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Up until now, renewing a driver’s license in California has been a rather simple process, right?Well, it won’t be so simple for thousands of senior citizens going forward.A restriction enforced by the Department of Motor Vehicles specifically impacts drivers over 70, and those who have experienced any mishaps in the past few years are much more affected.
These individuals will need to undergo new physical and cognitive exams as well as an in-person license renewal. The DMV does not want the roads to become unsafe since road safety is not a game. Regulations are changing more frequently in a state where the population is getting older.
The DMV s new change
The DMV suggests that anyone over 70 who wishes to renew their licenses must retake the medical exams necessary to continue driving safely for both themselves and other drivers, particularly if they have been in an accident recently.
Who is affected by this new change?
As previously said, not all people over 70 wish to keep driving in the state of California. Those who have engaged in any of the following violations within the last two years are specifically targeted by the regulation:
- Have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI)
- Have caused or been involved in a traffic accident
- Have any type of recorded traffic violation
You won’t be able to renew your license online or automatically, as many people used to be able to, if you fit any of these requirements. Good luck waiting at the DMV office. Renewal will only be done in person and requires prior evaluations.
Mandatory tests for older drivers
Drivers who are affected are required to take examinations intended to assess their driving skills. You don’t need to retake your driving test; these are merely physical examinations.
- Vision test
- Written test
- Medical and cognitive evaluation
If you’re wondering what it’s for, it’s essentially to make sure that you still have all of your cognitive abilities and, most importantly, that you don’t endanger traffic safety.
What conditions are taken into account?
The DMV is particularly aware of older persons who might have conditions including dementia, diabetes, cataracts, epilepsy, or Alzheimer’s that could significantly impair their ability to drive.
Is this a discriminatory measure?
Authorities maintain that it isn’t, but that its goal is to stop incidents that include older people more and more. According to data from 2022 (the most recent year for which records are available), adults over 65 were responsible for 15% of accidents and fatalities. Regretfully, it appears that this is becoming increasingly common, and the DMV wants to ensure that no more people die while driving.
Goodbye to online renewals
Indeed, these users will no longer be able to renew automatically online; instead, they will need to visit the offices to complete the necessary paperwork and obtain their renewal.
Why is this being done?
They want to satisfy basic safety criteria because the former method allowed some drivers with health issues to go unchecked.
How many people will be affected?
Ninety-one percent of qualified drivers in the United States are licensed, according to official data. Given that California has one of the oldest populations in the nation, hundreds of thousands of people may be impacted by this regulatory shift in the years to come.
Constantly on the go? Wherever you are, let’s meet!
Notifications on the renewal of your ID card or driver’s license can be sent to your inbox rather than your mailbox.
It only takes a few clicks to renew at https://t.co/xv5YOa5zkqpic.twitter.com/mb93eeftRu.
CA DMV June 13, 2025 (@CA_DMV)
