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Yes. Pennsylvania is one of the few states with mandatory medical reporting. Under Section 1518(b) of the Vehicle Code, physicians and other providers who diagnose or treat disorders must report in writing to PennDOT, within 10 days, the full name, address and date of birth of any patient aged 15 or older who has a condition that could impair safe driving. Conditions expected to last less than 90 days do not need to be reported. Reports are confidential, and PennDOT’s Medical Unit decides what happens next.
This page explains the reporting law. Whether your own condition affects your driving is a question for your doctor.
Who must report?
- Physicians
- Podiatrists and chiropractors
- Physician assistants
- Certified registered nurse practitioners
- Other persons authorized to diagnose or treat disorders and disabilities defined by PennDOT’s Medical Advisory Board
PennDOT’s pages give the age threshold as 15 or older, which covers teens applying for a learner’s permit. The state regulation (67 Pa. Code § 83.6) is worded as 16 and older, so the two sources differ slightly.
Which conditions are reportable?
| Category | Examples PennDOT lists |
|---|---|
| Seizures and consciousness | Seizure disorder; periodic loss of consciousness or awareness |
| Vision | Visual acuity less than 20/70 after correction, and field of vision standards |
| Other physical conditions | Unstable diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, cerebral vascular insufficiency, and some joint, limb and neuromuscular conditions expected to last more than 90 days |
| Mental conditions | Cognitive impairment, inattentiveness (for example from hallucinations or delusions), suicidal contemplation, excessive aggressiveness |
| Substances | Use of any drug or substance known to impair skill or function |
Hearing standards apply only to school bus drivers. A broken leg is PennDOT’s example of something that does not need reporting, because it is expected to heal within 90 days.
How doctors report
- A letter, PennDOT’s Initial Reporting Form (DL-13), or a condition-specific form.
- Sent to PennDOT’s Medical Unit by mail or fax, or online by providers registered for a medical reporting login.
Confidentiality and immunity
- Reports are confidential and used only to decide whether a person is qualified to drive.
- PennDOT will not release the source or content of a report, even to the patient.
- Providers who report are immune from civil and criminal liability for giving the required information.
- Providers who fail to report could be held responsible as a proximate cause of a crash and may be convicted of a summary offense.
- PennDOT says HIPAA does not prevent disclosure to PennDOT, so your consent is not needed.
What happens after a report
- PennDOT’s Medical Unit evaluates the report.
- It may ask you for more specific medical information or to take a driver’s examination, or it may take no action.
- Restrictions may be added or removed, and your license (or permit) may be recalled or restored.
PennDOT says more than half of the people reported have impairments serious enough to merit recall of driving privileges. A recalled license can be restored once PennDOT’s evaluation shows you meet the standard. For what PennDOT needs in your case, call PennDOT’s Customer Call Center at 717-412-5300 for your specific case.
What this means for teen and new drivers
- You still answer the health questions on your learner’s permit application and the DL-180 physical honestly. See Pennsylvania learner’s permit and the DL-180 physical.
- A diagnosis like epilepsy or diabetes is reportable only if it could impair your driving; stable, well-managed conditions may lead to no action.
- If you have low vision, the bioptic route is explained in Pennsylvania bioptic driving.
How Pennsylvania compares
Most states rely on voluntary reports. See Does your doctor have to report you to the DMV? for the national picture, Seizure-free periods for a driver’s license by state, and Learning to drive in Pennsylvania for the full licensing process.
Back to the hub: Driving with a medical condition or disability in the US.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, “Medical Reporting FAQs” (pa.gov)
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, “Medically Impaired Driver Law” (pa.gov)
- Pennsylvania Code, 67 Pa. Code Chapter 83, “Physical and Mental Criteria, Including Vision Standards Relating to the Licensing of Drivers” (pacodeandbulletin.gov)