Stage 2 - Providing reports and testing

Find out what information you might need to provide to help us assess your fitness to drive.

If we’ve received a report about your ability to drive safely or your medical condition, we’ll need some information from you to help us assess your fitness to drive. We’ll send you a letter telling you what we need and the date we need it by. 

We assess your fitness to drive using AustRoads’ national assessing fitness to drive standards.

Medical report

To assess your fitness to drive, we’ll need you to provide a medical report from your doctor by the due date stated in your letter. You can find the report form attached to your letter, download a medical report form [PDF 121 Kb], or pick one up at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.

You’ll need to:

  1. Make an appointment with your doctor (you might need a long appointment)
  2. Complete the medical report form together at your appointment
  3. Send your completed form to [email protected] or the postal address on the report.

What happens next?

If we need more information to assess your fitness to drive, we might ask you to:

  • Provide an additional report from a medical specialist (e.g. ophthalmologist).
  • Complete a VicRoads medical review driving test. Please refer to the driving test section, below.
  • Complete an occupational therapy driving assessment. Please refer to the occupational therapy driving assessment section, below.

Once we have enough information, we’ll assess your fitness to drive and send you a letter about your medical review outcome

How much will it cost?

VicRoads will cover the costs of:

  • your VicRoads medical review driving test (if you need one)
  • assessment of your fitness to drive using the information you provide.

You’ll need to pay for any personal costs related to:

  • Providing medical reports (e.g. doctor’s appointments).
  • Preparation for your VicRoads medical review driving test (e.g. driving lessons). Please refer to the driving test section, below.
  • Your occupational therapy driving assessment (if you need one). Please refer to the occupational therapy driving assessment section, below.

We understand that medical appointments and occupational therapy driving assessments cost money and may not be partly/fully refundable. For this reason, we only ask for additional reports when they’re absolutely necessary.

Privacy, access and your medical information

We take your privacy seriously, and we handle your personal and medical information in keeping with all relevant health record and privacy legislation as outlined in our privacy policy.

If required, we may provide your health information to: 

  • independent bodies who advise on the medical fitness of drivers
  • law enforcement agencies
  • other road and traffic authorities
  • the Transport Accident Commission (TAC)
  • legal courts
  • other authorised people.

Find out more about privacy and freedom of information.

Accessing your medical records

You can access your medical records by making a Freedom of Information application and paying a small fee. Decisions about what information can be accessed are made on a case-by-case basis in keeping with the Health Record Act 2001 and the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Find out what’s involved in a VicRoads medical review driving test. 

A VicRoads medical review driving test is designed to check that you still have the necessary skills to drive safely. We sometimes ask for this in addition to a medical report so we can test your on-road skills.

About the assessment

Your medical review driving test is different to the driving tests you sit to get your licence for the first time. You’re not assessed based on points, and you’ll only fail if your driving is unsafe or illegal.

If we require you to sit a medical review driving test, we’ll send you a letter with further instructions on how to set up an appointment.

For more information about medical review assessment, read the VicRoads medical review update [PDF 118 Kb].

Driving test

If you’ve been asked to sit a VicRoads medical review driving test, you’ll need to complete a 15-45 minute driving test. You will be assessed on how well you:

  • give way at intersections
  • use your mirrors
  • change lanes and merge
  • brake safely
  • apply the road rules. 

For more information about the driving test, read the medical review driving test update [PDF 108 Kb].

Where will the test take place?

If you apply for a full licence with no restrictions, the test will be carried out in an area near you which has:

  • multi-lane roads
  • roundabouts
  • an intersection with traffic lights.

If you apply for a conditional licence with restrictions, the test will be carried out in your local area on the roads you normally drive on. 

What happens after the driving test?

If you pass your test, you’ll keep your licence. If you test for a conditional licence and pass, we’ll organise a new licence with these conditions.

If you fail your test, your licence may be restricted or suspended until you test again and pass.  

For more information on what happens after the driving test, visit Stage 3: Your medical review outcome. 

What are the costs?

A medical review driving test is free of charge.

A VicRoads occupational therapy driving assessment is designed to assess the safety of your driving skills. We sometimes ask for this in addition to a medical report so we can test your on-road skills.

About the assessment 

If we need you to sit an occupational therapy driving assessment, we’ll get in touch with you and provide you with a list of occupational therapists to choose from.

Your chosen occupational therapist will then arrange the assessment on your behalf.

  • an off-road assessment
  • a driving test.

Therapy Driver Assessor list

To see a list of occupational therapists conducting driving assessments in Victoria, refer to the occupational therapists conducting driving assessors in Victoria [PDF 256 Kb].

About the off-road assessment

In the off-road assessment, your occupational therapist driver assessor will:

  • ask you about your driving and medical history
  • test your understanding of road law
  • assess your visual, sensory and thinking abilities.

For more information about off road assessment, read the guide to occupational therapy driving assessment [PDF 91 Kb].

About the driving test

The driving test will be carried out in a dual controlled car with a driving instructor and your chosen occupational therapist.

The test may take up to an hour and a half, with up to an hour spent in the vehicle including assessing how well you drive. During the driving test you will be assessed on:

  • physical limitations
  • judgement and ability to adjust to traffic situations
  • reacting appropriately to traffic
  • abiding with road laws
  • the use of any vehicle aids or modifications (if you need them).

For more information about the driving test, read the guide to occupational therapy driving assessment [PDF 91 Kb]

What happens after the assessment?

If you’re found to be safe to drive following the test, you may be able to keep driving with either:

  • no restrictions
  • conditions or restrictions to you licence
  • modifications to your car.

Conditions or restrictions may include wearing glasses, driving a vehicle with automatic transmission or driving only in daylight hours or within familiar areas close to home.

If you’re found to be unsafe to drive at this time, you may be asked to:

  • take driving lessons to improve your skills, or familiarise yourself with the vehicle modifications
  • wait for further recovery until you can sit the test again.

For more information about what happens after the assessment, visit Stage 3: Your medical review outcome

What are the costs?

The cost of an occupational therapy driving assessment depends on these factors:

  • how long the assessment takes
  • driving instructor costs.

In some cases, assessments may be partly or fully paid by an insurance scheme (TAC or Work Safe) or through rehabilitation services. The list of occupational therapists sent to you includes information about how to check whether you are eligible for subsidised occupational therapy services.

Please note: occupational therapists are independent of VicRoads and fees may vary, so it’s best to discuss costs prior to the assessment.

Occupational therapy driving assessors

Here's a list of occupational therapists conducting driving assessors in Victoria [PDF 256 Kb].

Please note: if you are an occupational therapist and you'd like to make changes to your details on the list, please email [email protected].

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