Who a driving assessment is for
A driving assessment can help if you want to learn to drive, return to driving after an injury or illness, or keep driving as your needs change. Common reasons include:
- Learning to drive for the first time with a physical, intellectual or neurological disability
- Returning to driving after a brain injury, stroke or spinal cord injury
- Needing hand controls, a left foot accelerator, a spinner knob or other modifications
- A doctor or the licensing authority asking for a review of your fitness to drive
- Checking whether a changing condition still allows safe driving
Who does it
Driving assessments are done by occupational therapists with extra training in driver assessment and rehabilitation, often called OT driver assessors or driver trained OTs. They work with a driving instructor who has experience teaching people with disability.
Your GP or specialist is still important. In Australia, medical fitness to drive is assessed against national guidelines, and the state or territory licensing authority makes the final decision about your licence and any conditions on it.
What happens in the assessment
Most assessments have two parts, sometimes on the same day.
- Off road: a talk about your health, medicines and driving history, plus checks of vision, physical abilities such as strength, movement and reaction time, thinking skills such as attention, memory and judgement, and road law knowledge
- On road: a drive in a dual control car with the instructor, while the OT observes. If you need special controls, the car can be fitted with them so you can try them
- Report: recommendations on whether you can drive, any licence conditions, vehicle modifications, and how many lessons you are likely to need
What the NDIS can fund
The NDIS can fund driving supports that you need because of your disability. Specialised driver training, meaning lessons with a specialised driving instructor or training to use adapted equipment or vehicle modifications, is one of the listed NDIS supports. The OT assessment is usually paid from the improved daily living skills part of your Capacity Building budget, at up to $193.99 an hour for occupational therapy in 2026/27 in most of Australia.
If you want to drive a modified vehicle, the NDIA needs evidence from a driver trained OT before it funds the modifications. The NDIS does not fund the car itself, registration, insurance, fuel or the ordinary learner lessons that any new driver would pay for.
Vehicle modifications after the assessment
If the OT recommends modifications, they will specify them and you get quotes from a modifier. Lower cost modifications follow the mid cost assistive technology process with written evidence, while higher cost ones need a quote approved by the NDIA before the work starts. Ask your OT which process applies to your quote. After the modifications are fitted, the OT may check them and recommend a few lessons so you are confident using them.
Vehicle modifications are funded from the Capital budget, which is not touched by the October 2026 funding reset. The OT time comes from improved daily living skills, which is reduced by 10% when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed.
Tips before you book
- Check with your doctor first; some conditions need medical clearance before an on road test
- Ask how long the assessment takes and whether the report and instructor are included in the quote
- Bring your licence or learner permit, glasses and any equipment you use
- Tell the assessor about fatigue, pain or seizures, even if they seem minor
- Ask what happens if you are not ready yet, such as more lessons or a reassessment later