driving licence medicals for older drivers
If you are aged 75 or over, you will need a medical certificate when renewing your driver licence.
At St Martins Medical, your driving medical includes some initial checks with one of our Health Care Assistants (HCA’s), followed by an appointment with your GP.
Age 75–79
You will be booked for:
- 15 minutes with an HCA – for blood pressure and visual acuity.
- 15 minutes with your GP – review of your health and medications and completion of your driving medical assessment.
Cost: $100
Age 80 and over
You will usually be booked for:
- 30 minutes with an HCA – blood pressure, visual acuity, road-rules questions and a brief cognitive assessment (Mini-ACE).
- 15 minutes with your GP – review of your health and medications and completion of your driving medical assessment.
Cost: $135
The Mini-ACE looks briefly at areas such as memory, attention and thinking. It is not a driving test, and the result does not determine whether you can continue driving.
The Mini-ACE is optional. If you prefer not to complete it, please let reception know when booking. We will arrange 15 minutes with a HCA followed by 30 minutes with your GP instead.
Cost: $180 (cost reflects extra non-government funded GP time)
Why does it cost more than a usual appointment?
Driving medicals are not subsidised by government funding in the same way as your usual general practice appointments. The fee reflects the HCA and GP time involved in completing your assessment and documentation.
What to bring
Please bring your driver licence and your glasses or contact lenses if you use them for driving.
If you have completed an AA Senior Driver Coaching Session, please also bring any feedback you received.
Consider a coaching session before your medical
- AA Senior Driver Coaching Session
The AA offers a Senior Driver Coaching Session to help older drivers refresh their driving skills and build confidence on the road.
This is a one-hour session in your own car with an AA driving instructor, who will provide practical advice and feedback on your driving.
This is not a driving test. The session is designed to help you maintain your driving skills and stay safe on the road.
AA members aged over 74 are currently eligible for one free session every two years.
You may receive written feedback following the session. If so, it would be helpful to bring this to your driving medical appointment, as it can provide your GP with useful additional information about your driving.
Find out more about AA Senior Driver Coaching
- Age Concern – Staying Safe Driving Refresher Course
Age Concern also offers a Staying Safe driving refresher course for older drivers.
These courses are held in a friendly, relaxed group setting and are a great opportunity to refresh your knowledge of road rules and safe driving practices.
Topics include roundabout signalling, intersections, blind spots, sharing the road with cyclists and changes to road rules.
This is not a driving test. The course is designed to help you feel more confident and stay safe on the road for as long as possible.
Courses are supported by NZTA Waka Kotahi. Contact your local Age Concern to find out about upcoming courses.
Find out more about Age Concern Staying Safe courses
Sometimes an on-road assessment is needed
Assessing someone’s driving is a significant responsibility that we take very seriously. It can also be difficult to judge how safely someone drives from a consultation room.
For this reason, your GP may recommend an on-road driving assessment, such as an AA assessment or a more comprehensive Occupational Therapist (OT) driving assessment.
This does not necessarily mean your GP thinks you are unsafe to drive. An on-road assessment simply provides additional information about your actual driving to help your GP make a safe and fair decision.
If further assessment is needed, we may not be able to issue your medical certificate at your first appointment.