If you have a medical condition that may impair your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle,  even temporarily, you must provide a  Medical and/or Eye Report*  from your physician. Some of these conditions include:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Requires a Medical Report*  and the completion of the knowledge and road skills tests
• Seizure Disorder/Loss of Consciousness
  • Requires a Medical Report*
  • DC regulation states you must be seizure-free for at least twelvemonths prior to obtaining a driver’s license.
  • If you are currently licensed and experience a seizure or loss of consciousness,  you must report the incident to DMV within 30 days. Unless your physician indicates the seizure  was due to a change in medication, or strictly nocturnal, DMV will suspend your driving privilege  for twelve months from the date of the last episode.
• Insulin-dependent Diabetes
  • Requires a Medical and Eye Report*
• Vision impairment (i.e., glaucoma, cataracts, eye disease and monocular vision)
  • Requires an Eye Report*

If you are a habitual alcoholic or drug abuser, you may be required to provide evidence of attending a DC or other state-certified program.   Such evidence is always required to reinstate a license revoked for an alcohol or drug related offense unless the person can prove at a reinstatement hearing that such a program was not necessary.

A Medical Report* is also required when a law enforcement officer suspects a driver may have a medical condition that led to a traffic citation or accident.  If DMV receives a detailed, written statement from a family member, law enforcement officer, or physician related to the unsafe driving of a resident, we will also require the resident to complete a Medical Report*.   Driving tests may also be required in any of these situations, depending on the circumstances.

DMV will use the medical information provided by your physician to determine if a driver's license may be issued or issued with restrictions. We may also issue a driver’s license for a shorter duration based on your physician’s information. Also, if your doctor recommends follow-up Medical and/or Eye Reports*, we will track this information to ensure compliance. If we do not receive the follow-up reports within the timeframe specified by your physician, your license will be subject to suspension.

Driver’s License Medical Review Process

As part of the driver’s license medical review process, DMV may require you to submit an Eye Report* from your ophthalmologist/optometrist and/or a Medical Report* from your physician.

• Have your physician complete the certification on the driver’s license application*
• Pass the eye test

Based on your physician’s evaluation and recommendation and any necessary DMV evaluations, DMV will determine whether to:

• Deny your application (in which case a non-driver ID may be obtained);
• Suspend your driving privileges;
• Restrict your driving privileges; or
• Require you to submit periodic medical and/or eye reports*