Driver License Renewal & Re-examination Test
for Senior Citizens
 When
you reach age 70, DMV requires that renewals be in person rather
than by mail. You may be asked to take a written test to ensure
that you are up-to-date on any new laws that have been passed.
If you get a ticket, and the officer issuing the ticket feels that
you may have shown either a lack of skill or lack of knowledge,
he or she may also issue a Request For Re-Examination.
If you have a medical condition that may affect your driving, a
doctor may file a medical report with the DMV.
Required include:
- Uncontrolled diabetes.
- Epilepsy, including "breakthrough seizures" in cases
that were formerly under control.
- Alzheimer's Disease.
- Dementia.
- Cataracts.
- Muscular degeneration.
- Muscular dystrophy.
If you fail the written test several times, or if you are issued
a Request For Re-Examination, or a doctor files a report on a medical
condition, the DMV Driver Safety unit may contact you.
They may send you a medical questionnaire. They may also schedule
a hearing, by phone or in their office, within a month. You are
responsible for providing any information they request. Based on
that hearing, they can suspend a license until a medical condition
clears up, or issue a temporary license for purposes of instruction.
They can also require a written test, or a drive test, or both.
They can also revoke a license permanently.
If the hearing goes against you, you have rights of appeal, both
at the local office, and in Sacramento. This is explained in our
booklet, "Getting Your License, Keeping Your License.
If the hearing goes against you, you have rights of appeal, both
at the local office, and in Sacramento. This is explained in our
booklet, "Getting Your License, Keeping Your License.
RETESTING
In the interest of public safety, the Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) requires all drivers at the age of 70 and older to physically
go to their local DMV office when it's time to renew their driver's
license. They will be required to take both a written and eye test.
This requirement is designed to screen drivers who may have developed
various problems over the many years of their driving career. Good
vision is necessary to drive a motor vehicle. Over the years for
most of us our vision becomes weaker. Although glasses or contact
lenses may improve or correct our vision to some degree, there are
those of us who still cannot see adequately to drive an automobile.
The second emphasis is placed on your knowledge of the law. For
example, hundreds of laws have changed or gone off the books in
the last 10 years, and few people keep up with these changes. The
DMV requires drivers 70 or older to take a written test over laws
and safe driving practices, to insure the safety of both the driver
and the motoring public.
In the past 15 years we have learned a great deal of information
about dementia and other mental problems such as alzheimers. If
a driver is tested and fails a written test several times, it could
be that their memory has faded to the point where it would be unsafe
to drive.
The DMV will require any driver who has substandard vision or those
who have difficulty in passing a written test, to take a driving
test. The driving test will help the DMV decide whether the driver
can adjust adequately for either of these problems.
Following is a list of reasons a driver may be required to be retested:
- A police officer may at his discretion request DMV to retest
you.
- Your doctor is required by law to notify DMV of any health problem
that may affect your ability to drive safely.
- Neighbors, friends or relatives can also request DMV to retest
an individual.
- Amputation of limbs that would affect the use of the controls
of your vehicle.
- If you decide to go to a different class of license, you will
be required to take a written and drive test in that class. Example,
you have a C license and you want to operate a bus. You would
need to take a drive test in a bus, a written test for both B
and C drivers, have a physical, and take a passenger endorsement
written test.
PREPARE FOR THE DRIVE TEST
Our instructors will evaluate your skills during the first session,
determine your needs, and estimate when your drive test can be scheduled.
Our teaching method will make you safe, confident, and can get you
your license.
AUDIO TAPES AVAILABLE
We offer a very popular tape that covers questions and answers
similar to those that you will be asked on your DMV written test.
Since the DMV does not have one but several different written tests,
this tape includes over 100 sample questions, explanations,
answers, along with some valuable tips regarding other ways of preparing
to take the written and eye tests. Our second audio tape
includes how to prepare to take a DMV drive test.
The Cost of each tape is $9.95 which includes shipping
and handling within California.
PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION
We can provide an evaluation of your driving skills, identify what
you already do well, and identify what additional work you may need
to pass a drive test. This will require approximately 45 minutes.
Call us for scheduling and ordering information in San Diego and
Southern Orange Counties.
PREPARE FOR THE WRITTEN TEST
We have study guides, practice tests, and patient instructors to
help you study for the California written test. We can take you
to the DMV for the test if that is required.
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