Queensland has no age limit on driving. If you are safe behind the wheel, you can keep driving at any age.

What changes at 75 is that you need a medical certificate from your doctor, and you need to carry it with you in the car.

This guide explains what that means, what your doctor is checking, and when a driving assessment comes into it.

Do I have to do a driving test when I turn 75?

No.

Queensland does not make you sit a driving test just because of your age. This worries a lot of people, and it should not.

What you do need is a Medical Certificate for Drivers, filled in by your doctor. It lasts up to 12 months, so you go back once a year.

What do I actually have to do?

Three things:

1. Book an appointment with your GP and ask for a medical certificate for driving. Your doctor uses a form called the F3712.

2. Keep the certificate in your car. Not in a drawer at home. You can be fined if you are stopped without it.

3. Renew it every year before it runs out.

If your doctor writes any rules on the certificate, such as wearing glasses or only driving in daylight, you must follow them. They are part of your licence.

You can read the official rules on the Queensland Government website.

What does the doctor check?

Your GP is looking at whether your health affects your driving. That usually means:

• Your eyes. How well you see, and how wide your side vision is.

• Your memory and thinking. Whether you can plan, react quickly, and pay attention to more than one thing at once.

• Your body. Whether you can turn your head to check blind spots, grip the wheel, and move your foot from the accelerator to the brake quickly.

• Your heart. Whether you are at risk of blacking out.

• Your medications. Whether anything you take makes you drowsy or slows you down.

Bring your glasses, a list of your medicines, and the names of any specialists you see.

What can my doctor decide?

There are three usual outcomes.

You are fit to drive. No restrictions. You carry your certificate and come back next year.

You are fit to drive with rules attached. For example, glasses, automatic car only, daylight only, or staying within a set distance of home.

You should stop driving. Sometimes this is temporary, such as after an operation. Sometimes it is permanent.

There is a fourth option, and it is the one many people do not know about. If your doctor is unsure, they can send you for a driving assessment with an occupational therapist before they fill in the form.

When would I need an OT driving assessment?

Getting older on its own is not a reason. Most people over 75 never need one.

Your doctor may send you if:

• You have been diagnosed with dementia or memory problems. See Dementia and Driving in Queensland.

• You have had a stroke or a mini stroke (TIA). See Driving After a Stroke in Queensland.

• You have Parkinson's disease or another condition affecting your movement.

• You cannot turn your neck far enough to check over your shoulder.

• You have had a few near misses, small bumps, or got lost somewhere familiar.

• Your family has noticed changes you have not.

• You take several medicines that could affect your driving.

What happens in an OT driving assessment?

It comes in two parts, and it usually takes around two to three hours.

Part one is off road. We sit down together, usually at your home. I check your vision, your neck and limb movement, your reaction time, and do some pen and paper tasks that look at memory, attention and planning. There is no pass or fail here. It tells me what to watch for on the road.

Part two is on road. You drive a car fitted with a second set of pedals, with a driving instructor beside you. We start on quiet local streets and build up. You drive routes you know where possible.

You can read more in What Is an OT Driving Assessment and What to Expect on the Day.

Afterwards I write a report and send it to your doctor. Your doctor then fills in your F3712 and sends it to Transport and Main Roads.

What if I do not do well?

The most common outcome is not "stop driving". It is "keep driving, with some rules".

Someone who struggles on the M1 may be completely safe within 10 kilometres of home in daylight. Someone with a stiff neck may be fine once a set of blind spot mirrors goes in.

Rules like these exist so people can keep driving where it is safe. See Licence Conditions After an OT Driving Assessment.

If the outcome is that you should stop driving, the report explains exactly what happened on the road and why. It is based on what I saw, not on your age or your diagnosis. See What Happens If You Fail an OT Driving Assessment.

What does it cost?

Most people over 75 pay privately. Some clients use Department of Veterans' Affairs funding, WorkCover Queensland, or CTP insurance if the condition came from a compensable injury.

See How Much Does an OT Driving Assessment Cost in Queensland.

Common questions

Do I get a letter from Transport and Main Roads when I turn 75? No. It is up to you to book the appointment with your doctor. Nobody will remind you.

What happens if I forget to renew my certificate? Your certificate is no longer valid, which means you should not drive until you get a new one.

Can I be fined for not carrying it? Yes. It needs to be in the car with you.

My doctor wants me to have a driving assessment. Does that mean I am losing my licence? No. It means your doctor wants real information about how you drive rather than guessing. Many people who are assessed keep driving.

Do I have to use my own car? No. The on-road drive uses a dual control car with an instructor. If you have a modified car, we discuss that beforehand.

What if I live near the border and hold a New South Wales licence? You follow New South Wales rules until you swap to a Queensland licence. See Reporting a Medical Condition to Transport for NSW.

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. Austroads. https://austroads.gov.au/publications/assessing-fitness-to-drive

Queensland Government. (2024). Driving when you're 75 and over. Department of Transport and Main Roads. https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/healthy-to-drive/age-and-driving/keep-driving