When driving gets harder
On the Cape a car is how people reach the doctor, the shop and their friends, so stopping goes better when the alternatives are lined up first. Massachusetts drivers 75 and over must renew their licence in person. Without a car, DART door-to-door rides cost $1.50 for seniors, Councils on Aging run their own rides, and volunteer groups drive members to appointments.
- Start with less driving — no nights, no highway, no summer traffic — before none.
- Line up rides before the conversation.
- Massachusetts: 75+ renew in person; a free ID card if you give up your licence.
- DART: door-to-door anywhere on the Cape, $1.50 a ride for seniors, book by noon the weekday before.
- Councils on Aging and volunteer groups drive residents to appointments.
CCRTA DART — $1.50 a ride for seniors
Key facts
| License renewal at 75+ | In person at the RMV |
|---|---|
| RMV appointment line, 65+ and disabilities | 857-368-8005 |
| Giving up a licence voluntarily | Free Massachusetts ID card |
| DART fare, 60+ | $1.50 a ride, or $22.50 for twenty |
| DART booking | By noon the previous weekday (by 5pm Friday for Monday) |
What are the signs it may be time to drive less?
- New dents or scrapes on the car, the mailbox or the garage
- Getting lost on familiar roads, or missing turns
- Near-misses, drifting between lanes, other drivers honking
- Trouble turning to check blind spots, or confusion at the Route 6 rotaries and busy summer junctions
- Driving much more slowly than traffic, or stopping for no reason
- A doctor, or a friend who rides along, saying they are worried
Many older drivers adjust on their own: no night driving, no Route 6, no trips in July and August. That is often the right first step.
How do I raise it with a parent?
- Ride along first. Then talk about what you saw, not about age.
- Have the rides worked out before the conversation, so the answer to “how will I get to church?” is ready.
- Start with less driving, not none. Agree limits together.
- Ask the doctor to raise it. It is often heard differently from a professional, and a driving assessment by an occupational therapist gives an objective answer.
- Keep the dignity. Losing the car can feel like losing independence. Plan things to look forward to that don’t need one.
What are the Massachusetts rules for older drivers?
- Drivers 75 and older must renew in person at the RMV.
- Massachusetts relies on self-reporting of medical conditions that affect driving. Doctors and police can also report a driver to the RMV’s Medical Affairs team for evaluation.
- Someone who gives up their licence voluntarily can get a free Massachusetts ID card.
- The RMV appointment line for people 65 and over and people with disabilities is 857-368-8005.
How do people get around the Cape without a car?
| DART — door-to-door rides anywhere on the Cape, Monday to Saturday CCRTA — DART (regional) | 800-352-7155 |
| Boston Hospital Transportation — reserved seats to the major Boston hospitals, same-day return CCRTA Boston Hospital Transportation | (800) 352-7155 |
| Nauset Neighbors — volunteer drivers for members 65+ in Brewster, Chatham, Eastham, Harwich, Orleans and Wellfleet Nauset Neighbors | (508) 514-7067 |
DART: Door-to-door pickup; for appointments, be ready 1 to 1.5 hours before your appointment time. Book by noon the weekday before (by 5pm Friday for a Monday trip), up to a month ahead. Seniors pay $1.50 a ride, or $22.50 for twenty.
Nauset Neighbors: membership is $75 a year for one person or $95 for a household, waived if you cannot afford it.
Council on Aging rides, Lower and Outer Cape
| Town | Phone | What the Council on Aging offers |
|---|---|---|
| Brewster | 508-896-2737 | Volunteer drivers take you to medical and dental appointments as far as Hyannis (one ride a week), plus a wheelchair-accessible medical van · Call 508-896-2737; book grocery van 2 business days ahead, volunteer medical rides 4, wheelchair van 7 |
| Chatham | 508-945-5190 | Rides Mon–Fri 9–2: medical appointments from Orleans to Hyannis, errands in Chatham, Harwich and Orleans; grocery and prescription delivery; Ryders Cove Respite day program · Call 508-945-5190; new riders fill out an intake form and should request rides at least 24 hours ahead |
| Eastham | 774-801-3151 | An LPN outreach coordinator makes home visits; also medical rides Mon–Fri and grocery trips to Orleans · Call 774-801-3151, or the outreach line 774-801-3153 to ask for a home visit |
| Harwich | 508-430-7550 | Wheelchair-accessible van for trips to Harwich grocery stores and pharmacies, COA programs, the library and Town Hall; Friendly Visitor program |
| Orleans | 508-255-6333 | Runs Rock Harbor Respite, a supportive day program, plus outreach help from a social service coordinator and outreach worker |
| Provincetown | 508-487-7080 | Free rides to Hyannis, Orleans, the RMV, Stop & Shop and in-town medical visits, plus door-to-door van for on-Cape medical appointments (donations welcome) · Call 508-487-7080 to schedule a ride |
| Truro | 508-487-2462 | Free rides anywhere in Barnstable County, with medical appointments given priority; outreach helps with fuel assistance, Medicare questions and wheelchair loans · Call 508-487-2462 (Mon–Fri 8–4); book rides at least 2 business days ahead |
| Wellfleet | 508-349-2800 | On-site café (Maryann's Cafe), transportation, and fraud-prevention and veteran resources |
From each town’s listing in this directory. Ride rules change: call before relying on one.
More: all senior transportation · non-emergency medical transport · free prescription delivery from pharmacies that deliver.
Mistakes families make
- Taking the keys before any other way of getting around exists.
- Raising it for the first time at a family holiday, in front of everyone.
- Assuming the RMV will catch a problem at renewal.
- Forgetting that isolation after giving up the car is its own health risk.
For professionals and organisations
Doctors, occupational therapists, Councils on Aging: the rides table is a ready answer to “but how will I get to my appointments?” Print it for patients before the conversation, not after. See how to use these guides.
Common questions
Do older drivers have to retest in Massachusetts?
There is no automatic road test by age. Drivers 75 and older must renew their licence in person. Doctors and police can refer a driver to the RMV’s Medical Affairs team for evaluation.
How much does DART cost for seniors on Cape Cod?
DART, the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority’s door-to-door service, costs $1.50 a ride for people 60 and over, or $22.50 for twenty rides. Book by noon the weekday before, Monday to Saturday.
Is there a bus from Cape Cod to Boston hospitals?
Yes. CCRTA’s Boston Hospital Transportation takes Cape residents to the major Boston hospitals and back the same day, by reservation at least one weekday ahead.
What happens if I give up my driver’s license in Massachusetts?
You can get a free Massachusetts ID card. Plan rides first: DART, your Council on Aging and volunteer groups can cover most appointments and errands.
General information about how things work in Massachusetts and on Cape Cod, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Figures and rules change: the date each fact was checked is at the top of the page. How we check facts · Report a mistake.