Reports have suggested that the government is going to update the driving licence renewal process for the over-70s, including the system of self-declaring medical conditions to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

The government has not yet officially announced any changes.

Is the government going to change driving licence rules for the over-70s?

Recent media reports have suggested that the government will change the process of renewing driving licences for the over-70s. For example, articles have reported that those over the age of 70 could be banned from driving if they fail a compulsory eye test.

However, the government has not announced any changes. While the government is considering the current licencing system, and the “challenges posed by an ageing population”, it maintains that “the current renewal at age 70 process remains as is”.

Any changes that the government does plan to make will likely be announced in its upcoming Road Safety Strategy, expected in late 2025.

What are the current rules for drivers over 70?

Rather than the standard 10-year renewal period, under section 99(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, drivers over the age of 70 must renew their licence every three years.

All drivers, regardless of age, are legally obliged to declare medical conditions or disabilities which may affect their driving. This includes conditions which prevent a driver from meeting the specified driving eyesight rules.

Drivers should contact the DVLA either when they develop a relevant condition, or if a condition has worsened since obtaining their licence.

Third parties (such as doctors, opticians and family members) can also refer a driver to the DVLA if they are concerned about a condition affecting a driver’s safety on the road.

The DVLA will decide whether a driver with a relevant condition should continue to hold a driving licence. To inform its decision, the DVLA might:

  • contact the driver’s doctor or consultant
  • arrange for the driver to be examined, or
  • ask for the driver to take a driving assessment, or an eyesight or driving test

Why have there been calls for the rules to be changed?

Reports of fatal car accidents, caused by older drivers with undeclared medical conditions, have resulted in calls for changes to the DVLA’s self-declaration system.

For example, a 2024 Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) investigated a crash from 2020 where a toddler was hit by a car driven by a 91-year-old woman with dementia. The inquiry found that the incident could have been prevented (PDF) if the driver’s cognitive ability had been assessed when she last renewed her licence.

The DVLA’s response to the FAI noted a 2023 call for evidence on driver licensing for people with medical conditions:

The call for evidence sought views on the current legislative basis for assessing fitness to drive and what changes may be made. […] The DVLA is considering the research and evidence provided, and the further research that may be required to inform potential changes to the legislation governing driver licensing for those with medical conditions. This will include the process of self-declaration and the potential for the introduction of age-based testing.

What changes could be made to the current rules?

The government has not commented on planned changes to driving licences for the over-70s. Therefore, suggestions of possible changes are speculative.

One potential change could be introducing more stringent checks on older drivers’ eyesight, given the previous government’s Road Safety Statement (which was published in 2019). It suggested “there may be a case” for compulsory eye tests at the age of 70, and every three years thereafter, coinciding with licence renewal.

In a report sent to the Department for Transport, coroner Dr James Adeley also called for those “suffering from a condition that compromises their self-awareness” not to be permitted to hold a driving licence.

If such changes were to be introduced, the DVLA could start requiring evidence of good health, such as the results of a recent eye test, when drivers over 70 renew their licence in future. The DVLA may also become stricter in denying driving licences to older drivers who declare certain conditions.

How could the government change the rules?

The requirement for over-70s to renew their licence every three years is established in primary legislation.

To make other changes, the government could use the powers afforded to it in the Road Traffic Act 1988 to implement new regulations. As an example, a regulation could be introduced to require drivers over the age of 70 to pass an eye test each time they renew their licence.

Further reading

About the author: Olivia Rider is a transport researcher in the House of Commons Library.

Photo by: Magicbones via Adobe Stock