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If you are worried that a driver may no longer be safe, the licensing agency can usually review the concern without automatically taking away the person's license. In most states, a report starts a medical review, a request for documentation, or a reexamination. The outcome may be no action, a vision test, a road test, a medical form, a restricted license, or, in serious cases, suspension.
Use this page as a starting point. Reporting rules are different in every state, and confidentiality is not guaranteed everywhere. For a driver-specific situation, contact the state licensing agency directly.
If there is no immediate danger, start with specific observations rather than age. NHTSA recommends gathering information, developing a plan, and following through with practical support before or alongside a formal report.
Most states accept reports from family members, physicians, law enforcement, or other concerned people. A few states limit who can start the review. Massachusetts generally routes reports through healthcare providers or law enforcement. Wyoming is more restrictive than most states, and family reporting may need to go through a professional or official channel.
Five states require physicians or certain healthcare providers to report specific medical conditions that may affect driving: California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Delaware used to be included in many older lists, but its mandatory reporting rule changed in 2024.
Do not assume anonymity. Some states treat reports as confidential. Others warn that a driver may be able to learn the reporter's identity through a records request or review process. Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming are the states to treat most cautiously for confidentiality. Virginia is unusually protective for reports from relatives and medical professionals.
Use these shortcuts to jump from a state page to the relevant state. Each state page includes the current reporting form or agency route when we have one.
{states}A report is not the only path. Many older drivers can keep driving safely with a narrower plan: daylight driving only, avoiding highways, avoiding bad weather, updating glasses, adjusting the vehicle, using local rides for longer trips, or taking a refresher course.
If the goal is to preserve independence while reducing risk, start with the least disruptive option that matches the concern. Use a DMV report when there is a specific safety risk, a medical concern that needs review, or the driver will not engage with safer alternatives.