Driver's License Physical Exam

Hi, how was your Driver's License Physical Exam? At me it was pretty simple. Only blood pressure and vision test. Did you have different experiences, must you strip down, check reflexes or so?

In the US, a physical is only required for a commercial driver's license needed to drive a big truck, bus, etc. For everybody else, only a vision test is required.

Thx for reply.

I just had a commercial license renewed and where I am they sign up certain people to do it. My guy was a chiropractor and he did weight and vision and a urine test for sugar. It was fairly easy and quick. Didn't even take my shoes off.

As far as I know--none of that in Texas. I believe when you turn 85 there's a “physical look over” done by a DPS person and if you pass that your licence is renewed. They tried to make Driver's licence renewals for 80-up folks years back more difficult. The phones at the Governor's office and Senators,etc.rang day & night from angry seniors…the stricter measures were “chucked” and a considerably milder version was “re-thought”… It was a serious “remember in November” move that scared the b-jesus out of the elected politicians….

Just a vision test for me, I know girls from the Baltic states though that had to pull their knickers down at their driving test medical lol

I have a CDL. In the USA we need to have a complete physical to keep it valid

For commercial driver's license you need full physical. I get one done every year because of my job profession. Regular drivers license its just vision.

In Spain normal drivers license includes a physical. In theory you have to pass three tests, vision and hearing, computer based reflex test and physical exam with the doctor. The law specifies that cardiac and respiratory auscultations, abdomen palpation and blood pressure must be done. Actually some doctors don’t check anything, and other doctores check all thoroughly, but they are the less. I have had both experiences. For my first license I went to a drivers clinic owned by a woman doctor good friend of my mother. I thought that like my friends in other clinics she will sign the form without any tests. My mistake. She considered that giving me a full physical exam will be appreciated by my mother, so I had to disrobe to my underwear and she performed the physical exam.

I had mine done just before my 16th birthday. It was not by any means the most detailed physical I had ever had, but it was a real physical. It was done at the state health department office. they had days set aside each month or every other month for new license physicals and there were lots of people around my age there for it.

My last CDL was a joke. Nothing more than peering at an eye chart, verifying my color perception, and a signature on the form. Not just a disappointment from a medfet point of view, but also from a true safety perspective. Hope that the serious OTR drivers are put through a more thorough panel of tests and exams before they're allowed to transport cross-country. Not that I wish them more headaches and red-tape, but they are expected to perform at peak each time they get behind the wheel. They are entitled to more than just a quick in-and-out.

@Annie204 mentions

Just a vision test for me, I know girls from the Baltic states though that had to pull their knickers down at their driving test medical lol

I wonder if that's to test for a functional “Parking Bay”😜

Only a eye test is mandatory in Germany.

Does anywhere require a physical for a regular driver's license? I know if you are looking for a commercial license you need it, but anywhere need it for a regular license?

@Annette1997 post is how it is Downunder

In France, if I remember correctly, there is no general physical test for a car driver's license (there is, as far as I understand, for driving buses, trucks, etc.). There are a number of illnesses that may be incompatible with driving (epilepsia…) and then I think you can see a physician about this, and if your eyesight is poor you may have a requirement to wear glasses or other corrective gear. I don't recall if and how I was asked about this.

I hear the test centers already have trouble keeping up with the number of applicants, it would be impractical to require medical tests I guess. Furthermore, most people take driving tests when they are young and don't have significant impairments… and the way it works in France, you can keep your non-truck, non-bus licence forever, and that's how you get elderly people who can barely see and drive on the roads. There was talk of requiring medical checks on the elderly, but the social and political implications of depriving people of the right to drive would be too great, especially for those living in rural areas where it's almost mandatory to drive or to have somebody drive you.

I hate to break it to ya'll, but in some states, teenagers have to have a physical and obtain medical clearance before they can get their learners permit.

I think that's mostly in the Northeast, as my kids and step kids have had to have it done in PA and Maine.

Was a standard exam as a teen, height weight bp, strip to underwea, let the doc listen to heart, looks at eyes, lay down feel belly take A quick peak down there then signed my form and wished me good luck

I hate to break it to ya'll, but in some states, teenagers have to have a physical and obtain medical clearance before they can get their learners permit.

I think that's mostly in the Northeast, as my kids and step kids have had to have it done in PA and Maine.

This must be new in New England, my only exam was that little eye exam.

In Texas..drivers 79--85+ need a vision test. At age 85 or older the vision test and a “physical evaluation”. Renewal times are shorter than the typical 8 years valid.Certain restrictions may apply- like no night driving,etc.etc.

He in the UK you do not need a medical for a car license although I think I remember the driving examiner asking if I had any pre-exisiting medical conditions that could impair my ability to drive.

For a lorry (HGV) it is different. Mine lasted nearly an hour which I remember because I went during my lunch break and I was late back. The medical is done by a doctor and they go through your past medical history and then the fun begins and I had an intense medical, heart, lungs, bp, weight, height , skeletal, tummy prodded and eyes (but no gyno).

I only had to do a quick vision test (reading off an eye chart) to get mine but I would barely call that an exam.

I live in New York and I didn't have to have a medical exam to get my permit or license. I just had to do the eye chart at the DMV

In France, no physical exam for driving cars and light trunks / minibuses. If you must wear glasses (e.g. strong myopia) I think it gets written on your license, but I'm unsure about this. If you suffer from certain issues (such as epileptic disorders) then you may not be able to get a license, but I don't know how it works (I don't recall, perhaps there is a form with such questions).

It is somewhat an issue that some elderly people continue driving even though they are not physically fit for it… the perennial example is somebody driving slowly in the middle of the road.

I live in northeast US, this is not now or ever a thing. Just a vision test at the rmv.

In what world does the original poster come from here there is a physical exam for a drivers license?

North Korea? Russia? They probably do not even have a DMV. I do not think when you are stopped in those countries they ask for your license but maybe they just strip search you.

I am from MA and when 14 or whatever age I was sent with mom to dmv, took test, eye test and gave them $5 and got a Learner's permit. Then at 16 I did the same thing and gave them $10 or whatever it was and you got your driver's license.

In what world does the original poster come from here there is a physical exam for a drivers license?

North Korea? Russia? They probably do not even have a DMV. I do not think when you are stopped in those countries they ask for your license but maybe they just strip search you.

A few states do. Pennsylvania does. I got this blurb off the web:

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation requires applicants for a learner’s permit to complete a physical exam. Learner’s permit physicals can be completed at Patient First centers located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, however they are not offered at centers in Virginia, Washington D.C., or Maryland.

Driver license should require a mental health evaluation because there are some real mentally unstable road rage people on the road that have ZERO business driving a 3000 pound weapon.

Driver license should require a mental health evaluation because there are some real mentally unstable road rage people on the road that have ZERO business driving a 3000 pound weapon.

Same with supermarket trollies. 🤣