The objectives of this study were: (1) Review of databases and literature on current population health, function, socioeconomic, and mobility and driving status of American women aged 65 and over; (2) Identification of existing data sets that summarize current transportation use, both public and private, in older women; (3) Summary of existing literature on the relation of functional status of older women and the use of available transportation modalities, and the suitability of those options in relation to functional status; (4) Review of the relationships between changing family size, socioeconomic status, and inter-generational resource exchanges with respect to transportation among older women; and (5) Recommendations for future research. Major conclusions are as follows: The number of older women in the U.S. will continue to increase at a substantial rate, both due to increased survivorship and immigration. About 20% of American women over age 65 do not operate an automobile. Successive cohorts of older women will likely be motor vehicle operators, at least at some point in their lives. There is confusion in the gerontological and geriatric literature on the difference between disability and mobility. Older women continue to depend heavily on the automobile for transportation, and based on federal surveys, that is still increasing. With the increase in the number of older women, there are also contradictory trends that will make projecting motor vehicle operating patterns and transportation needs extremely difficult. National surveys and other informative research are deficient in elements of content necessary for a comprehensive approach to this issue.