Everyone 75 and over who holds a Queensland driver licence must carry a current Medical certificate for motor vehicle driver form (F3712) at all times when driving and comply with any stated conditions—you can be fined if you don't.
If you don't have access to a printer, ask at your health professional's surgery if they can download and print the Medical certificate for motor vehicle driver form (F3712) for you. You can also get this form from a transport and motoring customer service centre, at a participating QGAP office or at a Medical certificate for motor vehicle driver form (F3712) to us unless:
For the above, you should not wait until you need to renew your driver licence. You must present your medical certificate to us as soon as you become aware of your medical condition or any change to your existing medical condition.
Drivers 75 and over are subject to regular medical assessments. This means that if you are 75 or over, and want to keep driving, you must go back to your doctor at least every year. This does not affect the expiry date of your driver licence, which is shown on your driver licence.
For convenience, from 1 July 2017, medical certificates are valid for a maximum of 13 months.
In some cases your doctor may want to undertake more regular checks, and your medical certificate may be issued for a shorter period. If your doctor issues a medical certificate for longer than 13 months, you may only use the certificate for 13 months from the issue date.
Medical certificates issued prior to 1 July 2017, will expire on the stated expiry date.
If you are turning 75 and hold a current licence, you may receive a letter from us approximately 6 weeks before your 75 th birthday to let you know you now need a medical certificate if you want to continue driving.
If you present your medical certificate to us, you will receive a reminder around 6 weeks before it is due to expire, to let you know you will need to get a new medical certificate.
This reminder is sent as a courtesy, so you should not rely on this as your only reminder to get a new medical certificate.
As you get older, how you process information, your vision, and your ability to move changes. It’s important to know how age affects your driving.
As you age it can become more difficult to:
Medical conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and diabetes can also affect your vision.
To maintain your vision:
Changes to your body can make movement slower and more difficult. You may experience a decrease in your:
These changes, plus common health problems like arthritis, can affect the way you drive. For example, you may find it harder to operate the gears and clutch which can result in slower reaction times.
Your ability to process information, and react to it, tends to slow down as you age.
Driving under pressure can become stressful, giving you less time to react to changes on the road.
When planning a trip, think about whether you are comfortable:
You can also modify your car to help compensate for age-related changes. For example installing special wing mirrors can improve your side vision if turning your head is a problem.
If you voluntarily surrender your licence to us or it is cancelled because of a medical condition, you may be eligible to receive a Photo Identification Card free of charge as an alternative form of photo identification. For more information enquire at a transport and motoring customer service centre or call 13 23 80.
If you drive while your licence is suspended or cancelled, and you are convicted of the offence, you risk being fined or jailed.