Australia does not set a compulsory age at which older people must give up driving, but getting older often means facing more paperwork, more health checks and, in some places, extra testing. While state and territory road authorities insist that age by itself does not decide whether someone is fit to drive, most jurisdictions add new requirements once drivers reach their mid 70s, and the obligations can vary widely depending on the state.
In Queensland, officials say there is “no age limit on driving if you can drive safely”, but once you turn 75 you must carry a current medical certificate whenever you drive. That certificate needs regular renewal, effectively placing older Queenslanders under continuing medical review.
New South Wales has the most formal system. From 75, drivers must complete a medical assessment every year. From 85, they must either take an on-road driving test every two years or move to a modified licence that limits driving to local areas and may include other conditions. This approach has become central to the national conversation, with ABC News reporting that NSW is the only jurisdiction with mandatory age-based on-road testing, and that tens of thousands of older drivers have chosen restricted licences rather than repeated testing.
Other states are less prescriptive. Victoria does not impose compulsory age-based tests, instead expecting drivers to keep an eye on their own ability and report any medical issues. Tasmania takes a similar approach, encouraging older people to keep driving “as long as possible” as long as it remains safe, while allowing medical reviews or driving assessments if concerns are raised.
South Australia requires drivers aged 75 and over to complete an annual self-assessment and declare medical conditions, with further testing generally only required if a doctor recommends it. In Western Australia, drivers aged 80 and over must have yearly medical assessments to renew their licence, and some people may also be asked to complete additional tests.
Road authorities describe these systems as risk-based, designed to focus on health and capability rather than a birthday. Critics argue the lack of national consistency creates confusion and can put uneven pressure on older drivers, especially for people who move between states or compare rules with friends and family elsewhere.
The safety debate is also being shaped by the numbers. The Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics estimates about 250 Australians aged 65 and over die in road crashes each year, and around 4,000 are hospitalised. More recent data from the National Road Safety Data Hub recorded 308 deaths among older road users in 2024, and found those aged 75 and over had a fatality rate comparable to drivers aged 17 to 25.
Researchers say part of the increase is driven by demographics, as more Australians keep their licences for longer. One study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention projected the share of drivers aged 65 and over would rise substantially, increasing their overall presence on the road.
Experts also point out that older drivers are not necessarily the group most likely to cause crashes, but they are more vulnerable when crashes happen. Physical frailty means injuries are more likely to be severe or fatal, and older motorists are also more commonly involved in intersection collisions and low-speed manoeuvring incidents.
Advocacy groups warn that if requirements become too strict, people can lose independence and face increased social isolation, particularly in regional communities where public transport and other options are limited. Road safety authorities counter that medical reviews and targeted assessments help identify age-related changes such as declining vision, cognition and reaction time.
Even with increasing scrutiny, no Australian state has introduced a compulsory age at which people must stop driving. Instead, eligibility continues to depend on individual health, guided by medical advice and, in many cases, growing formal oversight. As the population ages, the policy focus is shifting away from finding a single cut-off age and towards a more complex question: how long older Australians can safely stay behind the wheel, and under what conditions.
