What the Florida Division of Driver Licenses Does
The Florida Division of Driver Licenses is the state agency that issues driver licenses and handles the medical and vision standards that come with them. It sits within the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. When you renew your license, fail a vision test, or report a medical condition that might affect your driving, this division is the one that makes the decision about whether you can keep your license or whether restrictions explore.
The division does not make medical judgments itself. Instead, it uses rules set by Florida law and the American Medical Association to decide which conditions require a vision test, a medical exam, or a hearing test before you can drive. If you have a condition on that list — diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, vision loss, or hearing loss — the division may ask your doctor to fill out a form, or it may require you to take a test at a Florida driver license office.
Understanding how this process works matters because the division can suspend or revoke your license if you do not respond to a medical inquiry, and you have limited time to do so. You also have the right to request a hearing if the division denies or restricts your license based on medical grounds.
Key Takeaways
- The Florida Division of Driver Licenses enforces medical and vision standards for all drivers, and can require a medical exam, vision test, or hearing test before renewing your license.
- If you report a medical condition or the division learns of one, you will receive a notice in the mail asking you to submit medical records or take a test within a set number of days.
- Failing to respond to a medical inquiry within the important date can result in suspension of your license, even if you are medically fit to drive.
- You have the right to request a hearing before the division suspends or revokes your license on medical grounds, and you can bring a doctor or witness to that hearing.
- Some medical conditions may have access to for a restricted license that allows you to drive only during certain hours or with certain equipment, rather than a full suspension.
When the Division Requires a Medical Exam or Vision Test
The division sends a medical inquiry notice when you renew your license and the division has a record that you have a reportable medical condition. Reportable conditions include seizure disorders, diabetes requiring medication, heart disease, vision problems, hearing loss, and certain neurological or psychiatric conditions. You do not have to volunteer this information — the division may learn about it from your doctor, a hospital, law enforcement, or a court record.
You will also receive a notice if you fail the vision screening at a license office during renewal. Florida requires you to read a chart at a certain distance; if you cannot meet that standard, the division will ask you to have an eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist and submit the results. Some people are sent to take a hearing test if they have a history of hearing loss or if an officer notes a communication problem during a traffic stop.
The notice will specify exactly what you need to do — submit medical records, have your doctor complete a form, take a vision test, or appear in person at a driver license office. The important date is usually 30 days, though it can be shorter or longer depending on the urgency of the condition.
How to Respond to a Medical Inquiry
When you receive a notice, read it carefully to see what documents or tests the division is asking for. If it asks for medical records, contact your doctor's office and ask them to send the records directly to the address listed in the notice. Do not mail them yourself unless the notice specifically tells you to; many doctors' offices have a fax number or online portal for sending records to government agencies, and that is faster and more reliable.
If the notice asks your doctor to complete a form, the form will be included in the notice or you can read it from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. Give the form to your doctor at your next appointment and ask them to return it to the division within the important date. Your doctor may charge a fee for completing the form; this is normal and not covered by the state.
If the notice requires you to take a vision test or hearing test, you can do this at any Florida driver license office. Call ahead to schedule an appointment, or walk in during office hours. Bring your notice and a photo ID. The test is free. If you fail the vision test, you will be asked to have an exam by an eye care professional and submit the results within a set number of days.
What Happens If You Do Not Respond
If you do not respond to a medical inquiry by the important date, the division will suspend your driver license. A suspension is different from a revocation: it is temporary, and you can restore your license by responding to the inquiry. However, driving on a suspended license is a crime in Florida, and you can be arrested and charged even if you did not know your license was suspended.
The division will mail a suspension notice to the address on your license. If you have moved, you may not receive it. You can check the status of your license online through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website, or call the division's customer service line. If your license has been suspended for medical reasons, you can restore it by submitting the required medical records or test results, even after the original important date has passed.
Restoring your license after a suspension usually takes 1 to 2 weeks once the division receives your documents and determines they meet the medical standards. During that time, you cannot legally drive.
Medical Conditions and Restricted Licenses
Not all medical conditions result in a full suspension or revocation. Some drivers are issued a restricted license that allows them to drive only during daylight hours, only within a certain distance of home, only on certain roads, or only with corrective lenses or hearing aids. A restricted license is common for people with vision loss that is correctable with glasses, or for older drivers with mild cognitive decline.
The division decides whether a restriction is appropriate based on the medical records your doctor submits. If you believe a restriction is too severe, you can request a hearing and present evidence that you can drive safely under less restrictive conditions. You can also ask your doctor to submit updated medical records showing improvement, and request that the division reconsider the restriction.
A restricted license still allows you to drive legally within the stated limits. Violating the restrictions — for example, driving at night when your license says daylight only — is a traffic violation and can result in a ticket or arrest.
How to Request a Hearing
If the division denies your license, suspends it, revokes it, or places restrictions on it based on medical grounds, you have the right to request a hearing. The notice you receive will explain how to request a hearing and the important date for doing so, usually 30 days. You can request a hearing by mail, phone, or online through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.
At the hearing, you can present medical evidence, bring a doctor or other witness, and explain why you believe you are safe to drive or why the restriction should be less severe. The division will present its medical evidence. A hearing officer will listen to both sides and make a decision. If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the Florida courts, though this is rare and requires an attorney.
Requesting a hearing does not restore your license while you wait for the hearing. If your license has been suspended, it remains suspended until the hearing officer rules in your favor. Some people choose not to request a hearing if they know the medical condition is temporary and they expect to recover soon.
Vision Standards and Corrective Lenses
Florida requires all drivers to have vision of at least 20/60 in each eye, with or without corrective lenses. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, the division will test your vision with them on. If you can meet the standard with correction, your license will be issued with a restriction that says you must wear corrective lenses while driving. Violating this restriction is a traffic violation.
If your vision is worse than 20/60 even with correction, or if you have a condition like cataracts or macular degeneration that is likely to worsen, the division may suspend your license or issue a restricted license. Some people with low vision are issued a license that allows them to drive only on familiar roads during daylight hours, or only to and from work.
If you have had eye surgery or a change in your vision, you can request a new vision test at any driver license office. If your vision has improved, the division may remove the restriction from your license. If it has worsened, the division may add a restriction or suspend your license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive while waiting for the division to decide about my medical condition?
Yes, unless the division has already suspended your license. If you have received a medical inquiry notice but have not yet been told your license is suspended, you can continue to drive while you gather the medical records or schedule the required test. Once the division suspends your license, you cannot legally drive.
What if my doctor disagrees with the division's decision about my medical condition?
You can submit your doctor's opinion as evidence at a hearing before the division. Bring a letter from your doctor explaining why they believe you are safe to drive, or ask your doctor to attend the hearing in person. The hearing officer will consider the medical evidence from both sides.
How long does it take to get my license back after I submit medical records?
The division usually takes 1 to 2 weeks to review medical records and make a decision. If the records are incomplete or unclear, the division may ask for more information, which can add another 1 to 2 weeks. You can call the division to check the status of your case.
Can I get a temporary license while my medical case is being reviewed?
No. Florida does not issue temporary licenses for medical cases. If your license has been suspended, you cannot drive legally until the division restores it or a hearing officer rules in your favor.
What if I move to another state — does my Florida license still count?
No. If you move, you must get a license from your new state. Florida's medical restrictions do not carry over to another state's license, but your new state will conduct its own medical review based on your driving record and any medical conditions you report.