North Dakota Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, 17% of North Dakota's population is age 65 or older. As we age, many important functions related to competent driving can deteriorate, increasing the risk of accidents. In order to help older residents maintain their independence while staying safe behind the wheel, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has enacted special licensing requirements for senior drivers.

North Dakota Driver's License Renewal Rules for Seniors

North Dakota driver's licenses are valid for six years for drivers younger than 77 years of age. Licenses expire at midnight on your birthday in the year printed on your license. (You can check to see whether your license has expired or not online using the Drivers License Status System.) Licenses for drivers 78 years of age or older are valid for four years instead of six

Drivers who are 70 years of age or older are not allowed to renew their driver's license online. Instead, they'll need to make an appointment to renew in person at one of the NDDOT driver license sites located across the state. Currently, no walk-ins are allowed at NDDOT offices, so it's important to schedule an appointment before you travel too far.

At the in-person renewal, you'll need to take a vision test (free of charge) to make sure that your corrected vision is good enough to drive safely. You can also bring a Certificate of Vision obtained from a physician or optometrist instead of taking the vision test provided that the certificate isn't more than six months old at the time of renewal.

Restrictions on Driver's Licenses in North Dakota

Like most states, North Dakota can issue licenses with certain conditions that limit the scope of the driver's privileges. Depending on your specific limitations and capabilities, your ND driver's license may contain the following restrictions:

• must wear corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) while driving
• vehicle must have additional outside mirrors
• driving limited to automatic transmission vehicles
• driver must use special hand controls, or
• daylight driving only.

The above list isn't exclusive—NDDOT can add other restrictions that the agency deems necessary to help protect the safety of the vehicle operator and other drivers on the road. If you're found behind the wheel in violation of the restrictions on your license, you can have your driving privileges suspended or revoked. Contact your nearest NDDOT office for information on how to reinstate a driver's license.

Requesting an Unsafe Driver Investigation

NDDOT provides a method for concerned parties to request an investigation for aging drivers who are having frequent close calls on the road. If you're concerned that an older relative, friend, or acquaintance has been getting too easily distracted—or that their reflexes have diminished to the point that they're unable to respond quickly to road hazards—submit a request for an unsafe driver investigation to NDDOT.

Who Can Make an Unsafe Driver Report?

NDDOT accepts unsafe driver investigation requests from anybody with first-hand information as to why a driver might need their fitness behind the wheel re-examined. The types of forms you'll need to submit differ based on your relationship with the driver.

• Licensed health care providers can complete a Medical Examination Report containing the provider's recommendations concerning driving.
• Law enforcement officers and certified driver examiners can complete a Request for Re-Examination.
• Vision specialists can complete a Certificate of Vision Examination.
• Friends, family members, or concerned citizens can submit a detailed written statement with specific, first-hand accounts and examples of driver wrongdoing.
• Judges can enter a court order disqualifying a person from driving if the judge has reasonable grounds for believing they are not competent to drive any motor vehicle.

NDDOT won't accept anonymous information—the report must contain the date and the reporting party's signature. Unsafe driver requests can be mailed to the following address:

Attention: Medical Program Coordinator
608 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505-0750

You can also fax the report to (701) 328-0308 or send it via email to [email protected].

What Happens After an Unsafe Driver Report is Submitted?

Unsafe driver reports are screened by the Medical Program Coordinator. If the coordinator doesn't think that there is any substance or validity to the report, they won't take any further action. But if there's evidence suggesting that the driver has become unsafe, the coordinator can ask the driver to obtain a medical or vision report from their physician or eye specialist. The coordinator can also ask that the driver get retested at a driver's license office.

Once the requested reports are received, if the driver doesn't meet the medical or vision requirements for safe driving, the Drivers License Division will suspend their license. Likewise, if the driver doesn't submit the required medical, visual, written, or road tests, the division can suspend their license for failure to file or complete those tests.

With regards to court orders, the Drivers License Division will suspend the unsafe driver's license until a new court order has been provided to the Department indicating the driver is now competent. The Drivers License Division may also require testing before the driver can become fully licensed again.

North Dakota Parking Placards or License Plates for a Disabled Driver

Drivers with disabilities can qualify for specialized license plates or placards which allow them to park in designated areas that allow easy access to entrances of public buildings. You can qualify for a disabled parking permit if a qualified medical practitioner (meaning physicians, chiropractors, physician's assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and physical therapists) has certified that you:

• can't walk farther than 200 feet without rest due to a cardiac, pulmonary, or vascular disease
• can't walk farther than 200 feet without assistance and rest due to an orthopedic, neurologic, or other medical condition
• use portable oxygen, or
• have a condition that causes, on testing, a forced expiratory volume (FEV₁) value of less than one liter or arterial-oxygen tension at rest less than 60 mm/hg and is categorized as class III or class IV according to the American Heart Association.

Applying for a disabled driver placard or plate is a straightforward process. You'll need to print and fill out an Application for Mobility-Impaired Parking Permit, have a qualified medical practitioner complete the second page, and mail the completed application to the address printed in the upper right hand corner of the first page.

Caregivers of mobility-impaired North Dakota residents can also apply for an accessible parking placard by submitting an Application for Care Providers Mobility Impaired Parking Permit(s).

Learn More About North Dakota Driving Rules for Seniors

As part of the NDDOT's Vision Zero initiative to eliminate driver fatalities, the agency has put together a helpful pamphlet—North Dakota's Guide for Senior Drivers—aimed at drivers 65 and up. Additionally, the NDDOT maintains an Aging Drivers web page specifically to address the concerns of older drivers, their families, and friends. The North Dakota Noncommercial Driver's License Manual (2023-2025 edition) also contains a wealth of information about the rules of the road and licensing requirements.

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. 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.