Oregon Driving Laws for Seniors and Older Drivers

Oregon has nearly 3 million licensed drivers—and a growing number of them are age 65 and older. While the rules and regulations enforced by the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) apply to drivers of all ages, the state does have restrictions for older residents to ensure that they're remaining safe behind the wheel.

State of Oregon Driver's License Renewal Rules for Seniors

Drivers licenses in Oregon are issued for eight years, after which you'll need to renew your license within two years of expiration in order to continue driving legally. The state of Oregon doesn't impose a hard age limit in order to renew your driver's license, but there are special rules that apply to drivers 50 years of age or older.

Vision Testing

Oregon requires all drivers who will be 50 or older on the date their license expires to pass a vision screening when they renew their license. The eye test checks both your field of vision and your visual acuity. Your test results need to establish that you have a visual acuity (with corrective lenses) of 20/70 or greater and a field of vision of at least 110 degrees or your license won't be renewed.

License Restrictions

The requirement to wear corrective lenses, such as glasses or contacts, when driving is one of the most common license restrictions. But there are other limitations that the DMV may place on your driver's license if the agency finds that they are warranted for safety purposes. Some additional restrictions the Oregon DMV can place on older drivers include:

• daylight driving only
• placement of an additional outside mirror on a vehicle
• no driving a vehicle with a manual transmission ("stick shift")
• use of specialized equipment such as hand controls, and
• driving only while wearing a prosthetic aid.

If you have a driving restriction, it will be marked on your driver's license with a letter code corresponding to the nature of the limitation (for example, G for "daylight driving only").

Requesting an Unsafe Driver Investigation in Oregon

The Oregon DMV accepts requests to conduct unsafe driver investigations from family members, friends, law enforcement officials, social service providers, and anyone else who has knowledge about a driver's limitations that may affect their ability to drive safely.

Unsafe driver requests should be submitted on a Driver Evaluation Request form. Requests can't be based on age, diagnosis, or general health alone—they must relate to specific instances of observed unsafe driving behavior. All requests are confidential under Oregon law, but the state cannot accept anonymous requests.

Mail the completed form to the following address:

DMV Driver Specialty Services
1905 Lana Avenue NE
Salem, OR 97314

You can also fax the form to (503) 945-5329. For more information about the At-Risk Driver Program, check out the Oregon DMV's webpage on driver fitness.

Obtaining and Renewing Parking Placards for Disabled Drivers

Disabled person parking placards can be issued to drivers with impaired mobility if a licensed medical practitioner certifies their condition. You may be eligible for a disability placard if you have:

• severely limited mobility due to paralysis or the inability to use some or all of your arms or legs
• loss of your visual acuity or vision field that can't be corrected, or
• a medical problem (such as a chronic heart condition, emphysema, arthritis, rheumatism, or ulcerative colitis) that causes you to be unable to walk more than 200 feet without an assistive device.

You can obtain or renew a parking placard by completing the application form and having it signed by a licensed health care provider. Oregon considers the following licensed practitioners qualified to authorize the parking placard form:

• doctors of medicine (MDs)
• osteopaths
• podiatrists
• chiropractors
• naturopaths
• nurse practitioners
• physician associates, or
• optometrists.

Once you've gotten your doctor or licensed medical provider to sign the form, you can bring the completed form to a local DMV office, fax it to 503-945-5181, or mail it to the address below:

DMV Driver Issuance Unit
1905 Lana Avenue NE
Salem, OR 97314

It should take about 10-14 days for your application to be processed and your placard issued.

Additional Help for Senior Drivers

Senior drivers generally are at an increased risk of involvement with traffic-related injuries. Age-related loss of vision and slower reaction times can contribute to a higher chance of an automobile collision. Some seniors may even have their license suspended or revoked if they're demonstrating a pattern of unsafe driving.

If you're 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. You can also contact an employee at one of the several dozen DMV offices throughout Oregon for more information about agency rules and regulations addressing your specific concerns.