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Jan. 2, 2026

When should I stop driving?

Marissa Charles, DO

Medically reviewed by:
Marissa Charles, DO

There might be signs you’re missing that it’s time to turn in the keys. But being without a car doesn’t mean you’re going to be isolated.

It is hard to accept that it is no longer safe for you to drive.

That’s because losing access to the car keys stokes fears of being stuck at home, feeling lonely. Suddenly, there’s no way to run errands or go see other people. “It’s not just your car,” an auto company ad from the 1980s sang, “it’s your freedom.”

So when is it time to stop driving? Who is going to make that decision? And what happens after the car is gone?

Signs it’s time to stop driving

You might not notice or acknowledge slower reaction time, vision or hearing problems, memory lapses or medication reactions that affect driving. Studies show older adults tend to overestimate their driving ability.1 But others on the road will let you know whether you’re a good driver.

Here are signs that you might have to give up the keys:

  • More frequent close calls, minor collisions and traffic citations
  • Getting lost on familiar routes
  • More people honking their horns at you in traffic
  • Feeling more anxious as you drive
  • Dents and damage to your car’s body that you can’t explain or remember

Who decides when you need to stop driving?

In most cases, the only one who can legally stop you from driving is your state’s motor vehicles department.

You might find out when you try to renew your driver’s license that you can’t get one because you failed the vision or road test. State laws vary on how often older drivers must come in to renew their licenses, and what you’re required to do to keep them.2

You might notice your own driving skills declining and decide it’s time to give up the keys. But what often happens first is family members, friends, caregivers or others telling you they think it’s time you stop driving.

How to have a difficult driving conversation

Those conversations aren’t easy. Here’s how to handle them3:

  • For family members, friends and caregivers: don’t lecture. Say why you’re worried, and give your older adult time to absorb the message, grieve and come to the same conclusion you have. It’s hard for someone to hear they can’t do something that was second nature for decades.
  • For older adults: Understand the people asking you not to drive are doing so from a place of love.

Don’t hesitate to bring a medical provider into the conversation. If you or others are worried about your driving ability, this might be a good time to talk to a clinician about the symptoms you’re feeling while behind the wheel.

What happens after the keys are gone?

No longer being able to drive can feel very isolating, and make you feel uncomfortable for being dependent on others for once-regular tasks. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s how to get around:

  • Senior transit. In rural, suburban and urban areas, there might be access to public or private senior transit or van services. Check with your local city, county or township. Your health plan also might provide a transportation benefit.
  • Ride and delivery apps. Ride apps such as Uber can get you where you want to go, and delivery services offered by many retailers can get items to you.
    • If you don’t know how to download and use the apps, have someone show you.
    • If you don’t want to use an app, have someone set up accounts for you, and then instruct them on what to do when you need a ride or delivery. They can put everything in the app, even if they don’t live anywhere near you.
  • Friends and family. Don’t feel bad asking for rides, but also understand the schedules and needs of your friends and family. A mutual respect should make this work.

These options – as well as technologies such as video calls — also will help you feel less isolated without a car. It’s not an easy decision to stop driving, and there may be some bumps along the way, but in the end, for your safety and the safety of others, it may be the right decision. And you should be able to get to where you need to go and see who you need to see.

Sources

  1. Canadian Journal on Aging. “Personal and clinical factors associated with older drivers’ self-awareness of driving performance.” Accessed Dec. 4, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32089137/
  2. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety/Highway Loss Data Institute. “License renewal procedures.” Accessed Dec. 4, 2025. https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/older-drivers/license-renewal-laws-table
  3. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Older drivers.” Accessed Dec. 4, 2025. https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/older-drivers
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