Your fitness to drive may vary during the validity of your driving licence. Physicians are obliged to notify the police if there are any changes in your fitness to drive.
Changes in a driver's fitness to drive may occur during the validity period of the driving licence, which can affect the scope or duration of the right to drive. The police are responsible for monitoring fitness to drive. The police may also require the driver to take a driving test.
Traficom checks your fitness to drive when you apply for your first driving licence, when upgrading your licence category, and when renewing your driving licence.
During the validity of the driving licence, fitness to drive is monitored by the police. Doctors are obligated to report any changes in your fitness to drive to the police, even if your visit to the doctor is not related to your driving licence. Nurses or public health nurses may also file a report with the police.
When to submit a medical report to the police
- You have received a driving licence for a lorry or a bus/coach before 19 January 2013, and your driving licence is valid until you turn 70. Submit a medical report to the police every 5 years after turning 50, i.e., at the age of 50, 55, 60 and 65. However, you do not need to submit a medical report if you have submitted a statement related to your driving licence or other traffic permit to the police or Traficom within the previous five years. If necessary, check with the license services of the police before visiting a physician.
- A physician has ordered you to submit a medical report to the police earlier than would otherwise be necessary. The reason for the order may be, for example, a high age or an illness requiring monitoring.
- You have been instructed by the police to submit a medical report. The reason may be an observation made by the police in traffic surveillance or a physician's report to the police about your deteriorating health.
Traficom will send you a letter on submitting a medical report to the police in case of options 1 or 2.
Even if you do not receive the letter, you are obliged to provide a medical report. If you do not submit the report in time, the police may impose a driving ban on you.
You will receive a health questionnaire along with the letter. Fill out the form and take it with you to your doctor. The doctor will answer your questions related to the form. You can also print the form from the bottom of the page.
Agree with your doctor who will send the medical certificate to the police. As the driver, you are responsible for ensuring that the police receive the certificate by the deadline.
For more information about monitoring of driving-related health, please contact the police.
Driving Test by Order of the Police
In the driving test, the impact of an illness, defect, or injury on the licence holder’s ability to drive a vehicle is assessed. At the same time, any necessary changes to the vehicle’s controls or the driver’s right to drive are evaluated.
The driving test is taken upon the order of the police. Usually, the background is a notification made by a doctor to the police about a change in the driver's fitness to drive and its potential effect on driving ability.
You can only participate in the driving test if you are not under a driving ban and your driving licence is valid.
The driving test is conducted by Traficom’s service provider Ajovarma.
Once you have received the police order for a driving test, book an appointment with Ajovarma.
What happens in the driving test?
In the driving test, a vehicle provided by the customer is used. The vehicle must have the necessary controls to allow the test to be carried out safely. If needed, check in advance with Ajovarma that your vehicle is suitable for the test before arriving.
At the start of the driving test, the examiner will ensure that you can safely operate the vehicle’s driving controls. After that, the test continues with driving in regular traffic.
The driving test lasts at least 45 minutes. However, the test may be stopped earlier if driving is deemed unsafe.
What happens after the driving test?
Once the driving test has been completed, the test examiner submits a driving assessment to the police, indicating any necessary changes to your driving licence and/or the vehicle's control equipment. If needed, the examiner may also recommend a new driving test.
After that, the police will decide on any required modifications to your vehicle's control equipment as well as on any special conditions or limitations to your driving licence.
Once the police have made the necessary changes to your licence, you can order a new driving licence via our Order a new driving licence -service or at Ajovarma.
Forms
Preliminäry information form (External link) (in finnish)