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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration

Medical Review Referrals & Process

Welcome to the new MVA.Maryland.gov!

You’ve reached the new website for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Thanks for visiting!

If you or someone you know has a health condition that may affect safe driving, the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) may require a medical review.

What is a medical review?

A medical review is an evaluation to determine if a driver's health condition affects their ability to drive safely. 

Possible reasons for a medical review

You or someone else may have a medical review due to:

  • Alcohol or drug use problems
  • Conditions that cause dizziness, fainting, or blackouts
  • Diabetes with a low blood sugar event that required help from another person in the last 6 months
  • Heart condition that caused loss of consciousness in the last 6 months
  • Neurological and cognitive conditions
    • Epilepsy or seizures
    • Stroke
    • History of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
    • Schizophrenia
    • Dementia
    • Mental health conditions that may affect driving
  • Physical and mobility conditions
    • Loss of an arm, hand, leg, or foot, or loss of function that may affect driving
    • Weakness, shaking, or numbness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet that may affect driving
  • Sleep apnea or narcolepsy
  • Vision that does not meet minimum standards (20/70 in at least one eye, or  a field of vision less than 110 degrees)
  • Request for reinstatement of a license after it has been revoked

Who is involved with the medical review?

The MVA works with the Medical Advisory Board (MAB) — a group of doctors from different medical specialties.

The MAB reviews medical records and advises the MVA on whether a driver is medically safe to drive. The MAB may request more information or an interview to clarify details. The MAB does not perform medical exams.

The MAB does not make the final call — that is always the MVA.

Each case is reviewed individually. Drivers who are not approved at first may be approved later if their health improves.

Who can request a medical review?

A medical review can be requested by:

  • The driver themselves
  • Friends, family members, and neighbors (after the MVA confirms the information)
  • Doctors, hospitals, or other medical providers
  • Judges or law enforcement agencies
  • The MVA's Reinstatement Unit or Driver Licensing & Examination
  • The Office of Administrative Hearings or the courts

How to submit a referral

If you are the driver

Drivers may report their own medical condition at any MVA office or through their myMVA account.

Learn which health conditions to report and how.

If you are a family member, friend or neighbor

The MVA accepts letters of concern from private citizens. Include as much information as possible. If you want to remain anonymous, say so in your letter. The MVA will confirm the information before taking action.

If you are concerned about a loved one, it is often best to talk with their doctor first. The doctor can contact the MVA directly, which may speed up the review process.

If you are a medical professional or law enforcement officer

Law enforcement and health care providers should report concerns directly to the MVA. 

Health care providers may:

  • Report online through their business portal
  • Send a letter on their official letterhead
  • Complete a Voluntary Physician Referral form and send it to the MVA

What to include in a referral

Any referral to the MVA for medical review should include the driver's:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Current mailing address
  • Driver’s license number
  • Medical condition being reported

What happens after a referral is submitted

Once the MVA receives a referral, the process usually follows these steps:

Step 1: Record check

The MVA's Driver Wellness & Safety Division (DW&S) checks to see if the driver has been reviewed before.

Step 2: Request for information

The driver may be asked to:

Tip: For faster service, uploaded documents through your myMVA account. After logging in, select “Medical Packet” and follow the instructions.

Step 3: Possible interview

An interview may be scheduled with a MAB doctor to clarify information. The driver may bring more medical records. This is not a court hearing, and a lawyer is not required.

Step 4: Review and recommendation

After all information is received, the MAB reviews the case and sends a recommendation to the MVA.

Possible outcomes

The MAB may recommend that the MVA:

  • Approve the driver and close the case
  • Allow driving but require regular medical reports
  • Allow driving with restrictions (for example, daylight driving only)
  • Suspend or continue suspension of the license until the condition is controlled
  • Require more testing, such as vision, knowledge, or driving tests

The MVA makes the final decision and notifies the driver.

If you disagree with the decision

If the MVA refuses, suspends, or revokes a license, the driver may request an administrative hearing.

  • Hearings are held by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
  • An administrative law judge conducts the hearing.
  • The process follows the Code of Maryland Regulations (Title 11).

You can request a hearing through the MVA’s Driver Wellness & Safety Division. A decision from the judge may be appealed to the Circuit Court in the driver’s county or city.