[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-437358-105":59,"doc-detail-437358-en":124},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":117,"head_meta":119,"extra_data":121,"updated_unix":123},105,"en","vehicle-modifications-airbags-request-process","Vehicle Modifications - Airbags - Request Process","","Vehicle Modifications provides driver guidance for legally operating with medically related vehicle modifications. It outlines requirements for disabling airbags, including NHTSA federal permission through a documented request, a healthcare provider letter, and defined submission steps and timelines. It also explains hand-control decision logic (medical condition versus accident), when a medical report is required, and how testing and road tests establish safety and licensing restrictions. Seat belt and window tint exceptions are covered with physician statements and chapter references.",{"@graph":69,"@context":116},[70,84,99],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/vehicle-modifications-airbags-request-process/437358/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"author":86,"headline":65,"publisher":89,"fileFormat":92,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":93,"datePublished":93,"encodingFormat":92,"isAccessibleForFree":94,"interactionStatistic":95},"DigitalDocument",{"name":87,"@type":88},"Riley West","Person",{"url":74,"name":90,"@type":91},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":96,"interactionType":97,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":98},"ViewAction",{"@type":100,"mainEntity":101},"FAQPage",[102,108,112],{"name":103,"@type":104,"acceptedAnswer":105},"How can a driver legally request to turn off their airbags?","Question",{"text":106,"@type":107},"The mechanic needs federal permission from NHTSA. The driver must submit a request form, include a healthcare provider letter explaining the medical reason, and fax the documents to NHTSA. A decision may take up to 6 weeks, with options to call the hotline or expedite for urgent cases.","Answer",{"name":109,"@type":104,"acceptedAnswer":110},"When is a medical report needed for hand controls?",{"text":111,"@type":107},"A medical report (MV3644) is required when the hand controls are needed due to an underlying medical condition, such as an amputation caused by diabetes, to confirm medical safety. If hand controls are needed due to an accident that caused partial paralysis, the underlying cause is the accident and a medical report form is not required.",{"name":113,"@type":104,"acceptedAnswer":114},"Do drivers with a valid DL need an instruction permit if they now require hand controls?",{"text":115,"@type":107},"No. Drivers with a valid DL who now need hand controls can keep their current license, practice using the modified vehicle with that license, and later go to the station for a road test to obtain the correct restrictions if no medical check is required.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":118,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":90,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":120,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":122,"site_id":62},437358,1790681271,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":125},{"doc_id":122,"user_id":126,"nickname":87,"user_avatar":127,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":128,"file_id":129,"file_url":130,"file_type":131,"file_size":132,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":81,"language":133,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":134,"faqs":135,"seo_title":136,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":123,"read_time":39},1099523885074,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","Vehicle Modifications  \nLast Modified on 03/25/2019 9:46 am CDT  \nThere are times when a d river will contact us to ask if they can modify their vehicle in some way to accommodate a medical condition. The sections below outline what the driver must do if they want to operate with a specific type of modification.  \nAirbags  \nHand Controls Seat Belt Exception Window Tinting  \nAirbags  \nOccasionally, a d river will call to ask if their airbags can be legally disabled. They might have a condition (e.g. osteoporosis) that would make airbags potentially dangerous or even lethal. A mechanic won't disable airbags without getting federal permission to do so. This permission is something that can be requested from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by following these steps:  \n1. Fill out a Request for Air Bag On-Off Switch  \n2. Get a letter from your healthcare provider (on doctor's letterhead) explaining the reason that the driver needs to turn off their airbags.  \n3. Fax both documents listed above to NHTSA-FAX: 202-493-2833 (all address info is on the form, so drivers can also mail the information in).  \nA decision can take up to 6 weeks, but the driver can call and ask questions or see if there's any way to expedite the process by calling the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236. If it's extremely urgent, email derrick. lewis@dot.gov or call the airbag division at 202-366- 6982.  \nHand Controls  \nThe question we need to ask ourselves when the topic of \"hand controls\" comes up is\"what is the underlying cause for the driver needing hand controls?\".  \nIs a Medical Report Needed?  \n IF the driver has some medical condition that has caused them to get hand controls  \n(e.g. an amputation caused by diabetes), then we need to get a current medical report form (MV3644) from the driver to make sure that they are medically safe to operatea motor vehicle. If they are deemed 'safe to drive' and our concerns about the underlying medical condition are quelled, THEN we send them in for MRF-ALL TESTS (knowledge, signs and skills). The reason we send the driver with an underlying medical condition for all of the tests is to keep consistent with other drivers that are medically required to have testing done.  \n IF the driver was in an accident that caused them to need hand controls (such as when a person becomes partially paralyzed), the underlying cause was the accident and we don't need a medical report form. All the driver needs to do is go to the driver's station and schedule/pass a road test so they can prove that they have mastered the 'hand controlled vehicle' and get the correct restrictions on their license.  \nHand-control training  \n A note about hand-control training: we do not tell drivers how to get trained hen they modify their vehicle for hand-controls. The way they learn to use the modified vehicle is up to them. We figure out if they are safe to operate their modified vehicle when they go to the driver station and take their road test.  \n Where can a driver go to get hand-controls for their car: a d river could ask their doctor or physical therapist where they could go to get alterations done to their car.  \nDoes the driver need an instruction permit if they have a valid DL?  \nNo.  \nDrivers who currently have a valid DL, but now need hand-controls are not required to get an instruction permit. They can keep their current DL and practice using the handcontrols using their current valid license. As long as we don't need to check them out medically, they will be able to go to the station when they are comfortable with the hand-  \ncontrols and do a road test, so that the license can be properly restricted.  \nSeat Belt Exception  \nSeat Belts do not need to be worn if there is some medical reason for this. A written statement by a licensed physician must be carried by the driver or in the car. The statement details are specific and described completely in Chapter Trans 315.03 .  \nWindow Tinting  \nWindow Tinting is allowed","cbCaiga6jD75ikCT","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiga6jD75ikCT","pdf",39299,"English","# Airbags\n## Legal process to request disabling\n## Handling urgent cases\n# Hand Controls\n## Determine underlying medical cause\n## When a medical report is needed\n## Road test, training, and where to get hand controls\n## Instruction permit and license restrictions\n# Seat Belt Exception\n## Physician written statement requirement\n# Window Tinting\n## Physician written statement requirement and chapter reference","[{\"question\":\"How can a driver legally request to turn off their airbags?\",\"answer\":\"The mechanic needs federal permission from NHTSA. The driver must submit a request form, include a healthcare provider letter explaining the medical reason, and fax the documents to NHTSA. A decision may take up to 6 weeks, with options to call the hotline or expedite for urgent cases.\"},{\"question\":\"When is a medical report needed for hand controls?\",\"answer\":\"A medical report (MV3644) is required when the hand controls are needed due to an underlying medical condition, such as an amputation caused by diabetes, to confirm medical safety. If hand controls are needed due to an accident that caused partial paralysis, the underlying cause is the accident and a medical report form is not required.\"},{\"question\":\"Do drivers with a valid DL need an instruction permit if they now require hand controls?\",\"answer\":\"No. Drivers with a valid DL who now need hand controls can keep their current license, practice using the modified vehicle with that license, and later go to the station for a road test to obtain the correct restrictions if no medical check is required.\"}]","Vehicle Modifications - Airbags - Request Process | PDF"]