OT Driving Assessments
Independent driving assessments by a Driver Trained Occupational Therapist across Adelaide and South Australia. Clear answers, honest advice, and a safe plan to keep you on the road.
Keep Driving
With Confidence
For most of us, driving means freedom. It’s how you get to work, see family, do the shopping and stay connected to your community. So when an injury, illness, disability or changes with age raise questions about your driving, it can feel like a lot is at stake.
Maybe your doctor has asked for a driving assessment. Maybe you’re recovering from a stroke or surgery and want to know when you can safely get back behind the wheel. Or maybe you’re a learner driver with a disability, wondering whether driving is possible at all. Whatever brought you here, you deserve clear answers, not guesswork.
At Fuzzy’s Allied Health, our Driver Trained Occupational Therapist provides OT driving assessments across Adelaide and South Australia. We look at how your health is affecting your driving, tell you honestly where you stand, and help you find a safe way forward, whether that’s getting straight back on the road, a few lessons, vehicle modifications, or support with other ways to get around.
Understanding
OT Assessments
An OT driving assessment is different from a standard licence test. A licence test checks whether you know the road rules and can drive to a set standard. An OT driving assessment looks at you as a person: how your medical condition, injury or disability affects the physical, visual and thinking skills you need to drive safely.
Assessments are carried out by a Driver Trained Occupational Therapist, an OT with postgraduate qualifications in driver assessment and rehabilitation, together with a qualified driving instructor in a dual-control car. We follow the national Austroads Assessing Fitness to Drive standards used by doctors and licensing authorities across Australia.
In South Australia, decisions about your licence are made by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles at the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). With your consent, our report gives your doctor and DIT the clear, objective information they need to make that decision, and gives you the best chance of a fair outcome.
Assessments for
Every Driver
Whether you’re a new driver, an experienced driver managing a health change, or a family member worried about someone you love, we tailor every assessment to your situation and your goals.
Medical Fitness to Drive
Your doctor or DIT has asked for a driving assessment and you’re not sure what happens next. We assess your physical, visual and cognitive skills, take you on an on-road drive, and provide a clear report that supports your licence decision. Common for diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions, vision changes and medication side effects.
Driving After Stroke or Brain Injury
A stroke, brain injury or neurological condition can change how you see, think and react on the road, sometimes in ways you don’t notice yourself. Once your doctor has cleared you to be assessed, we check your readiness to return to driving and build a plan if you need more time, lessons or support.
Older Driver Assessments
Getting older doesn’t automatically mean giving up your licence. If you, your GP or your family have concerns, an OT driving assessment gives an objective, respectful picture of your driving, with practical recommendations, like local-area or daylight-only driving, that help you stay independent for longer.
Learner Drivers With Disability
Living with autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, an intellectual disability or a physical disability doesn’t have to stop you learning to drive. Our pre-driving assessment looks at your readiness, identifies the supports and vehicle changes you might need, and maps out a learning plan that works for you.
Vehicle Modification Assessments
From spinner knobs and hand controls to left foot accelerators, transfer aids and wheelchair-accessible vehicles, the right modifications can get you driving again. We assess what you need, trial options where possible, and write the reports funders like the NDIS, Lifetime Support Authority and DVA require. Thinking of buying a car? Talk to us first.
Driver Rehabilitation & Lessons
Not quite ready yet? That’s okay. We recommend a structured program of driving lessons with an experienced instructor, adjust it as your skills improve, and reassess when you’re ready, so you return to driving safely and confidently, without being rushed.
When It's Time to Stop Driving
Sometimes the safest outcome is to stop or reduce driving. If that happens, we don’t leave you on your own. We talk it through with you and your family, help you plan other ways to get around, and support you to stay active and connected to your community.
How It Works
A clear process from referral to report, so you always know what's next.
Most assessments take two to three hours in total, across an off-road session and an on-road drive. These can happen on the same day or on separate days. We explain every step before we start, give you feedback as we go, and never rush you.
Family members and carers are welcome to join the off-road assessment, and we’ll keep your GP, specialist or support coordinator in the loop with your consent.
1Referral & Booking
You can refer yourself, or be referred by your GP, specialist, hospital team, support coordinator or case manager.
What makes a good referral? Good information upfront leads to safer, faster decisions. Where you can, please include:
- Medical clearance confirmed by the client's GP
- Vision assessment results from an optometrist
- The client's current licence status, including any conditions or suspension
- Discharge summaries, if the client is being referred from hospital
- The client's driving goals, such as local trips, work or study, night driving or highways
- Any clear functional concerns going into the assessment, such as near misses, fatigue, anxiety or changes in thinking
Once we receive a referral, we confirm the funding stream and provide a written quote that includes the cost of the driving instructor. We then contact the client to organise their pre on-road assessment.
2Off-Road Assessment
We start with a conversation about your driving history, health, medications and goals. Then we assess the skills driving relies on: vision, physical strength and movement, reaction time, memory, attention and decision-making. It's relaxed and practical, not an exam.
