Learning to drive is one of the biggest steps toward independence. If you have a disability, you might be wondering whether driving is realistic for you, where to start, and what support is available.

The good news is that many people with disabilities do successfully learn to drive. The pathway might look a bit different, and it often takes longer, but the goal is the same.

An OT driving assessment is usually the best place to start.

What is a "potential to drive" assessment?

A potential to drive assessment is an OT evaluation designed specifically for learner and pre-learner drivers. It looks at whether you have the underlying skills needed to learn to drive, and what supports you'd need to get there.

This is different from a standard OT driving assessment (which evaluates whether an existing driver is still safe to drive). A potential to drive assessment is forward-looking: it's about working out whether learning to drive is a realistic goal, and what the pathway looks like.

It's relevant for people with a range of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, ADHD, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, and other conditions that may affect the skills involved in driving.

Do I need a learner's permit first?

No. You don't need a learner's permit to have a potential to drive assessment. In fact, it's often better to start with the assessment before applying for your permit, because the assessment can identify whether you're ready, and what you might need to work on first.

If you already have your learner's permit, that's fine too. The assessment can still evaluate your readiness and guide the next steps.

What happens during the assessment?

A potential to drive assessment is typically more comprehensive than a standard driving assessment, because the OT is evaluating foundational skills rather than existing driving ability.

Part 1: Off-road assessment

The OT will assess:

Cognitive skills. Attention, concentration, processing speed, decision-making, spatial awareness, memory, and the ability to follow multi-step instructions. These are the thinking skills that underpin safe driving.

Visual skills. Visual acuity, peripheral vision, and visual processing.

Physical function. Upper and lower limb strength, coordination, range of motion, and reaction time. If you have a physical disability, the OT will assess whether vehicle modifications might help.

Road rule knowledge. A basic check of your understanding of road rules and road signs. This doesn't need to be perfect at this stage, but it gives an indication of readiness.

Everyday skills and readiness. The OT may look at how you manage other complex daily tasks (like cooking, shopping, using public transport, managing money), because these give useful information about your readiness for the demands of driving. Driving is one of the most cognitively demanding everyday tasks, and how you manage other complex activities helps build the picture.

A conversation with you and your family or support network. Your goals, your motivation, any concerns, and the practical supports available to you (who will supervise practice driving, for example).

Part 2: Practical component

Depending on your experience and readiness, this might include:

Passenger activities. For pre-learners who haven't driven before, the OT may take you out as a passenger to observe how you respond to the driving environment, how you process traffic situations, and how you handle the sensory demands of being on the road.

A behind-the-wheel trial. If you have your learner's permit and some driving experience, the OT may include a short drive with a specialist driving instructor to observe your current skills.

For very early-stage learners, the assessment may be entirely off-road, with an on-road component planned for a later stage once foundational skills are more developed.

What are the possible outcomes?

The OT will recommend one of several pathways:

Ready to start driving lessons. Your underlying skills are sufficient, and you can begin lessons with a specialist rehabilitation driving instructor.

Ready with specific supports. You can start lessons, but with specific accommodations or focus areas identified by the OT. This might include structured lesson plans, shorter lesson durations, quieter practice environments to start, or a particular teaching approach that suits your learning style.

Not quite ready yet. Some foundational skills need further development before starting on-road lessons. The OT will recommend a capacity building program, which might include working on road rule knowledge, hazard perception skills, cognitive skill development, or practical life skills. A reassessment is planned after this period.

Driving is not a realistic goal at this stage. In some cases, the assessment identifies that the person's current abilities are not sufficient for safe driving. This is an honest conversation, and the OT will discuss alternative transport options and community mobility supports.

The OT will provide a written report with their findings and recommendations.

NDIS funding for learning to drive

For eligible NDIS participants, the pathway to driving can often be funded through the plan. This includes:

The OT assessment (potential to drive assessment), typically funded under Capacity Building: Improved Daily Living.

Driving lessons with a specialist rehabilitation driving instructor, also under Capacity Building.

Vehicle modifications if needed, under Assistive Technology.

Reassessment after completing a block of lessons.

Driving is a strong NDIS goal because of the direct link to independence and community access. When including driving in your plan, frame it around what driving enables: getting to work, accessing education, participating in social activities, reducing reliance on family or support workers for transport.

Your support coordinator or plan manager can help with the funding details. The OT can provide a report supporting the funding request.

Important note: Steer Driving works with self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants. If your plan is NDIA-managed (agency-managed), you'll need to use a registered NDIS provider for OT services.

How many lessons will I need?

This varies significantly from person to person, and it's difficult to give a number without an OT assessment first. What the research does tell us is that learner drivers with disabilities (particularly autistic learners) often require roughly twice as many lessons or hours of practice compared to neurotypical peers. Many also obtain their licence later than average.

Therefore, by planning for that from the beginning (including budgeting for it, whether privately or through NDIS), it will to a better experience than assuming a standard timeline.

Your OT will give you a realistic estimate based on the assessment findings, so you can plan accordingly.

The pathway to a licence in NSW

The recommended steps for getting your licence as a learner driver with a disability are:

1. OT potential to drive assessment to evaluate readiness and recommend a pathway

2. Learner's permit (pass the Driver Knowledge Test at Service NSW)

3. Supervised driving hours (120 hours for learners under 25, with at least 20 hours at night)

4. Driving lessons with a rehabilitation driving instructor (based on OT recommendations)

5. OT reassessment to confirm readiness for the driving test

6. Driving test through Transport for NSW (disability driving test if vehicle modifications are involved, or the standard test if not)

The OT coordinates with the driving instructor, your family, and Transport for NSW to keep the process moving.

When to start

There's no single right age to start the process. Some people begin exploring driving as teenagers. Others come to it in their twenties or later. The best time to start is when:

• You're interested and motivated

• You have (or can develop) the foundational skills identified in the assessment

• You have practical support for supervised practice (a family member or support worker willing to supervise driving hours)

• Funding is in place (if using NDIS)

If you're unsure whether driving is realistic, the assessment itself is the best way to find out. That's what it's designed for.

Getting started

Your GP, paediatrician, psychiatrist, or specialist can refer you for a potential to drive assessment. If driving is part of your NDIS goals, your support coordinator can also help arrange the referral.

You can start the process at steerdriving.com.au/referral.

Ready to book an OT driving assessment in Sydney? Steer Driving is a mobile assessment service covering greater Sydney. 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 Transport for NSW-registered driver assessor. Elise is the founder of Steer Driving, a mobile OT driving assessment practice in Sydney.

FAQ Section

What is a potential to drive assessment? It's an OT evaluation for learner and pre-learner drivers that assesses whether you have the underlying skills needed to learn to drive, and what supports or pathway would be most effective. It's different from a standard driving assessment, which evaluates existing drivers.

Do I need a learner's permit before the assessment? No. You can have a potential to drive assessment without a learner's permit. The assessment helps determine whether you're ready to apply for one.

Can the NDIS fund driving lessons? For eligible participants with self-managed or plan-managed plans, yes. Driving assessments, lessons, and vehicle modifications can be funded under Capacity Building and Assistive Technology categories when driving supports independence and community access goals.

What disabilities can be assessed for potential to drive? The assessment is relevant for a range of disabilities including autism, intellectual disability, ADHD, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, and other conditions that may affect driving skills. The assessment evaluates each person individually.

What if the assessment says I'm not ready to drive? This doesn't necessarily mean never. The OT may recommend a period of skill development followed by reassessment. In some cases, alternative transport and community mobility options may be explored instead.