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You may have read recently that older drivers "no longer have to do" a memory test to renew their licence. That is only part of the story. New guidance does say a cognitive test should no longer be done simply because of your age. But it remains your doctor's or nurse practitioner's decision whether a test is needed for you, and we want to explain why.
What the guidance actually says
In New Zealand you need a medical certificate to renew your licence at 75, again at 80, and every two years after that. That has not changed.
In September 2026 the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners issued updated guidance to GPs, following a University of Auckland review. It says routine cognitive screening of every older driver is no longer recommended. However, a test can still be used when there is a clinical reason, such as a concern about memory or thinking, or when we don't know a patient well enough to make a judgement. The decision rests with the clinician, based on your overall health, physical and mental ability, medical and driving history, and any safety concerns.
Tip: where you can, book your licence medical with a doctor or nurse practitioner who knows you well. They already have your health history and a sense of how you're managing, so they are more likely to be able to sign you off without extra tests. If you see someone who doesn't know you, they may need a test simply to get enough information. Grey Power gives the same advice.When we complete a driver's medical, we sign a legal document stating that, in our professional opinion, you are medically fit to drive. We do not take this lightly.
Why we look at the whole picture
Our job is to assess your full physical and mental ability to drive, not just your memory. We look at things like eyesight, hearing, movement and strength, medical conditions, medications, and how quickly you think and react.
We all know that as we age our reflexes slow down and our thinking takes a little longer. These changes make an accident more likely. The national review found that older drivers travel fewer kilometres than younger drivers, but have more crashes for each kilometre driven.
A clean driving record is something to be proud of. But never having had an accident doesn't mean you won't have one in the near future. When we assess a driver, we are thinking about your safety, your passengers, and everyone else on the road, including the children and neighbours in our own community.
If you are asked to do a test
You may be asked to do a cognitive test. There is no pass mark. A test result is one piece of information that we put alongside everything else we know about you, to decide whether you remain safe to drive.There are several ways we may assess your cognitive function:
- Mini-ACE: a short set of questions and tasks covering memory, attention, language and drawing. It is the test the College recommends in most situations.
- Trail Making Test: joining numbered and lettered dots in order, against the clock. It looks at attention, planning and switching between tasks, skills closely linked to driving.
- On-road safety test: a practical drive with a testing officer, offered by VTNZ, the AA and VINZ. Sometimes the best way to answer the question is simply to see you drive.
We may also refer you for a specialist occupational therapy driving assessment.Even if your memory is not what it used to be, we may still consider you fit to drive. Forgetting names or where you put your keys is not the same as being unsafe on the road.
We understand what's at stake
We know that losing your licence can feel like losing your independence, especially living rurally where there is no bus at the end of the road. Getting to the shops, appointments, church, clubs and family all matter. We weigh this carefully, but we also have to consider everyone's safety.
Please be reassured that, as health professionals, we are only trying to look after you and our community. Telling someone they should stop driving is a part of our work we do not enjoy. If it does come to that, we will talk it through with you and your family and help you find other ways to stay connected.
If you have questions about your next licence renewal, please talk to your doctor or nurse.
Dr Sue Fowlie is a GP and the Group Clinical Director Te Waipounamu for Tend Health.