Over a million individuals in the UK rely on their cars to manage medical conditions. However, it’s important to be aware that there are over 100 medical conditions that must be declared to the DVLA before driving. These “notifiable conditions” have varying implications, from requiring specific adaptations to potentially leading to license suspension.
It’s crucial to inform the DVLA about any notifiable condition as soon as it’s diagnosed or when you start learning to drive. Failure to disclose such conditions can result in significant penalties, including fines, vehicle seizure, insurance invalidity, and potential prosecution in case of an accident.
To avoid these consequences, it’s essential to check the list of notifiable conditions. Some conditions may be surprising, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and disclose any relevant medical information.
Most common notifiable medical conditions that affect your driving
These are some of the most common medical conditions that can impact your driving ability. Depending on the specific condition and its severity, you may be required to notify the DVLA.
- Arthritis
- Dementia
- Hearing
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Stroke
- Driving after surgery
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Anxiety
- Diabetes
- Eyesight / Monocular Vision
- Medications
- Sleep disorders
- Limb disability
How to Tell the DVLA About a Medical Condition
If you have a medical condition that might affect your ability to drive safely, you’re legally obligated to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Here’s how to do it:
Online Reporting:
- The DVLA offers a convenient online service to report medical conditions. Visit the government website (gov.uk) and search for “tell DVLA about a medical condition.” This service allows you to find the appropriate forms and questionnaires based on your specific condition.
Alternatively:
- If you prefer not to use the online service, the DVLA website also provides downloadable forms for various medical conditions. You can complete the relevant form and mail it to the DVLA address provided.
Important Note:
The specific steps for reporting your medical condition may vary depending on the nature of your condition. Always refer to the official DVLA guidance on gov.uk for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Disclaimer:
This information is intended for general guidance only and should not be taken as medical advice. If you have any concerns about your fitness to drive, consult with your doctor.
What Happens After Reporting a Medical Condition to the DVLA
Once you’ve reported your medical condition to the DVLA, they may allow you to continue driving while they assess your situation. This process typically takes around 6 weeks and may involve consultations with your GP or a driving assessment.
The DVLA will then make one of the following decisions:
- No Change: If your condition is not deemed to impact your driving ability, your license will remain unchanged.
- License Revoked: You may be deemed unfit to drive, resulting in the revocation of your license. The DVLA will inform you if and when you can reapply.
- Vehicle Adaptations: You may be advised to make adaptations to your vehicle to ensure safe driving. Driving Mobility can assist with assessing your needs and recommending appropriate modifications.
- Short-Term License: You may receive a license with a shorter expiry date, requiring periodic reviews by the DVLA every 1 to 3 years.
Appealing a DVLA Medical Decision
If you disagree with the DVLA’s assessment of your medical condition and its impact on your driving fitness, you may be able to appeal the decision. However, this is only possible if you can provide additional information that was not considered in the original assessment.
To initiate the appeal process, you must write to the DVLA at the following address:
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Drivers Medical Group Swansea SA99 1DF
Your appeal letter should include the following:
Reference Number: The reference number from your original decision letter.
Proof of Fitness: Documentation demonstrating that you meet the required driving standards, as outlined in the DVLA’s initial decision letter.
A to Z of Medical Conditions Affecting Driving
Here’s a comprehensive list of medical conditions that might require disclosure to the DVLA. While many conditions won’t necessarily lead to license revocation or restrictions, it’s crucial to consult with your doctor for specific advice.
If you’re unsure whether your condition needs to be declared, always seek professional medical guidance.
A
Absence seizures
Acoustic neuroma
Addison’s disease
Agoraphobia
AIDS
Alcohol problems
Alzheimer’s disease
Amaurosis fugax
Amputations
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Angina
Angioma
Angioplasty
Ankylosing spondylitis
Anorexia nervosa
Anxiety
Aortic aneurysm
Arachnoid cyst
Arrhythmia
Atrial defibrillator
Arteriovenous malformation
Arthritis
Asperger syndrome
Ataxia
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autistic spectrum condition
B
Balloon angioplasty (leg)
Bipolar disorder
Blackouts
Blepharospasm
Blood clots
Blood pressure
Brachial plexus injury
Brain abscess, cyst or encephalitis
Brain aneurysm
Brain angioma
Brain haemorrhage
Brain injury (traumatic)
Brain tumours
Broken limbs
Brugada syndrome
Burr hole surgery
C
Caesarean section
Cancer
Cataracts
Catheter ablation
Cardiac problems
Carotid artery stenosis
Cataplexy
Central venous thrombosis
Cerebral palsy
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Chiari malformation
Chronic aortic dissection
Cognitive problems
Congenital heart disease
Convulsions
Coronary artery bypass or disease
Coronary angioplasty
Cranial nerve palsy (with double vision
Cystic fibrosis
D
Deafness
Defibrillator
Déjà vu
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Diplopia (double vision)
Dizziness
Drug misuse
Although dyslexia isn’t on this list, it can still cause problems when learning to drive. Here’s all you need to know about taking the theory test with dyslexia.
E
Eating disorders
Empyema (brain)
Epilepsy
Essential tremor
F
Fainting
Fits
Fractured skull
Friedreich’s ataxia
G
Glaucoma
Global amnesia
Grand mal seizures
Guillain-Barré syndrome
H
Head injury
Heart attack
Heart arrhythmia
Heart failure
Heart murmurs
Heart palpitations
Heart valve disease or replacement valve
High blood pressure
HIV
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Huntington’s disease
Hydrocephalus
Hypertension
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypoglycaemia
Hypoxic brain damage
Hysterectomy
I
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
Intracerebral haemorrhage
Ischaemic heart disease
K
Kidney dialysis
Kidney problems
Korsakoff’s syndrome
L
Labyrinthitis
Learning difficulties
Left bundle branch block
Leukaemia
Lewy body dementia
Limb disability
Long QT syndrome
Loss of an eye
Low blood sugar
Lumboperitoneal shunt
Lung cancer
Lymphoma
M
Macular degeneration
Malignant brain tumours
Malignant melanoma
Manic depressive psychosis
Marfan’s syndrome
Medulloblastoma
Memory problems (severe)
Meningioma
Mini-stroke
Monocular vision (sight in one eye only)
Motor neurone disease
Multiple sclerosis
Muscular dystrophy
Myasthenia gravis
Myocardial infarction
Myoclonus
N
Narcolepsy
Night blindness
O
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Obstructive sleep apnea
Ocular myasthenia gravis (with double vision)
Ophthalmoplegia (with double vision)
P
Pacemakers
Palpitations
Paranoia
Paranoid schizophrenia
Paraplegia
Parkinson’s disease
Peripheral arterial disease
Peripheral neuropathy
Personality disorder
Petit mal seizures
Pituitary tumor
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Psychosis
Psychotic depression
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
R
Renal dialysis
Retinal artery fugax
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinopathy (with laser treatment)
S
Schizo-affective disorder
Schizophrenia
Scotoma
Seizures
Severe communication disorders
Severe depression
Sight in one eye only
Sleep apnoea
Sleepiness (excessive)
Spinal problems and injuries
Stroke
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Surgery
Syncope
T
Tachycardia
Temporal lobe epilepsy
Tonic clonic fits
Tourette’s syndrome
Transient global amnesia
Transient ischaemic attack
Tunnel vision
U
Usher syndrome
V
Valve disease or replacement valve
Ventricular defibrillator
Vertigo
Vision in one eye only
Visual acuity (reduced)
Visual field defect
VP shunts
W
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
