New York Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

While New York State's population declined by more than 2% from 2020 to 2022, the number of seniors (65 and older) grew by nearly 5%. Likewise, the number of licensed drivers in that age group increased, and by 2022, 23% of all drivers in the state were 65 or older. Unfortunately, the number of seniors killed in traffic accidents is also on the rise, up 2% in the same period.

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) enforces regulations for drivers of all ages and has no special requirements or restrictions on older drivers. Instead, the state has a process for identifying and handling older drivers who've become unsafe. Here's what older drivers and their families need to know.

License Renewal Rules for Older Drivers in New York

There are no age-specific rules for New York drivers renewing their licenses. All drivers must renew every eight years and can do so:

• online, by following the steps on the DMV license renewal page
• in person, at a DMV office near you, or
• by mail, by completing the renewal notice or an Application for Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card and mailing it to: NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, 207 Genesee Street, Suite 6, Utica, NY 13501-2874.

You'll need to show proof of adequate vision, no matter which renewal method you use. There are three ways to accomplish this:

• Take a vision test at the DMV (when you renew in person).
• Have your vision checked by a provider listed in the DMV Online Vision Registry (the provider will submit proof you passed the test directly to the DMV).
• Download the Vision Test Report form and have the form completed by a qualified provider, which includes:
  • a physician
  • a physician's assistant (PA)
  • an ophthalmologist
  • an optometrist
  • an optician
  • a registered nurse, or
  • a nurse practitioner.

Note that if you use the Vision Test Report, you'll need to submit the information to the DMV yourself. If you renew online, you'll enter the information from the form during the renewal process. If you renew by mail, you must include the completed form with your renewal application.

Possible License Restrictions for Older New York Drivers

The NY DMV can place restrictions or conditions on your driver's license that require you to meet specific conditions when driving or limit when you can drive. In New York, the most common restriction for older drivers is not driving without prescription glasses or corrective contact lenses.

Other common restrictions the DMV might impose on older drivers include:

• using telescopic lenses
• daylight-only driving
• wearing hearing aids while driving
• driving only vehicles equipped with:
• gas pedal extensions
• hand-operated brakes
• full hand controls
• automatic transmission
• power steering or brakes
• full-view mirrors, or
• not driving on highways with on- and off-ramps.

How to Request an Unsafe Driver Investigation in New York

The New York DMV will accept information about an individual's possible unsafe driving from anyone who knows or has observed the driver. That includes:

• police officers
• doctors, and
• concerned individuals (like family, friends, or neighbors).

Each reporting entity must complete the appropriate driver review request form. The DMV doesn't accept re-evaluation requests by phone or by email.

The request must include the reporting party's name and signature, but the DMV won't disclose the name of the person submitting the report (although the report itself is subject to release under Freedom of Information laws).

A license examiner from the DMV Testing and Investigation Unit reviews the request and decides whether there are reasonable grounds to require a driver re-evaluation. If so, the DMV sends the driver a certified letter requesting an in-person interview and evaluation. (N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 506.)

If you receive a re-evaluation letter, you may need to retake the written exam or driving test. The DMV will also require you to pass a vision test. You might also have to provide a doctor's statement that lists your medications and explains how your condition or medications affect your ability to drive safely.

If you fail any part of the re-evaluation, the examiner could add restrictions to your license or revoke your driving privileges. If you don't attend the interview or refuse the re-evaluation, the DMV can suspend or revoke your license.

New York Driver Improvement Programs

Drivers can improve their skills by enrolling in a driver rehabilitation program. These programs evaluate your mental and physical abilities needed to drive safely and usually include a behind-the-wheel evaluation.

Depending on your results, the evaluator might recommend additional driving training or that you stop driving altogether. These are only recommendations and don't affect your driver's license.

Learn more about finding driver rehabilitation programs in New York.

How to Get a License Reinstated

If your New York driver's license was suspended or revoked after a re-evaluation or a doctor's report of a medical condition like a seizure disorder, you might be eligible to have it reinstated. The suspension lasts until a doctor certifies that the condition no longer affects your driving skills.

Learn more about getting a suspended driver's license reinstated.

How to Get a Disabled Parking Permit or License Plates

If you have a qualifying disability, you can get special vehicle plates for disabled persons from the DMV or a parking permit for persons with severe disabilities from your local government. Both the plates and the permit allow you to park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities. (N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 404-A.)

Disabled person parking permits are available for people with permanent or temporary disabilities. Disabled license plates are only for those with permanent disabilities. To be eligible for the parking permit or special plates, you must have a severe disability.

To qualify as "severely disabled" in New York, you must have a condition that affects your ability to move about without help, including one or more of the following:

• being legally blind
• having no or limited use of one or both legs
• having a neuromuscular dysfunction that severely limits mobility
• using portable oxygen
• being unable to walk 200 feet without stopping
• having a severe cardiac condition
• having an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition that severely limits the ability to walk
• being restricted by a severe lung disease, or
• having a physical or mental condition that makes it difficult to use public transportation.

You can get disabled parking plates by applying with the New York DMV and paying the $28.75 fee. A New York resident with a qualifying disability is eligible for one set of plates for a vehicle registered in that person's name.

Because local city, town, and village governments issue the disability parking permits (rather than the DMV), the procedure for getting one differs slightly across the state. For detailed information or to download an application, see the Parking for People With Disabilities page on the DMV's website.

Learn More About New York Driving Rules for Seniors

The DMV website has a wealth of information for New York drivers, including links to forms and a subscription service for electronic reminders about license and registration renewals. Of special interest is the Older Driver Resources page, which includes advice on staying mobile and safe, along with links to resources for older drivers and their families.