New Mexico Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

Many important functions related to competent driving can deteriorate with age, increasing the risk of accidents. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 20% of fatal car crashes in New Mexico involved drivers 65 and older. In order to help older drivers maintain their independence while preserving road safety, the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (NM MVD) has special driver's license renewal rules for seniors.

New Mexico Driver's License Renewal Requirements

Drivers younger than age 79 have the option to renew their NM driver's license every four or eight years, with a different renewal fee depending on the length of validity ($18 for a four-year license and $34 for an eight-year license). If you're 79 or older, you'll have to renew your driver's license every year—but you won't be charged any renewal fees at all.

Older drivers can renew their driver's licenses at mvd.newmexico.gov using the online services portal. You may be required to submit a Vision Report form (which you can upload at the NM DMV website linked above) before the agency is able to process your license renewal, but written or road tests generally aren't required.

Potential License Restrictions for Senior Drivers

Like driver's regulatory agencies in most other states, the NM DMV can place restrictions or conditions on where, when, and how you can drive before issuing your license. Driving restrictions are noted on your license with a letter or number indicating the type of condition you'll need to meet in order to drive safely.

The more common license restriction for drivers of all ages is the requirement to wear corrective lenses—such as glasses or contacts—while driving (code "B"). Additional restrictions that may be of particular relevance to older drivers may include:

• driver is limited to operation of vehicles equipped with suitable mechanical aids, such as special brakes, hand controls, or other adaptive devices (code "C")
• driver must use prosthetic aids while driviing (code "D")
• driver is limited to operation of vehicles with automatic transmissions (code "E")
• driver is limited to operation of vehicles with outside mirrors (code "F"), and
• driver is limited to driving during daylight hours only (code "G").

Depending on your overall health and medical fitness behind the wheel, you may have multiple restrictions on your license (or none at all). Drivers who are found to be operating a vehicle in violation of any restrictions on their license may have their driving privileges suspended or revoked. For information on how to reinstate a driver's license, contact an NM MVD office near you.

New Mexico Disabled Driver Plates and Placards

Disabled drivers can request specialized license plates or placards that read "handicapped" and allow them to park in spaces easily accessible to public buildings. To obtain these plates and placards, you'll need to complete an Application for Mobility Limited (HP) License Plate and have your mobility limitations attested to by a licensed physician. Qualifying mobility limitations include:

• being unable to walk 100 feet without stopping to rest
• being unable to walk without the use of (or assistance from) a brace, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other ambulatory aid
• having a significant reduction in lung functioning to the extent that you have 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 severe cardiac condition, or
• being unable to ascend or descend more than ten stair steps due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.

Once you've gotten the application signed by a licensed physician, you can mail it to the following address:

Motor Vehicle Division
Attn: Vehicle Services
P.O. Box 1028
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1028

If you'd prefer a disability placard (which hangs from your rearview mirror) instead of a license plate, you can fill out the Application for Certificate of Eligibility for Parking Placard. The process of applying for a placard is very similar to that of applying for a plate—you'll need to have a physician agree that you have one of the required mobility limitations and then mail the signed form to the Vehicle Services address listed above.

What Else Should Seniors Know About Driving in NM?

Knowing when to ask for help is a major factor in keeping senior drivers safe and independent. Unlike most states, New Mexico has no established forms or procedures for reporting seniors who have potentially become unsafe drivers, so it's key to recognize your limitations and the limitations of loved ones who are getting behind the wheel.

One guide for older New Mexicans is the state Driver's License Manual, which contains valuable information about licensing regulations and general rules of the road. Safer New Mexico Now, a nonprofit organization that works closely with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, maintains a web page dedicated to older drivers and has links to resources such as a driving performance checklist and other self-evaluation tools.

Even the best drivers make mistakes, however. 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.