Is There an Age to Stop Driving? The Warning Signs Safety Experts Look For in Older Drivers

Is there an age when it’s time to hand over the car keys?

It’s a question many families face. Driving means independence, and giving it up can be one of the hardest decisions of later life.

Safety experts say the answer isn’t a number on a birthday cake. Here’s what the data shows, and the signs that matter more than age.

Is There an Age When You Have to Stop Driving?

No. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), “there is not one recommended age to quit driving.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) agrees that decisions about a person’s driving “should never be based on age alone.”

There is no national age cutoff. Each state sets its own licensing rules, and most add extra steps for older drivers, such as shorter renewal periods or vision tests, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

California requires drivers 70 and older to renew in person every five years and pass a vision test. In Texas, drivers 79 and older must take a vision test and can’t renew online or by mail. Florida drivers 80 and older renew every six years instead of eight and must pass a vision test. In Illinois, a road test is now required only for drivers 87 and older.

What Do the Crash Numbers Show?

There were 54.4 million licensed drivers 65 and older in the U.S. in 2024, according to NHTSA. That’s 23% of all licensed drivers.

That year, 8,019 people 65 and older were killed, and an estimated 284,525 were injured in traffic crashes, or about 22 deaths a day.

Per licensed driver, older drivers do well. NHTSA found that drivers 65 and older had a lower rate of involvement in fatal crashes than any other age group in 2024.

The picture changes when you count miles driven. According to IIHS, fatal crash rates per mile “increase noticeably starting at age 70-74.” Drivers 85 and older had 7.9 fatal crash involvements per 100 million miles, compared with 2.5 for drivers of all ages.

Much of that comes down to fragility. IIHS says the higher fatal crash risk among older drivers is “largely due to their increased susceptibility to injuries.” Many older drivers also adjust on their own by driving less, avoiding night driving, and staying off the road in ice or snow.

What Warning Signs Should Families Watch For?

The NIA and NHTSA point to several signs that it may be time to cut back or stop driving:

• Several crashes, near misses, or new dents and scrapes on the car
• Two or more traffic tickets or warnings in the last two years
• Higher insurance premiums because of driving problems
• Comments from neighbors or friends about unsafe driving
• Getting lost on familiar routes
• Feeling anxious about driving at night
• A doctor’s advice to change driving habits or stop

Health changes play a big role. The NIA says stiff joints can make it harder to turn your head or brake safely, and that some medicines “can make you feel drowsy, lightheaded, or less alert than usual.” Glaucoma, cataracts, and hearing loss can also make it harder to notice danger on the road.

Dementia is a special concern. “People with dementia often do not realize they are having driving problems,” the NIA warns, and some states automatically revoke a license after a dementia diagnosis.

How Can Older Drivers Check Their Skills?

• Try a self-assessment. NHTSA has an online checklist, and AAA offers “Drivers 65 Plus,” a 15-question self-rating exercise.
• Take a refresher course. AAA and AARP both offer safe-driving classes for older drivers. According to AARP, many states require insurers to give a discount to drivers who complete an approved course, so check with your insurer.
• Get a professional evaluation. The NIA suggests having your skills checked by a driving rehabilitation specialist or occupational therapist. AAA says a full assessment typically costs $200 to $400 or more.
• Keep up with checkups. Have your eyes checked every year or two, as your eye doctor advises, and ask your doctor or pharmacist whether any of your medicines affect driving.

Giving up the keys doesn’t have to happen all at once. For many people, it starts with small changes, like avoiding night driving or busy highways, and an honest conversation with family and a doctor.

Sources:

• National Institute on Aging: Safe Driving for Older Adults
• National Institute on Aging: Driving Safety and Alzheimer’s Disease
• NHTSA: Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully
• NHTSA: Traffic Safety Facts, Older Population (2024 data)
• IIHS: Fatality Facts 2024, Older People
• IIHS: License renewal procedures by state
• California DMV: Senior Drivers
• AAA: Evaluate Your Driving Ability
• AARP: Auto insurance discounts for drivers who take a safety course

You might also want to read: How Often Should Adults Over 65 Shower? What Dermatologists and Aging Experts Recommend