Transportation
Driving
Staying mobile is important to seniors. Growing older doesn’t mean you have to give up driving. However, many older drivers voluntarily change their driving habits to accommodate changes associated with aging.
Courses for mature drivers
If you are an older driver, consider a driving course or workshop that can help you learn new ways to address age-related driving challenges. Along with learning new strategies, you can review driving rules and regulations, common causes of collisions and avoidance techniques.
- 55 Alive Driver Refresher Course
- Canada Safety Council
613-739-1535 ext. 230
CAA’s senior driving
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) used decades of experience in road safety, along with expert assistance from the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, to design a toolkit for seniors and their loved ones.
Use the toolkit to:
- Assess fitness to drive under different conditions
- Maintain driving confidence as you age
- Take concrete steps to modify driving habits, if needed
Driver’s licence renewal
You can renew your driver’s licence at ServiceOntario centres.
Senior driver renewal program
If you are age 80 or over:
- You will have to renew your licence every 2 years.
- You need to undergo a driving record review, complete a vision test and participate in a Group Education Session followed by an in-class cognitive screening exercise to renew your licence. The in-class cognitive screening exercise will help better assess your fitness to drive.
- You may be required to pass a road test before being able to renew your licence or you may have to follow up and submit medical information. The Driver Improvement Counsellor at the Group Education Session will discuss this with you.
Seniors should allow at least 90 minutes to complete the new renewal requirements. Learn more.
Ministry of Transportation
Driver Examination Centres
DriveTest Centres provide all driver examination services such as vision, written and road tests for all licence classes.
Toll-free: 1-888-570-6110 (automated phone booking line)
If you don’t have a driver’s licence, you can apply for an Ontario Photo Card to use as government-issued identification. Please see the Ontario government ID section.
Accessible parking permit
If you qualify for an accessible parking permit, it will be issued to you at no cost. You can use it in any vehicle in which you are travelling. Make sure that the permit is visibly displayed when the vehicle you are in is parked in a designated accessible parking space. To qualify for an Accessible Parking Permit, you must be medically certified by your health practitioner as having limited mobility and/or requiring mobility assistance, suffering from severe lung or cardiovascular disease, requiring portable oxygen or having poor vision. You can apply for a permanent permit that is good for up to five years or a temporary permit that is good for up to one year.
If you would like to learn more about the Home and Vehicle Modification Program, please see the finances section of this guide.
Alternatives to driving
If you are a mature driver, there may come a time when you will have to think about limiting your driving or perhaps stop driving altogether. This could be a difficult decision to make as you may fear losing your independence and becoming a burden to others. Don’t be afraid to talk about your concerns with family, friends and your doctor. Make sure that you are well informed about available alternatives to driving in your community. Plan ahead for the time when you may need to cut back and eventually stop driving.
Warning signs
It’s important to recognize the signs that you may no longer be a safe driver. Here are a few things to watch out for:
- Are you nervous behind the wheel?
- Do other drivers frequently honk at you?
- Have you had a number of fender benders and near misses?
- Do family or friends worry about your driving?
- Do your children trust you to drive the car?
- Do your children let you drive with your grandchildren in the car?
- Have you ever become lost when driving or forgotten where you were going?
Alternatives
There are many alternatives to driving. Here are a few options to consider:
- buses, taxis and other forms of public transit
- having friends and family members drive you
- keeping a vehicle that others drive for you
- van/bus pick-up scheduled and on demand from senior residences and other groups
- pre-paid taxi vouchers
- walking
- volunteer driver services that may be available in your area.
Call
Buying or selling vehicles
Used vehicle information package (UVIP)
Over one million used vehicles change ownership in Ontario every year. To help consumers make better informed decisions, the seller must provide a UVIP. The UVIP is available from all ServiceOntario Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices.
Public transportation
Many communities offer bus service and specialized transit services. Specialized services such as Wheel-Trans in Toronto, Para Transpo in Ottawa and Windsor Handi-Transit use smaller vehicles equipped with a lift or ramp for persons using mobility devices, such as wheelchairs and scooters. Some communities may use fully accessible buses on both fixed and flexible routes.
To learn more about public transportation services in your community, call
Volunteer drivers
Volunteer driver services may be available in your area through the Canadian Red Cross, your Royal Canadian Legion branch or a Seniors Active Living Centre program.
GO Transit
GO Transit is a regional public transit service that serves the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton, with routes extending to communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. GO Transit fares vary by distance travelled. Seniors 65 years or older can save 55% with their PRESTO card on their train or bus ride. Single-ride tickets and day passes are available for seniors. The majority of GO stations are accessible to passengers who use mobility devices or prefer step-free access.
For Veterans
Veteran graphic licence plate
This licence plate is available to eligible veterans whose service has been certified by the Royal Canadian Legion. Visit any ServiceOntario centre to get a Veteran Plate Eligibility Certification or visit ontario.ca/customplates.