Motor Vehicle Office

Medical Conditions of a Driver/Accident Re-examination

The DMV considers each case of a possible medical condition separately. The DMV does not consider the age of a driver in these cases. The DMV acts when it has information that a driver has a possible condition that can affect driving skills.

NYS law and DMV procedures identify conditions that require a driver to take a re-examination.

Sources of Possible Medical Conditions
The DMV receives information about the possible conditions of a driver from many sources. Drivers can provide the information in answers about medical conditions on a driver license application or a renewal form. The DMV can receive information about medical conditions from an accident report, a physician's report, a police report, a report by a member of the family of the driver, or from another citizen.

Physician's Reports: 
If a physician reports a condition that can affect the driving skills of a patient, the DMV can suspend the driver license. The DMV suspends the driver license until a physician provides a certification that the condition is treated or controlled and does not affect driving skills. The DMV can require that the physician certify again in the future that the condition is controlled and not dangerous. If the DMV does not receive the required certification, the DMV can suspend the driver license until it receives the certification.

A physician can use form DS-6 (Physician's Request for Driver Review) to report the condition to the DMV. Only a licensed physician can use form DS-6.

Other Reports: If the DMV receives a report from a person who is not a physician, the DMV decides each case separately. The DMV can schedule a re-examination for the driver, or an evaluation interview with a license examiner.

After an evaluation interview, the license examiner can require that the driver take a re-examination or ask for other specific tests. The license examiner decides if a re-examination or specific tests are required.

A re-examination can include a vision test, a written test, a road test or two or more of these tests. If the driver does not appear for a re-examination or does not pass the tests, the DMV suspends or revokes the driver license.

To report possible medical conditions, complete form DS-7 (Request For Driver Review).  This form provides the only method to report a possible medical condition. Make sure that you include all the required information and that you provide the details about the condition of the driver. A notary public must observe that you sign the form and then must notarize the form. Send the original completed form to:

Driver Improvement Bureau
NYS Department of Motor Vehicle
6 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12228

The DMV does not accept reports by e-mail or by telephone. The DMV decides the action to take or whether to take no action.

Privacy-If a person uses the Freedom of Information Law to request a copy of the form that you filed the DMV does not disclose your name or other information that identifies you. If the person who sends the report is a person who is in a position of authority, (for example, a physician or a police officer) the DMV does disclose the name of the person who sent the report.

Accident Re-examination Program
The DMV Accident Re-examination Program identifies those drivers who have a series of motor vehicle accidents. The DMV requires some drivers to take a re-examination. A re-examination normally includes a vision test, a written test, and a road test. The DMV uses the following standards to identify drivers to participate in the Accident Re-examination Program:
  • All drivers who have three accidents in a six-month period are notified to take a re-examination.
  • All drivers who are between 25 and 65 years of age and who have three accidents in a period of six to nine months receive a "Re-examination Questionnaire." The DMV evaluates the answers to the questionnaire and decides if the driver must take a re-examination.
  • All drivers who are under the age of 25 or who are over the age of 65 and who have three accidents in nine months are notified to take a re-examination.

Action Taken
If the driver does not appear for a re-examination or does not pass the required tests, the DMV suspends or revokes the driver license. If the driver does not appear for an evaluation interview or does not provide the required medical certification or re-certification, the DMV suspends the driver license until the driver complies with the requirements.