Driving Assessments and Refresher Drives for Older Drivers
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
A driving assessment is a private, professional opinion of your driving. It is not a driving test, you cannot "fail" it, and it is the best way to settle doubts about whether you are still safe on the road, or to find out what adaptations would keep you driving after an illness.
Two kinds of assessment
People use the word "assessment" for two rather different things, and it helps to know which one you want.
| Mobility centre assessment | Refresher or "mature driver" drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Driving after a stroke, a diagnosis such as dementia, an amputation or another medical change; advice on adapting a car | Healthy drivers who want reassurance, a confidence boost or to iron out old habits |
| Who runs it | An accredited mobility centre with clinical staff and specialist driving advisers | A road safety charity, your council's road safety team or a driving instructor |
| Whose car | Usually the centre's, which may be adapted | Usually your own, on roads you know |
| What you get | A written report | Verbal feedback and often a short written summary |
Mobility centres and Driving Mobility
Driving Mobility is the charity that accredits a network of independent driving and mobility assessment centres. At the time of writing (November 2026) its website lists 20 centres, plus satellite and outreach locations, and says it is supported by the Department for Transport in England, the Welsh Government in Wales, Disability Action in Northern Ireland and the Motability Foundation in Scotland.
The charity is clear that a driving assessment is different from a driving test: it is a review that gives you an honest opinion of your skills and ability. It says people usually choose one to explore vehicle modifications after a disability, to confirm they can still drive safely after a diagnosis, or simply for reassurance as they get older.
What happens on the day
According to Driving Mobility's own description of its driving assessments, you should allow approximately three hours. A typical visit includes:
- an introduction, where staff ask about your medical history, your driving history and what you hope to get from the day;
- a basic physical assessment of how well your limbs and joints move, sometimes using a static car rig to measure strength and reaction speed;
- some paper-based tasks looking at memory and attention;
- eyesight checks relevant to driving;
- a drive of about 50 minutes with the assessors;
- a debrief back at the centre, where you can ask questions.
A full written report is then sent to your home address.
How to book and what it costs
Use the "find a centre" postcode search on the Driving Mobility website and contact your nearest centre directly. Costs and waiting times vary from centre to centre and depend on how you are referred, so we have not quoted a price here: ask the centre when you ring. Driving Mobility also mentions a Driving Assessment Grant for people who need help with the cost of an assessment and vehicle adaptations, so ask about that too.
Refresher drives for experienced drivers
If you are in good health and simply want to know how your driving measures up, a lighter-touch option may suit you better. These are typically an hour or so in your own car, on familiar roads, with an experienced assessor sitting beside you. Afterwards they talk you through what you do well and anything to work on.
Places to look:
- Your council's road safety team. Many county and city councils run or subsidise older-driver sessions, and a few offer them free to residents over a certain age. Search your council's website for "older drivers" or "mature driver".
- Road safety charities. IAM RoadSmart offers a Mature Driver Review and RoSPA offers an experienced driver assessment. Both charge a fee; check their websites for the current price.
- A local driving instructor. Many approved driving instructors are happy to do a one-off session for an experienced driver. In Northern Ireland, nidirect specifically suggests this as a way to get an impartial and confidential assessment of your driving skills.
None of these involve a pass or fail, and the feedback is given to you, not to anyone else.
Will DVLA find out?
This worries a lot of people, so it is worth being precise. A voluntary assessment that you book yourself is your own business, and the report comes to you. However, your legal duties do not change: if an assessment, your GP or your optician tells you that you have a medical condition that affects your driving, you must tell DVLA (or the DVA in Northern Ireland). GOV.UK says you can be fined up to £1,000 for not doing so. Separately, DVLA can itself ask a driver to attend an assessment as part of a medical enquiry; in that case the result does go to DVLA. If you are unsure which applies to you, ask the centre when you book.
Before you book: a quick self-check
Ask yourself whether you have had unexplained scrapes or near-misses, whether busy junctions have become stressful, and whether your sight has changed (see eyesight and driving).
One "yes" is a reason to book a refresher, not a reason to panic. If the answer in the end is that it is time to stop, our pages on giving up the car and community transport show what replaces it.
Common questions
Can I lose my licence at a driving assessment?
The assessors have no power to take your licence. Only DVLA (or the DVA) can do that. If they believe you are not safe to drive they will tell you plainly, and you would then be expected to act on it.
My husband has dementia and wants to keep driving. Would an assessment help?
Yes. A diagnosis of dementia must be reported to DVLA, but it does not always mean stopping at once. A mobility centre assessment is designed for exactly this situation and takes the decision out of the family's hands.
Will a refresher course reduce my insurance?
Some insurers take advanced driving qualifications into account, but there is no general rule. Ask your insurer, and see car insurance over 70.