- Medical and driving history review
- Vision screening
- Strength, range of movement, sensation and coordination
- Attention, memory, planning and reaction time
- Road rules knowledge
- Your goals and concerns
3On-Road Assessment
Next, you'll drive with our Driver Trained OT and a qualified driving instructor in a dual-control car, so there's always a brake on the passenger side for safety. We start on quiet streets and build up to the types of roads and traffic you usually drive in.
- Dual-control car with an experienced driving instructor
- Quiet streets first, then busier traffic
- Routes that reflect your everyday driving
- Vehicle modifications trialled where needed
- Feedback straight after the drive
4Report & Recommendations
After your assessment we'll talk you through the results, then prepare a detailed written report. With your consent, it goes to your doctor and, where required, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, plus your funding body if they're paying for the assessment.
- Results explained in plain English
- Detailed written report
- Clear recommendations on driving, lessons or modifications
- Reports for your GP, DIT and funding bodies as required
- Recommendations that meet NDIS, LSA and DVA requirements
5Next Steps & Ongoing Support
Whatever the outcome, you'll leave with a plan. That might mean getting straight back on the road, a set of driving lessons and a reassessment, vehicle modifications, licence condition recommendations, or support to explore other ways to get around.
- Cleared to drive with no changes
- Driving lessons followed by reassessment
- Vehicle modification recommendations and fitting checks
- Licence conditions, such as local area or daylight only
- Planning for driving retirement and alternative transport
- Regular reviews for progressive conditions
Funding &
What to Bring
We’ll confirm all costs in writing before you book, including the driving instructor and their dual-control car. No surprises.
OT driving assessments can be funded in several ways:
- NDIS: assessments, specialised driving lessons and vehicle modifications may be funded when they relate to your disability and goals
- Lifetime Support Authority: for people with serious injuries from a motor vehicle accident in SA
- DVA: for eligible veterans, including vehicle modification assessments
- Insurers and workers compensation: check with your case manager or claims manager
- Private: self-funded assessments with a clear written quote
What to Bring on the Day:
- Your current driver’s licence or learner’s permit
- Any letter from your doctor or the Department for Infrastructure and Transport
- Recent medical reports and a list of your medications
- Your glasses or hearing aids, if you use them
- Comfortable clothes and shoes you can drive in
- A support person, if you’d like one there
Common
Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often. Can’t see yours? Give us a call on 08 7081 9555 and we’ll talk it through.
Do I need a referral for an OT driving assessment?
No. You can refer yourself, or be referred by your GP, specialist, hospital team, support coordinator or case manager. If you have a medical condition that affects driving, you may need your doctor's clearance before the on-road part of the assessment. We'll help you work out what's needed.
How long does a driving assessment take?
Most assessments take two to three hours in total: around an hour for the off-road assessment, up to an hour for the on-road drive, plus time to talk through your results. They can be done on the same day or split across two appointments.
How much does an OT driving assessment cost?
The cost depends on the type of assessment, whether vehicle modifications need to be trialled, and the driving instructor's fees. We'll give you a written quote that includes the instructor and their car before you book. Many clients are funded through the NDIS, the Lifetime Support Authority, DVA or an insurer.
Is an OT driving assessment the same as a driving test?
No. A licence test checks your knowledge of the road rules and your driving against a set standard. An OT driving assessment looks at how your health condition, injury or disability affects your driving, and what can be done to help you drive safely.
Who decides whether I keep my licence?
In South Australia, licence decisions are made by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles at the Department for Infrastructure and Transport. Our report provides independent, objective recommendations that help your doctor and DIT make that decision.
Can I use my own car for the assessment?
The on-road assessment is usually done in the driving instructor's dual-control car, so there's a passenger-side brake for safety. If you already drive a modified vehicle, let us know when you book and we'll discuss the best option for you.
What happens if I don't pass?
An OT driving assessment isn't a simple pass or fail. If you're not ready to drive safely yet, we'll recommend next steps, like driving lessons, vehicle modifications or more recovery time, and reassess when you're ready. If driving is no longer safe, we'll help you plan other ways to stay independent.
Does the NDIS fund driving assessments and lessons?
The NDIS may fund OT driving assessments, specialised driving lessons and vehicle modifications when they relate to your disability and support your goals. It doesn't fund the car itself, registration or running costs. If you're thinking about buying a car to modify, talk to us first.
When can I drive again after a stroke?
National guidelines say you shouldn't drive for at least four weeks after a stroke, and you'll need your doctor's clearance before returning to driving. If your doctor has concerns about your vision, movement or thinking, they may refer you for an OT driving assessment.
Do I have to tell DIT about a medical condition?
Yes. In South Australia, both you and your doctor must report any medical condition that could affect your ability to drive safely to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. You can do this through Service SA, and we can explain what the process involves.
Driving Assessment Enquiry
Fill in the form below or call us on 08 7081 9555. Self-referrals and professional referrals are welcome. We’re here to answer your questions and help you get back on the road safely.