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Occupational Therapy September 2026 6 min read

Driving After a Stroke or Brain Injury in Victoria: What You Need to Know

For many people, getting back behind the wheel is one of the biggest goals after a stroke or brain injury. Driving means independence, but it also needs thinking, vision and physical skills that may have changed. Here's how the process works in Victoria.

How long before you can drive?

The Stroke Foundation advises that private licence holders must not drive for at least four weeks after a stroke and commercial drivers for at least three months. These are minimums. You should only return to driving once your doctor has cleared you. After a brain injury, the timeframe depends on the injury and your recovery, so your doctor will advise you.

You must tell VicRoads

In Victoria, drivers are legally required to tell VicRoads about any medical condition that may affect their driving, including stroke and brain injury. Driving without medical clearance or without reporting a condition, can affect your insurance and may lead to penalties. VicRoads may ask for medical reports or a driving assessment before deciding whether you can keep driving, drive with conditions or need to stop for a time.

How a stroke or brain injury can affect driving

  • Vision: loss of part of the visual field or neglect of one side
  • Thinking: slower reaction times, reduced attention, planning or judgement
  • Physical: weakness, reduced coordination or sensation in the arms or legs
  • Fatigue: tiring quickly, which affects concentration on longer drives
  • Seizures: which have their own specific driving rules

What an OT driving assessment involves

  1. Off-road assessment: the OT reviews your medical history and tests vision, thinking skills, reaction time and physical abilities.
  2. On-road assessment: a practical drive in a dual-control car with a qualified driving instructor.
  3. Recommendations: you may be cleared to drive, need lessons, have licence conditions such as local area or daytime only or need vehicle modifications.
  4. Report: sent to VicRoads and your doctor where required.

Vehicle modifications: if weakness affects one side of your body, modifications such as a spinner knob or left-foot accelerator may help you drive safely. The OT recommends what's needed and can support an NDIS funding request.

Getting ready to drive again

You can prepare for a driving assessment by working on the skills driving depends on. Exercise physiology can build strength, neck movement, reaction speed and endurance for longer drives, while occupational therapy can work on attention, planning and managing fatigue. Exercise physiology for stroke recovery →

Talk to us about getting ready to drive again

Exercare's occupational therapists visit you at home across north-east, eastern and south-east Melbourne, with no waitlist. One NDIS intake form gets you started.

NDIS intake (EP or OT)Call 0413 827 232

Funding

Driving assessments can be funded by the NDIS where driving is linked to your goals, usually from Capacity Building – Improved Daily Living Skills (Category 15). They can also be self-funded. The driving instructor for the on-road assessment usually charges a separate fee. Exercare doesn't currently offer driving assessments, so ask your doctor or VicRoads about accredited OT driving assessors.

Evidence referenced in this article

Written by the Exercare allied health team. This article is general information only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Exercare provides mobile exercise physiology and NDIS occupational therapy across south-east and eastern Melbourne.

Frequently asked questions

How long after a stroke can I drive in Victoria?

The Stroke Foundation advises private licence holders not to drive for at least four weeks and commercial drivers for at least three months. You also need medical clearance before driving again.

Do I have to tell VicRoads about my stroke?

Yes. Drivers must tell VicRoads about any medical condition that may affect their driving, including stroke and brain injury.

What happens in an OT driving assessment?

An off-road assessment of vision, thinking and physical skills, followed by an on-road drive in a dual-control car with a driving instructor. The OT then makes recommendations and reports to VicRoads if required.

Where do you offer driving assessments?

Exercare doesn't currently offer driving assessments, so ask your doctor or VicRoads about accredited OT driving assessors.