As a progressive neurological disorder that might affect your vision, motor function, memory, and spatial awareness, Parkinson’s disease can impair your ability to drive.

Parkinson’s disease is a central nervous system disorder that causes certain cells in your brain to decline over time. This can affect your movement, reaction times, memory, and visual-spatial perception. It may also lead to dementia.

All of these challenges can interfere with a person’s ability to drive.

Yet it may take many months or years after diagnosis for Parkinson’s to interfere with activities of daily living, including the ability to drive a vehicle.

It’s important to know when driving will become a concern and what you can do once it’s no longer safe to get behind the wheel.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how long you can drive with Parkinson’s or how your condition is affecting your driving now. Many people can drive long after they first receive a diagnosis, while others will need to stop driving sooner.

It depends on:

  • the person
  • progression of the disease
  • how severe the symptoms are

Some Parkinson’s symptoms that specifically interfere with safe driving may include:

  • tremors, or uncontrollable shaking, in the hands and arms
  • lack of coordination
  • decreased reaction times
  • attention deficits
  • visual impairment
  • muscle stiffness
  • daytime sleepiness, often due to nighttime sleeping issues
  • drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision resulting from Parkinson’s medications

Driving may be riskier than it might seem, because your symptoms may become more or less severe depending on the particular day.

Even the earliest stages of Parkinson’s can affect a person’s driving.

That said, people who aren’t experiencing cognitive impairments (such as vision changes or visuospatial processing issues) might be able to drive for many years.

A 2018 review of studies found that in 50 studies, people with Parkinson’s were 6 times more likely to fail an on-the-road driving test compared with people who did not have the condition. Those with Parkinson’s were also more than 2 1/2 times as likely to crash in a simulated test.

Here are some tips to stay safe while you’re driving:

  • Eliminate distractions such as your phone, the radio, and eating or drinking.
  • Don’t drive when you are tired or your medication is wearing off.
  • If you have reduced vision in lower-light situations, drive during the day.
  • Stick to familiar routes.
  • Try to drive at times when there is less traffic.
  • Use good posture and have a lumbar support cushion.
  • Avoid driving in difficult situations (for example, in snow, ice, or heavy rain)
  • Consider taking a defensive driving course; it might get you an insurance discount, too.
  • Stay active and regularly strengthen the muscles you need to drive safely.
  • Stop driving as soon as you sense you might not be driving as safely.

Some people whose condition is in the early stages and whose symptoms are managed well can drive for a long time. Those with moderate or severe symptoms of Parkinson’s, on the other hand, may need to stop driving altogether.

At any stage, Parkinson’s can have a big effect on your driving, and that effect can increase and lead to crashes over time.

There are no uniform state laws or legal guidelines that spell out when a person with Parkinson’s should stop driving, although it’s generally recommended that people with the condition be periodically evaluated.

Your doctor may suggest you see one of two kinds of specialists for evaluation or to help you cope with changes due to Parkinson’s.

That might include a driving rehabilitation specialist or an occupational therapist with special training in driving skills assessment and remediation. Either one can also tell you when it’s time to stop driving.

This 2025 study based in the Netherlands examined people who were roughly 70 years old and had lived with Parkinson’s for just over 7 years. It found 84% of those people still had a valid driving license, and those who’d given up their license mostly had volunteered to do that.

About 40% of people in the study with a driving license indicated they had adjusted their driving style, even though half had not discussed with their healthcare team the impact of Parkinson’s on their driving abilities.

Researchers concluded there remains a need for healthcare professionals to share more information and support for those with Parkinson’s in order to drive decisions.

Red flags to be aware of

If you haven’t yet had a chance to have your driving evaluated by a specialist, here are some red flags experts say to be aware of:

  • family concern
  • crashes
  • dings on vehicle
  • getting lost
  • attention or memory problems
  • significant periods of time when you seem “off”

Resources to help with Parkinson’s and driving

Make sure to talk with your doctor and healthcare team about whether or when you should be evaluated. If so, they may suggest options that could include:

  • Driving rehabilitation specialists can perform on- and off-road tests to assess your driving skills, and some offer training to improve your skills.
  • The American Occupational Therapy Association has a search tool to help you find a qualified specialist near you. The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists also offers a search tool.
  • The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has two informational videos about driving with Parkinson’s, Driving with Parkinson’s 1 and Driving with Parkinson’s 2.

If you do need to stop driving, there are other ways to maintain your independence and quality of life.

  • Reach out to family and friends for rides.
  • Walk or bike.
  • Use public transportation.
  • Use for-hire rideshare services such as Uber, Lyft, or taxis.
  • Order groceries, prescriptions, and home supplies through services such as Amazon, Instacart, Shipt, DoorDash, or others.
  • Have your takeout and dry cleaning delivered.
  • Senior centers, religious groups, and other local service orgs may offer transportation services for older adults or those with medical conditions in the community.
  • Contact the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center’s ElderCare specialists at 866-983-3222, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Or email contact@nadtc.org.
  • Find your local Area Agency on Aging to connect with local services (the Eldercare Locator site has a search tool).
  • The Parkinson’s Foundation offers a zip code search tool to find local chapters and connect with others impacted by this disease, including those who may have had changes in their lives.
  • Call your local government offices, which may offer special rides and services for a reduced fee or a donation.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that can affect your vision, motor function, memory, and spatial awareness. All of these effects can impair your ability to drive.

There is no clear rule about when someone with Parkinson’s should stop driving. But the condition can have a big effect on your ability to drive safely, regardless of what stage your condition is in.

If you do have to stop driving, you can do many things to maintain your independence, including finding other ways to get around, shop, and socialize. Local agencies on aging and other organizations exist to help get you connected with services.