If the Illinois Secretary of State has asked you to prove you can still drive safely with a medical condition, the document you need is the Illinois Medical Report Form DSD DC-163, titled “Medical Report For Conditions That May Impair Driving Safely.” You fill out the first section with your personal information, your licensed medical provider completes the clinical sections after examining you, and the completed form goes to the Driver Analysis Division at 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62723.1Illinois Secretary of State. Medical Report For Conditions That May Impair Driving Safely The state then decides whether to maintain, restrict, or cancel your driving privileges.
When the State Requires This Form
Under 92 Ill. Admin. Code 1030.16, the Driver Services Department will ask for a medical report when any of the following happens:2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code 92 Part 1030 – Physical and Mental Evaluation
- You answer “yes” to a health question on your license application.
- The department receives a written report questioning your fitness from a physician, police officer, prosecutor, judge, or immediate family member.
- A court appoints a guardian over your personal care or finances.
- Your current license already required a medical report, so a fresh one is needed at renewal.
- Law enforcement reports that a seizure, blackout, or loss of consciousness caused a crash while you were driving. In that case the license is canceled, and the medical report is what the department forwards to the Medical Advisory Board to decide whether you can drive again.
Separately, 625 ILCS 5/6-103(8) prohibits the Secretary of State from issuing or renewing a license when there is “good cause to believe” a physical or mental disability would prevent safe driving, unless the applicant provides a written statement from a qualified medical provider saying otherwise.3Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/6-103 The DSD DC-163 is that written statement.
You Also Have a Duty to Report Yourself
Illinois law requires every licensed driver to notify the Secretary of State within 10 days of becoming aware of any medical condition likely to cause a loss of consciousness or otherwise impair safe driving.4Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/6-116.5 If you skip this step, the department can cancel your license once it learns of the condition. A favorable medical report filed afterward can get the cancellation rescinded, but driving in the meantime puts you at legal risk.5Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code 92 Part 1030 – Section 1030.16(d)
Where to Get the Form
Download the PDF directly from the Illinois Secretary of State’s website.1Illinois Secretary of State. Medical Report For Conditions That May Impair Driving Safely You can also pick up a copy at any Driver Services facility. If the department has sent you a letter requesting a report, it will usually include a blank form or tell you where to find one. The form itself costs nothing; you pay only for the medical exam.
Filling Out the Form Section by Section
The form has five sections. Section I is yours. Sections II through V belong to your medical provider. Bring the form to a scheduled appointment rather than asking a provider to complete it from memory, because a recent exam makes the clinical answers defensible if the state follows up.
Section I: Driver Information
Enter your full name, date of birth, driver’s license number, address, and phone number. Check the license number against your physical card. A transposed digit will delay processing.
Section II: Medical Health
Your provider must first answer a required yes-or-no question: “In your professional opinion, is this individual medically and mentally fit to safely operate a motor vehicle?” The form then lists ten condition categories, and the provider marks yes or no for each, with a written description where the answer is yes:1Illinois Secretary of State. Medical Report For Conditions That May Impair Driving Safely
- Cardiovascular conditions, including heart disease, arrhythmia, or recent cardiac events.
- Neurological conditions such as stroke or neuropathy.
- Musculoskeletal conditions limiting steering, braking, or pedal use.
- Seizures or epilepsy, with details on type and frequency.
- Diabetes, particularly insulin-dependent diabetes that may cause hypoglycemic episodes.
- Dizziness or fainting spells.
- Alcohol or drug abuse, current or recent.
- Developmental conditions.
- Mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, severe depression, or bipolar disorder.
- Any other condition that could affect driving safety.
The provider also lists every current medication with dosage, notes whether any medication has side effects that could impair driving, and states whether you are following the prescribed treatment plan. If the answer is no, the provider must explain.
Section III: Provider Details
This section asks how long the provider has been treating you and whether any other doctors treat you for the condition. If so, their name and contact information go here. The state may contact them directly.
Section IV: Condition Status
Three questions in Section IV carry the most weight in the state’s decision.
The first is the current status of the condition. The provider checks one of three boxes: “controlled,” “not controlled but will not affect driving,” or “not controlled and may affect driving.” Checking that third box almost certainly triggers a referral to the Medical Advisory Board and may lead to a license restriction or cancellation. If either “not controlled” box is checked, the provider must include clinical details such as test results or lab values.
The second asks whether, in the past six months, your ability to drive safely has been impaired for any reason or you have had an attack of unconsciousness. A yes answer requires the date and clinical details.
The third asks for the date of the most recent impairment or attack even if it was more than six months ago, with an explanation of what happened.
Section V: Provider Signature
The provider prints their name, office address, professional license number, the state that issued the license, phone number, and specialty, then signs and dates the form. Illinois accepts signatures from MDs, DOs, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.1Illinois Secretary of State. Medical Report For Conditions That May Impair Driving Safely A form signed by anyone outside those categories will be rejected.
Where to Submit the Completed Form
Mail the completed form to:
Office of the Secretary of State
Driver Services Department
Driver Analysis Division
2701 S. Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 627231Illinois Secretary of State. Medical Report For Conditions That May Impair Driving Safely
Questions about receipt or status go to 217-782-7246, the phone number printed on the form. The form does not list a fax or email option, so plan to mail it or hand-deliver it. Photocopy the completed form before mailing; if the original is lost in transit, your provider will have to complete a new one.
What Happens After You Submit
The Driver Analysis Division reviews the medical information to decide whether your health allows you to drive safely. Straightforward cases, meaning a well-controlled condition with a clear “medically fit” opinion, can resolve relatively quickly. You receive a letter stating whether your driving privileges are maintained, restricted, or canceled.
Complex or borderline cases are referred to the Driver’s License Medical Advisory Board, a panel of at least nine medical professionals appointed by the Secretary of State under 625 ILCS 5/6-902. The Board evaluates your medical records, determines what conditions could impair driving, and recommends the scope of privileges you should have, including whether you need compensatory devices or ongoing reviews.6Justia Law. Illinois Code 625 ILCS 5 – Article IX Driver’s License Medical Review Law of 1992 The Secretary of State then acts on the Board’s recommendation.
If more information is needed, the letter will specify exactly which additional tests or records are required. Respond promptly. An incomplete file stalls the process and can leave your license in limbo.
If Your License Is Canceled or Restricted
A cancellation letter is not necessarily the end. If you receive a favorable medical report after a medical cancellation, meaning your provider now certifies you can drive safely, the department can rescind the cancellation without a formal hearing.5Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code 92 Part 1030 – Section 1030.16(d) The practical path is to work with your provider to get the condition under control, have them complete a new DSD DC-163, and submit it to the Driver Analysis Division.
The Secretary of State’s office also holds informal hearings where you can discuss your case with a hearing officer, present documentation, and argue for reinstatement. Scheduling runs through the Administrative Hearings Department. Bring copies of your medical report, treatment records, and any correspondence from the Driver Analysis Division.
Restrictions are more common than outright cancellations for conditions that are partially controlled. The Medical Advisory Board can recommend limits on when and where you drive, require compensatory devices, or set a timeline for your next medical review. These restrictions appear on your driving record and, in some cases, on the physical license itself.
Cost
Illinois charges nothing to process the DSD DC-163. Your out-of-pocket cost is the medical examination your provider performs to complete Sections II through V. Fees vary with the provider, the complexity of your condition, and any testing required. A routine office visit with a primary care physician who already knows your history costs less than a specialist evaluation that requires new tests. Many insurance plans treat the appointment as a standard office visit, though labs or imaging may bill separately. Confirm coverage with your insurer before scheduling.