The Medical Review Unit is responsible for investigating reports of drivers and license applicants who have a medical condition (mental or physical) that may interfere with the safe operation of a motor vehicle. 

Medical consultants, who are board-certified physicians, help DMV make decisions about a driver’s license. 

It is the Medical Review Unit’s responsibility to

• contact drivers when documentation about one of these conditions is required
• review all documentation received
• suspend the driver’s license or privilege to drive if the medical documentation is not received timely or if it is not acceptable

Heart Conditions

Drivers with heart defibrillators and ventricular tachyarrhythmia require review and approval by the Medical Review Unit.

Other heart conditions are subject to Medical Review Unit approval only if the condition is associated with loss of consciousness. These conditions include

• atrial fibrillation
• heart arrhythmia
• pacemaker
• uncontrolled hypertension
• coronary artery disease
• stable heart rhythm irregularities, murmurs, and stents

Any of these conditions should be reported by a physician using the Physician's Statement for Medical Review Unit form (MV-80U.1)

Vision Issues

If your vision is less than 20/40 but not less than 20/70 or you wear telescopic lenses submit an Eye Test Report for Medical Review Unit (MV-80L).

The Medical Review Unit will be notified if a police accident report indicates a motor vehicle accident may have been caused by any of these conditions

• loss of consciousness
• falling asleep
• fatigue or drowsiness
• illness
• prescription medication
• physical or mental disability

If DMV receives a police accident report indicating one of these conditions other than loss of consciousness caused an accident, you may be asked to provide medical documentation. If you do not provide the documentation, your driver license can be suspended until you comply. You may also need to go to an evaluation interview or take an eye, written, or road test.  If you do not pass these tests, your driver license can be suspended or revoked.

 If the police accident report indicates that your accident was caused by loss of consciousness, your driver license will be suspended until you provide medical documentation and it is reviewed. Once you provide the documentation, you may also need to go to an evaluation interview or take an eye, written, or road test in order to have the suspension lifted.

If a physician submits a Physician's Reporting Form (DS-6) to report that an individual has a condition that can affect that individual's driving skills, DMV can suspend the individual's driver license until a physician certifies that the condition is treated or controlled and the individual can drive safely. DMV can require that the physician recertifies at a later time that the condition does not affect the individual's ability to drive. If DMV does not receive the required certification, DMV can suspend the driver license.

Individuals can submit a Request for Driver Review (DS-7) form. DMV does not reveal your identity if you report a driver’s medical condition. A copy of the DS-7 report is available under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). However, DMV does not disclose the name of the person who completed the DS-7 in response to a FOIL request. If DMV receives a report from a person who is not a physician, each case is decided separately. DMV does not take action on reports based on age alone.

When a report of a condition affecting an applicant's ability to drive is received the Medical Review Unit forwards the form to the DMV Testing and Investigation Unit in the area where the driver resides.

A license examiner from the DMV Testing and Investigation Unit reviews the form to determine if there is a reason to re-evaluate the driver. If the examiner determines that there is a valid reason, the DMV examiner sends the driver a certified letter to request that the driver come to the DMV office for an interview. The letter explains the reason for the interview and informs the driver of the items and information to bring to the interview.

The letter advises the driver that if they do not appear for the interview, the DMV will suspend the driver license.

The letter also advises the driver that a vision test is required. The driver can either take the vision test at the interview or bring a Vision Test Report (PDF) (MV-619) completed by a vision care professional. If your vision care professional is enrolled in the DMV Vision Registry, the professional will notify you that your test results will be entered electronically and you will not need a Vision Test Report.

The letter may also indicate that the driver is required to bring one or more of the following

• a Physicians Statement form (PDF) (MV-80) completed by a doctor. This must include:
  • a statement that the driver is a patient of the doctor
  • the names of medicines the doctor has prescribed for the patient
  • if the patient suffered any loss of body control, awareness, or unconsciousness due to this condition
  • the doctor’s professional opinion of the patient’s ability to drive
• a registered and inspected vehicle
• a driver with a valid driver license

The DMV also has an accident re-examination program that identifies drivers who have been in three or more reportable accidents within an 18-month period. The program includes drivers of all ages. A reportable accident is any accident in New York State that causes a fatality, a personal injury, or damage over $1,000 to the property of any one person. The DMV sends the driver a letter to come to a DMV office for an interview and for possible eye, written, and road tests.

During the interview, the DMV license examiner explains the information that was received and allows the driver to respond to the information.

If a Physician's Statement (MV-80) is required, the license examiner will review the form.

If the driver does not bring an acceptable Physician's Statement, the DMV will suspend the driver license until an acceptable Physician's Statement is submitted.

If the Physician's Statement indicates that the driver is not medically fit to drive, the driver's license will be suspended.

The re-evaluation driving test is the same road test a new driver takes to qualify for a driver license. If a driving test is required it includes

• driving safely in traffic
• left turns and right turns
• a three-point turn
• parallel parking

Based on the interview and test results, the license examiner determines the next steps. 

A driver license revocation that results from a re-evaluation does not need to be permanent. The driver must wait at least 30 days, and can then re-apply for a driver license.  A driver who fails a re-evaluation road test may want to consider the services of a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist.

To qualify for a new driver license, the driver must

• apply for a Learner Permit at your local DMV Office (the written test is waived)
• pass a vision test
• take a 5-hour pre-licensing course
• pass a road test

If the driver qualifies and passes the road test, the DMV issues a new driver license. The driver is on probation for six months from the date of the road test.

During the six-month probation, the driver license is suspended if

• the driver is convicted of a violation for speeding, reckless driving or following too closely, or
• the driver is convicted of any two other moving traffic violations