's Licenses?

All New Jersey drivers must renew their licenses every four years. You can renew your license up to three months before it expires and up the three years after expiration. After three years, the MVC requires you to retest like a new driver.

Where Can Seniors Renew Their Driver's Licenses in New Jersey?

Most New Jersey seniors have three options for renewing their driver's licenses:

• in person at an MVC licensing center
• online through the NJMVC website, or
• by mail, if their renewal notice indicates they're eligible.

You'll need to make an appointment if you wish to renew your license at an NJMVC center.

Do Older Drivers Need a Vision Test to Renew Their Licenses?

All drivers must pass a vision test when they get their first New Jersey license. State law requires seniors and all other adults to pass a vision screening every 10 years as a condition of renewal. (NJ Stat. § 39:3-10c.) You can have your vision checked at the MVC licensing center or have your eyes checked by your:

• optometrist
• ophthalmologist
• optician, or
• doctor.

The license renewal notice you receive from the NJMVC will tell you if you need to pass a vision screening to renew your driver's license.

Do Seniors Need to Retest to Renew a NJ Driver's License?

New Jersey doesn't require older drivers to retake a written exam or driving test just to renew a license. But if you have two or more serious accidents within six months that cause points to be charged to your license, the MVC can require you to retake a vision test and driving exam. (NJ Stat. § 39:3-10e.)

If your license has been expired for three years or more, you'll need to take the knowledge test, driving test, and vision screening again, just like a new driver.

How to Renew a New Jersey License as an Older Driver

If you received an MVC renewal notice saying you can renew your license online or by mail, follow the instructions on the notice.

To renew your license at your local MVC center, take the following steps:

• Schedule your renewal appointment online.
• Gather your six ID documents, like your:
• birth certificate
• current driver's license
• Social Security card,
• bank statement, or
• utility bill.
• Report to the license office on time for your appointment.
• Fill out the Auto License Application or Non-Driver ID Application (available at the MVC office or download Form BA-208 from the MVC website).
• Submit your documents at the counter.
• Pay the renewal fee with a credit/debit card, cash, check, or money order.
• Have your photo taken if required (optional if you're 65 or older).

You'll get a temporary license from the MVC immediately. And your new permanent license will arrive in the mail in a couple of weeks.

Possible License Restrictions for Older New Jersey Drivers

The state can't restrict an older driver's license just because of age. But the MVC can place restrictions or conditions on your license when there's "good cause" related to your physical condition or driving ability. (N.J. Stat. §  39:3‑11.)

The most common restriction for older drivers is to require glasses or corrective contact lenses. And you should know that if you wear corrective lenses while taking the vision test, your license will have that restriction.

In New Jersey, other common requirements the MVC can impose on older drivers include:

• wearing a prosthetic device while driving
• driving a vehicle equipped with one or more specified mechanical devices, and
• complying with special modifications or limited driver privileges tailored to an individual's medical condition.

How to Request an Unsafe Driver Investigation in New Jersey

The New Jersey MVC's Medical Review Unit accepts reports about drivers who might be unsafe behind the wheel from family members, medical professionals, the courts, law enforcement, and social workers. The Unit will start a medical review, which can result in the driver's license being restricted or suspended. The driver might face reexamination or regular monitoring, or reporting of medical conditions.

The MVC recognizes some specific conditions as common causes for safety concerns, including:

• visual impairment
• confusion or disorientation
• memory loss or lapses
• impaired or altered consciousness
• Alzheimer's or dementia
• neurological conditions, including seizure disorders, and
• sleep apnea.

To report an unsafe driver, whether a family member or neighbor, you can write a letter explaining the driver's medical condition or impairment and specific safety concerns. You must disclose your relationship to the driver and provide your name and contact information. The Medical Review Unit can't keep unsafe driver reports anonymous and must disclose the report filer's identity upon the driver's request.

Send your letter to the Medical Fitness Review Unit by faxing it to 609-292-7504 or mailing it to: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, P.O. Box 173, Trenton, NJ 08666-0173.

Physicians are required by law to report drivers who have:

• recurrent seizures
• recurrent periods of unconsciousness, or
• impairment or loss of motor coordination due to epilepsy or other conditions. (N.J. Stat. § 39:3-10.4.)

New Jersey Driver Improvement Programs for Seniors

Drivers can improve their skills by taking an education and training class specifically developed for older drivers. You'll find several mature driver courses across the state.

The MVC also offers a directory of licensed driver rehabilitation specialists who can evaluate your driving ability, help you with adaptive vehicle equipment, and offer rehabilitative services to improve your ability to drive safely.

How to Get a License Reinstated in New Jersey

If your license was suspended because the MVC found you medically unqualified, contact the Medical Review Unit:

• by phone: 609-292-7500, ext. 5032, or
• by fax: 609-292-7504.

For all other types of suspensions or revocations, contact the MVC's Driver Management Bureau at 609-292-7500.

How to Get Parking Placards or License Plates for a Disabled Driver

A motorist who's temporarily lost mobility and is medically certified can get a temporary parking placard from their local police department. The placard, which costs $4, is valid for six months and can be renewed only once.

Drivers with more permanent disabilities can get disabled person parking placards and license plates if a licensed medical practitioner certifies their impairment. The placards and plates are available for those who:

• have lost the use of one or more limbs because of paralysis, amputation, or other permanent disability
• are severely and permanently disabled and can't walk without using or getting help from an aide like a brace, cane, crutch, or prosthetic device
• have severe lung disease
• have a severe cardiac condition
• are severely and permanently limited in the ability to walk because of an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition
• can't walk two hundred feet without stopping to rest, or
• have a permanent sight impairment of both eyes as certified by the N.J. Commission of the Blind (placard only).

Permanent disability placards must be renewed and medically recertified every three years. License plates with the wheelchair symbol must be renewed each year, like all other New Jersey plates, and recertified by a medical professional every three years.

Take the following steps to get a disability placard or license plate:

• Complete and sign an Application for Vehicle License Plates and/or Placard for Persons With a Disability.
• Review the instruction checklist (Form SP-41A) to ensure you have everything you need.
• Have a licensed physician, podiatrist, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant complete the Medical Practitioner's Certification portion of the application.
• Make an appointment to take the original application to a local MVC vehicle registration office or mail it to the MVC Special Plate Unit address listed on the form.

For more information on disability parking privileges in New Jersey, see the MVC's FAQ on wheelchair symbol plates and persons with disabilities placards.

Learn More About New Jersey Driving Rules for Seniors

The MVC website contains basic information for New Jersey drivers, including rules on renewing your driver's license and vehicle registration requirements.

Of special interest is the "New Jersey Driver Manual," downloadable in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog. It includes tips for safe and defensive driving, along with explanations of local rules of the road.