Driving Laws in Maine for Seniors and Older Drivers

Learn about driving regulations and special initiatives aimed at keeping both older drivers and Maine’s roads safe.

While the various laws and regulations enforced by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) apply to drivers of all ages and stages, senior drivers are subject to additional requirements and limitations.

Maine’s restrictions are detailed in further depth below, but many of them are concerned with detecting and dealing with elderly drivers who may have become hazardous behind the wheel.

Maine in particular:

requires a vision test at the first renewal for drivers under the age of 40, and then requires drivers 65 and older to renew their licenses every four years; younger drivers must renew every six years, and accepts requests to report concerns about unsafe driving from anyone with personal knowledge of the driver.

Maine License Renewal Procedures for Senior Citizens

Drivers over the age of 40 who want to renew their licenses must follow certain regulations.

Time limitations are set every four years for drivers 65 and older, and every six years for those under 65.

A vision test is necessary at the first renewal after the age of 40, and subsequently at every second renewal until the age of 62, when a test is required at each renewal.

The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles provides free eye exams, but people may also have them performed by a doctor of their choosing within a year of the renewal request; that doctor must submit an Eye Form.

No written exam is necessary.

Road test: Only required if the BMV obtains signs that the driver is inebriated.

License Restrictions That Might Exist

The Maine Secretary of State has the authority to impose limits on a person’s driver’s license. The most prevalent limitation for senior drivers is the need for corrective lenses or glasses.

Other typical limitations include:

Only drive during daytime hours.
Driving exclusively inside a certain region, for example, or other restrictions imposed “in the benefit of highway safety.”

To start the process of obtaining a limited license, please contact:

207-624-9000 Bureau of Motor Vehicles 29 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333

How to Request a Maine Unsafe Driver Investigation

Anyone who feels a person has a medical condition that impairs their ability to drive may make a complaint with the Maine Secretary of State; all such reports are kept secret.

The Secretary of State’s office may seek an additional medical report from a physician or other treatment professionals after receiving the report. This report must be completed on the Driver Medical Evaluation Form provided by the BMV.

Personnel from the Secretary of State may then launch an inquiry to gather further information or to require the individual in issue to submit to a driving examination. As a consequence, the license may be suspended, kept, or limited by specific criteria such as acceptable driving hours and locations.

How to Restore a Driver’s License

For further information about regaining a suspended or revoked license, contact:

Driver License Services Division 29, State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 207-624-9000 877-456-8195 Bureau of Motor Vehicles (TTY)

The driver’s name, date of birth, and current address should all be included in the inquiry.

Driver Improvement Programs in Maine

Drivers may enhance their abilities by enrolling in an education and training program designed exclusively for elderly drivers. Maine Driving Dynamics lists local course programs online.

How to Obtain Parking Placards or License Plates for a Disabled Driver

Drivers with restricted mobility may be awarded disability parking placards and license plates provided a certified medical expert confirms the condition.

Placards and license plates are also offered to people who:

cannot go 200 feet without stopping to rest
cannot walk without the use of a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device are limited by lung illness utilize portable oxygen
have a serious heart disease or are severely restricted in their ability to walk owing to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic ailment.

The following steps must be taken in order to receive a disability placard or plate:

Fill up and sign a Disability Plates/Placard Application.
Complete the Medical Provider’s Statement section of the application with a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse.
Take the completed application to your local Motor Vehicle Office Branch, fax it to 207-624-9204, or send it to: Disability Clerk, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 29 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.

A description of Maine’s legal requirements for disabled drivers may be found online under “Disability Plates, Disability Placards, and Disability Parking.”