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Driving & Generalized Epilepsy

A person with generalized epilepsy--that is, he has seizures and has been diagnosed with the condition by a neurologist--can drive a car legally in the United States. To gain his license, he must prove he can drive without posing a threat to those around him.

  1. Generalized Epilepsy

    • Generalized epilepsy happens when the electric receptors in both sides of the brain begin emitting random electrical signals simultaneously. Types of seizures that fall under the title generalized include absence seizure and tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures.

    Driving Basics

    • A person with epilepsy can drive, provided he meets certain requirements. While the requirement details vary from state to state, some basic concepts apply everywhere in the United States.

    Seizure Free

    • A person with epilepsy must be seizure free. In some states, such as Arizona, he must be seizure free for a certain period of time. In others, it doesn't matter how long he's been seizure free, but his doctor must clear him to drive.

    Physician Evaluation

    • In every state, a person with epilepsy must submit an evaluation from his physician to the DMV. This evaluation declares that his medication keeps him seizure free and he is safe to drive.

    Medical Reporting

    • While many states once required an annual report from the physician to the DMV stating that the seizures are under control with medication, only six states required one as of March 2010, according to Epilepsy.com. These state are California, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

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