Plenty of people with cerebral palsy drive. Some drive a standard car with no changes at all. Others drive with modifications such as hand controls or a steering aid. Some find that driving is not the right fit, and use other transport instead.
Which of those applies to you is not something anyone can tell from your diagnosis. Cerebral palsy affects everyone differently, and two people with the same label can have completely different function behind the wheel. That is exactly why a driving assessment exists.
This article explains how it works in Queensland, whether you are a learner starting out or someone who already drives.
Can I drive with cerebral palsy?
There is no rule anywhere that says a person with cerebral palsy cannot drive.
The national medical standards are clear that cerebral palsy may affect driving where there are difficulties with movement and control, or where there are thinking or learning difficulties alongside it. Where there is any doubt, the recommendation is a practical driving assessment rather than an assumption either way.
One useful point in your favour: cerebral palsy is generally stable rather than progressive. Unlike conditions such as dementia or Parkinson's, it is not expected to worsen over time. That means once your driving is sorted out, ongoing review is usually not required.
What gets looked at
An occupational therapy driving assessment for cerebral palsy focuses on function. Not on your diagnosis, and not on what your condition is called.
Physical function. Strength, range of movement, coordination, muscle tone and how quickly you can move your foot between pedals or your hands on the wheel. We look at whether you can hold the wheel steadily, reach the controls comfortably, turn to check blind spots, and get in and out of the car.
Vision. Both how well you see and how wide your field of view is. Some people with cerebral palsy have difficulty with eye movement control or with judging distance, which matters for things like merging.
Thinking skills. Attention, processing speed, planning and reaction time. This is relevant where cerebral palsy occurs alongside a learning difficulty, and it is not relevant for everyone. We have explained what these tasks actually measure in how cognitive skills affect driving.
Fatigue. This one gets missed often. Moving takes more energy when you have cerebral palsy, and driving for an hour can be considerably more tiring than it is for other people. If fatigue is affecting you, say so, because it can change what modifications are recommended.
What the assessment day looks like
The assessment has two parts and takes around three hours.
The first part happens at home. We go through your medical history, medications, vision, physical movement and thinking skills. This is where we work out what you are physically capable of and start forming a view about whether any modifications might help.
The second part is on the road. You drive a dual-control car with a specialist driving instructor beside you and the occupational therapist in the back. If modifications look likely to be useful, we can trial them here, so you get to feel what hand controls or a steering knob are actually like rather than just hearing them described.
We drive in your local area, on roads you know. There is no set route and no pass mark to memorise. What to expect on the day goes through it in more detail.
If you have never driven before
If you do not yet hold a licence, the assessment you need is a potential to drive assessment. It answers a different question: not "is this person still safe", but "is learning to drive realistic, and what would it take".
You will usually need your learner permit before the on-road part, because you have to be legally allowed to drive the car. Some people do the off-road part first to work out whether it is worth pursuing at all.
A potential to drive assessment does not necessarily end with a yes or no. It usually ends with a plan, which might include a recommended number of lessons with a specialist instructor, particular modifications to trial, and what to work on first. Some people go on to get their licence. Some find it takes longer than expected. Some decide it is not for them, which is a legitimate outcome and better arrived at with information than by guessing.
More on this in learning to drive with a disability on the Gold Coast.
Vehicle modifications
Modifications exist to work around a physical difficulty, not to compensate for a thinking one. Common ones include:
Hand controls, which move the accelerator and brake to a lever near the steering wheel
A steering aid, a knob or grip that lets you steer accurately with one hand
A left foot accelerator, where the right leg cannot do the job but the left can
Secondary control extensions, so indicators, wipers and lights can be reached without letting go of the wheel
Seating and mirror adjustments, which sound minor and can make a substantial difference
The order of events matters, and getting it wrong is expensive. The assessment comes first, then the prescription, then the installation by a certified modifier, then TMR is notified and your licence gets a modification code added to it. Do not buy a car or order modifications before the assessment, because you may end up with something that does not suit you.
Full detail is in vehicle modifications for drivers in Queensland.
Do I have to tell Transport and Main Roads?
If you already hold a licence and your cerebral palsy is stable and already recorded, there is usually nothing new to report.
You do need to report if you are applying for a licence for the first time, if you need modifications added to your licence, or if something has changed, such as after surgery or a period of increased difficulty.
Reporting is done online or with a medical condition notification form, plus a Medical Certificate for Drivers from your doctor. See reporting a medical condition to Queensland Transport or the Queensland Government's page.
Funding
Cerebral palsy is a common NDIS access reason, and driving assessments and driver training are frequently funded through a participant's plan. It normally sits under Capacity Building, in the improved daily living or increased social and community participation categories.
We work with self-managed and plan-managed participants. Vehicle modifications are funded separately from the assessment and involve their own process and evidence requirements, which we can talk you through.
Assessments can also be paid privately, and occupational therapy driving assessments are GST-free. OT driving assessment cost in Queensland sets out the options.
Frequently asked questions
Will I need an automatic-only condition on my licence?
Possibly. If using a clutch is difficult, an automatic-only condition is common and it is not a restriction most people notice in practice, since the large majority of cars sold now are automatic.
Can I be assessed if I have never driven at all?
Yes. That is a potential to drive assessment, and you will generally need your learner permit for the on-road part.
Do I need to own a car?
No. The on-road component uses the driving instructor's dual-control vehicle. If you already have your own modified car, tell us, because there are situations where assessing you in it makes more sense.
How long does the whole process take?
The assessment itself is about three hours, with a report following. If modifications are recommended, allow several weeks for prescription, installation and TMR updating your licence.
Will I have to be reassessed every year?
Usually not. Because cerebral palsy is generally stable, regular review is not normally required. That differs from progressive conditions, where annual review is the norm.
What if the outcome is that I should not drive?
It happens, and it is worth being honest that it is a possible result. Where that is the case, the report will explain why, and we will talk through what else is available, including community transport and the Queensland Taxi Subsidy Scheme. If the barrier is something that can change with practice or equipment, the report will say that too.
Ready to book an OT driving assessment on the Gold Coast? Steer Driving is a mobile assessment service covering the Gold Coast and surrounding areas. Whether you already have a referral or you're just getting started, get in touch and we'll guide you through the next steps.
This article was written by Elise, an AHPRA-registered Occupational Therapist and driver assessor. Elise is the founder of Steer Driving, a mobile OT driving assessment practice.
References
Austroads. (2022). Assessing fitness to drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers (6th ed.). Austroads. https://austroads.gov.au/publications/assessing-fitness-to-drive/ap-g56/neurological-conditions/other-neurological-and-neurodevelopmental-conditions
Queensland Government. (2024). Reporting your medical condition. Department of Transport and Main Roads. https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/healthy-to-drive/report-medical-condition
