Most patients return to driving between four and six weeks after a hip or knee replacement. There is no fixed legal waiting period in Australia. What there is instead is a legal obligation not to drive while your ability to control the vehicle is impaired, which puts the decision on you, informed by your surgeon.
Three things decide the date, and all three have to be satisfied.
1. You are off opioid pain medication
This one is not negotiable and it is the one most often overlooked. Driving while taking opioid analgesia is an offence in every Australian state and territory, regardless of how well you feel and regardless of how long ago the operation was. If you are still taking oxycodone or tramadol, including at night, raise it at your review before you assume you are clear.
Paracetamol and anti-inflammatories do not carry the same restriction.
2. You can perform an emergency stop
Comfort in the driver's seat is not the test. The test is whether you can move your foot to the brake and apply full force, without hesitating and without pain changing what you do. Studies measuring brake reaction time after joint replacement generally find it returns to pre-operative levels around four weeks after right-sided surgery, with considerable variation between individuals.
A reasonable self-test, performed in a stationary car in your driveway before you drive anywhere: can you stamp on the brake pedal hard, immediately, without flinching? If you have to think about it first, you are not ready.
3. Which side was operated on, and what you drive
This matters more than most people expect.
- Right hip or right knee, automatic transmission. The operated limb does the braking, so this is the situation that needs the most recovery. Four to six weeks is typical.
- Left hip or left knee, automatic transmission. The operated limb does very little. Some patients are safe considerably earlier, sometimes around two weeks, provided they can get in and out of the car without straining the joint.
- Manual transmission. A left-sided operation now involves the clutch, which is a repeated, loaded movement. Expect the same timeframe as a right-sided automatic, or longer.
Your insurer
If you have a collision while driving against medical advice, or while impaired, your insurer may decline the claim. This is a genuine risk rather than a theoretical one. Some policies ask you to declare recent surgery. It is worth five minutes on the phone to your insurer before you drive rather than after.
Getting in and out of the car
Separate from driving, and it comes up sooner. After a hip replacement in particular, a low car seat can push the hip into a deep bend. Reverse in, sit down first with your back to the seat, then swing both legs round together. Slide the seat back as far as it goes before you start, and a firm cushion helps if the seat is low.
You can be a passenger well before you can be a driver. For the first few weeks, longer trips are worth breaking up so you can stand and move, which is also sensible for circulation.
The short version
Ask at your two week review. By then your progress is clear, your medication is known, and the answer can be specific to you rather than an average. Do not simply take the date a friend was given, because their operation, their side and their car were probably not yours.
Common questions.
When can I drive after a knee replacement?
Most patients drive again between four and six weeks after a knee replacement. There is no fixed legal waiting period in Australia. You must be off opioid pain medication, able to perform an emergency stop without hesitation, and able to get in and out of the car safely. Left knee surgery in an automatic car often allows an earlier return than right knee surgery, because the operated leg is not doing the braking.
When can I drive after a hip replacement?
Most patients drive again between four and six weeks after a hip replacement. The same three conditions apply as for a knee: no opioid medication, a reliable emergency stop, and safe entry and exit from the car. Getting into a low seat without bending the new hip too far is often the limiting factor early on.
Is it illegal to drive after joint replacement surgery in Australia?
There is no specific law setting a waiting period after joint replacement. There is a legal obligation not to drive while impaired, and driving while taking opioid pain medication is an offence in every Australian state and territory. The practical decision should be made with your surgeon at your post-operative review.
Will my car insurance cover me if I drive too soon after surgery?
Possibly not. If you have a collision while driving against medical advice or while impaired by medication, an insurer may decline the claim. Contact your insurer before you resume driving rather than afterwards, as some policies ask you to declare recent surgery.
Can I drive sooner if it was my left leg?
Often yes, if you drive an automatic. The left leg does very little in an automatic car, so some patients are safe to drive at around two weeks, provided they are off opioid medication and can get in and out of the car comfortably. In a manual car the left leg operates the clutch, so the advantage disappears.
This page provides general information about a medical condition and a surgical procedure. It is not individual medical advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified practitioner. Outcomes vary between individuals and all surgery carries risk. A referral is needed for a consultation with Professor Daevyd Rodda; without one, you can start with the practice nurse practitioner, who can provide it.