SeniorDriving.AAA.com

Home

Ask an Expert

Does AAA offer any guidance for car buyers?

Read the Answer »

How can I reduce the chance of being ripped off when I buy a used vehicle?

Read the Answer »

More Related Questions »

Change Text Size A A A

Find the Right Vehicle for You

Smart Features for Older Drivers

A vehicle is one of the largest purchases a person makes, and it is critical to find the right one for you. To help older drivers know what to look for in a vehicle, AAA worked with the University of Florida Institute for Mobility, Activity, and Participation to help identify smart features for older drivers (SFOD) to optimize their comfort and safety. Use the tool at the bottom of the page to explore these smart features.

Our expert team recommends you consider the following factors when evaluating a vehicle:

Safety features, such as seat belts and the positions and types of airbags.
Ergonomics, or design features, that reduce operator fatigue and discomfort, such as adjustable pedals and seats.
Comfort, such as ease of entry and exit, leg room and size of control buttons.
Value, which incorporates the total cost of ownership including price, operating and maintenance costs, as well as reliability, fuel economy and resale value.

In addition, a variety of adaptive features can help compensate for physical changes or simply to make the vehicle fit you more comfortably and safely. Explore these smart features with the tool below.

Find a vehicle tailored to fit your needs

First, select vehicle features that help you adapt to your individual considerations. Select all that apply

Limited knee range of motion; hip or leg pain

Click to view features

Six-way adjustable seats	These require less strength to adjust. At a minimum, the seats should offer six-way adjustment: forward and backward, up and down, and seatback forward and backward.
Low door threshold	Low-door thresholds or "sills" make entry and exit easier, reducing the need to lift the leg over the threshold.
Comfortable seats	The ideal seat height is between mid-thigh and lower buttocks. A low-slung sports car may look snazzy, but it requires extra strength and flexibility to get into and out of the vehicle. Likewise, a tall SUV requires extra effort to climb up into a seat.
Leather or faux leather seats	The smooth material can ease entry and exit of vehicle.
Adjustable foot pedals	With a push of a button, the driver can adjust the accelerator and brake pedals, a feature especially helpful for petite drivers to reach the pedals while ensuring they are a safe distance (about 12 inches) from the airbag mounted in the steering-wheel.

Short-statured or overweight

Click to view features

Adjustable foot pedals	Help drivers reach pedals, yet maintain a safe distance from the steering wheel airbag.
Tilt and telescoping steering wheel	Help drivers reach pedals, yet maintain a safe distance from the steering wheel airbag.
Six-way adjustable seats	Upward seat adjustments help drivers obtain a safe line of sight above the steering wheel and sit comfortably.

Diminished vision

Click to view features

Extendable sun visors	Help drivers adjust to and prevent glare from the sun, and assist with slow recovery from brightness.
Larger audio and climate controls	Audio and climate controls with large features and contrasting text are easier to see and manipulate, and thus less distracting.
High-contrast instrument panel	Allows for better visibility with quick glances; especially helpful for drivers with diminished vision due to glaucoma or cataracts.
Auto-dimming rearview mirror and glare reduction side mirrors	This feature reduces blinding glare from headlights of other vehicles.

Cognitive decline or reduced mental capabilities

Click to view features

"Classic car" design	The “less is more approach” by reducing distractions and improving familiarity with controls.
High-contrast instrument panel	Allows for better visibility with quick glances.
Rain sensor	Turns wipers on and off automatically and lessens driver distraction.

* These systems are intended to supplement a driver’s visual checks. They are NOT replacements for mirrors and should not be used as such.

Four-door models	Though not as sporty, four-door models make entry and exit easier, especially if the car has a rear seat. Two-door cars also have longer, heavier doors, requiring more strength to open and close.
Thick steering wheel	Thicker steering wheels require less hand and wrist strength to grip and handle.
Keyless entry	Operated by a push-button on the key fob, this feature is good for those with arthritic hands who find it painful to twist a key.
Power mirrors	Power mirrors and seats are easier to adjust for drivers with limited strength or arthritis.
Larger dashboard controls	Audio and climate controls with large features and contrasting text are easier to see and manipulate, and thus less distracting.
Keyless ignition	Utilizing a dash-mounted push-button instead of a traditional key, keyless ignition is beneficial to those with stiff or painful fingers who find it difficult to twist the ignition key .
Automatic tailgate closer	Power rear lift gates or rear hatches benefit seniors by preventing struggling with a heavy rear hatch, thus requiring no strength to open and close trunk or rear door.
Automatic side door openers	Requires no strength to open and close side doors.
Heated side mirrors	This feature eliminates the need to scrape ice in inclement weather.
Sliding channel gear selector	Sliding gear selectors eliminate the need to press selector button when changing gears.
Rain sensor	A rain sensor or rain switch is a switching device activated by rainfall. These sensors eliminate the need to manually turn wipers on and off.

Tilt and telescoping steering wheel	The extra adjustments help the driver find a safe distance from the front airbag, as well as a comfortable position that alleviates knee, back, hip, neck or shoulder pain.
Large, wide-angle mirrors	For those who have difficulty turning or twisting to look to the rear when changing lanes or backing up, large wide-angle mirrors can improve visibility and assist with blind spots.
Comfortable, heated seats with lumbar support	Lumbar support can help improve comfort for many drivers, especially those with back pain. Heated seats can help alleviate tension in the back.
Adjustable seat belts	Assist drivers in reaching for or buckling/unbuckling.
Automatic tailgate closer	Requires no strength or balance to open and close trunk or rear door.
Automatic side door openers	Require no strength or balance to open and close side doors.
Heated side mirrors	This feature eliminates the need to scrape ice in inclement weather.
Large rear window visibility	For those who have difficulty turning or twisting to look to the rear when changing lanes or backing up, larger rear windows can improve overall visibility and reduces turning required for backing up.
Rear backup camera*	Also known as backing aids, either rear view video cameras or parking distance sensors can be beneficial to older drivers with difficulty with mobility and neck movement.
Active parallel park assistance*	Active park assist helps driver’s parallel park with the touch of a button, requiring less twisting of the upper body.
Front and rear sensors and warning systems*	Sensors monitor immediate space ahead of and behind vehicle to minimize driver twisting and upper body rotation.
Foot-engaged emergency brake	A foot-engaged emergency brake can be easier to use than a hand-operated brake.