Advice
Driving with a medical condition: informing the DVLA
If you suffer from a medical condition, you may be legally required to inform the DVLA about it to keep driving. Find out which medical conditions are notifiable, and which form you need to fill out.
Words by: Nimisha Jain
Published on 23 October 2023 | 0 min read
If you’ve been diagnosed with a medical condition, you may be legally required to notify the DVLA about the medical conditions to keep hold of your licence. If you fail to inform the DVLA, you can be fined up to £1,000.
DVLA has a list of ‘notifiable’ medical conditions that you must tell the DVLA about. You can find an extensive list of medical conditions further down this page. If you think your medical condition could affect your driving and you don’t wish to drive anymore, you can voluntarily surrender your driving licence.
DVLA has a list of ‘notifiable’ medical conditions that you must tell the DVLA about. You can find an extensive list of medical conditions further down this page. If you think your medical condition could affect your driving and you don’t wish to drive anymore, you can voluntarily surrender your driving licence.
How to tell DVLA about a medical condition?
You can tell the DVLA about your medical condition by filing the relevant form – which can be done online on Gov.uk or on paper and posted to the DVLA.
There are different forms for different medical conditions, and whether you drive a car or a bus, lorry or coach. You can find a comprehensive list of the forms at the bottom of this page.
There are different forms for different medical conditions, and whether you drive a car or a bus, lorry or coach. You can find a comprehensive list of the forms at the bottom of this page.
Can I report someone to the DVLA for medical conditions?
You can report someone’s medical condition on their behalf if they’re unable to do so.
To report a medical condition for someone, you can contact the DVLA through email, webchat, phone or by post. You can find all the contact details here on Gov.uk (external link).
To report a medical condition for someone, you can contact the DVLA through email, webchat, phone or by post. You can find all the contact details here on Gov.uk (external link).
How long do DVLA medical enquiries take?
The length of the DVLA’s assessment of a medical enquiry differs from case to case.
Once you inform the DVLA about your medical condition or disability, the DVLA will review your application and decide whether you: • Need a new driving licence • Should have a shortened driving licence instead, for example one that lasts one to five years • Need to modify your car with special controls so it suits your needs better • Need to give up driving licence and should stop driving To decide what’s the best for you, the DVLA may contact your doctor, arrange an examination or ask you to take a driving assessment, an eyesight test or a driving test. If you think a Motability car may suit you better, you should find out if you’re eligible for the motability scheme.
Once you inform the DVLA about your medical condition or disability, the DVLA will review your application and decide whether you: • Need a new driving licence • Should have a shortened driving licence instead, for example one that lasts one to five years • Need to modify your car with special controls so it suits your needs better • Need to give up driving licence and should stop driving To decide what’s the best for you, the DVLA may contact your doctor, arrange an examination or ask you to take a driving assessment, an eyesight test or a driving test. If you think a Motability car may suit you better, you should find out if you’re eligible for the motability scheme.
Surrendering your driving licence
If your doctor asks you to stop driving for three or more months, or if you feel that your medical condition is affecting your ability to drive properly, then you may want to voluntarily surrender your driving licence.
In this case, you’ll have to fill a ’Declaration of voluntary surrender for medical reasons’ form if you drive a car or the VCERT form if you drive a lorry, bus or a coach to voluntarily surrender your driving licence. Once you’ve downloaded and completed the form, you can post it to: Drivers Medical Group, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1TU. If you’ve been advised by your doctor to not drive but you want to continue driving, you’ll have to inform the DVLA about your medical condition so that they can decide whether or not you’re fit to drive. You’re not allowed to drive while the DVLA review your application. You may only start driving if the DVLA say it’s okay to. If you wish to surrender your licence and don’t want to keep hold of your car anymore, you can easily advertise and sell your car on Auto Trader.
In this case, you’ll have to fill a ’Declaration of voluntary surrender for medical reasons’ form if you drive a car or the VCERT form if you drive a lorry, bus or a coach to voluntarily surrender your driving licence. Once you’ve downloaded and completed the form, you can post it to: Drivers Medical Group, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1TU. If you’ve been advised by your doctor to not drive but you want to continue driving, you’ll have to inform the DVLA about your medical condition so that they can decide whether or not you’re fit to drive. You’re not allowed to drive while the DVLA review your application. You may only start driving if the DVLA say it’s okay to. If you wish to surrender your licence and don’t want to keep hold of your car anymore, you can easily advertise and sell your car on Auto Trader.
Re-applying for a driving licence after a medical condition
If your doctor is happy with you driving again, it’s easier to get your driving licence back when you voluntarily surrender your driving licence as the doctor can support you being back on the road. You may need to provide evidence that you’re fit to drive again – the DVLA will let you know if they require this information from you.
List of medical conditions and the form required to inform the DVLA
Here’s a comprehensive list of medical conditions that need to be disclosed to the DVLA and the form you need to send to the DVLA.
The type of form that you’ll need to use will depend upon your medical condition. • AUD1 form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – deafness, Usher syndrome or other related conditions • B1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / B1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers - acute subdural haematoma, aneurysm, arachnoid cyst, Arnold-Chiari malformation, arteriovenous malformation, blood clots, brain abscess, cyst or encephalitis, brain injury, brain tumour, burr hole surgery, cerebral palsy, chronic subdural haematoma, head injury, hydrocephalus, hypoxic brain damage, Lewy body dementia, Medulloblastoma, meningioma, pituitary tumour, serious head injury, subarachnoid haemorrhage, transient global amnesia, VP shunt or other related conditions • BP1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / BP1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers - blood pressure problems, high blood pressure (hypertension) or other related conditions • C1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / C1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – cancer, Hodgkins lymphoma, leukaemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, malignant melanoma or other related conditions • CG1 form - Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cognitive problems or other related conditions • CN1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / CN1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – ataxia, muscular dystrophy, Friedrich’s ataxia, Guillain Barré syndrome, Huntington’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis or other related conditions • DEFIB1 form - atrial and ventricular defibrillator or other related conditions • DG1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / DG1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – for drug problems • DIAB1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / VDIAB1GEN form or a VDIAB1SG form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – diabetes, hypoglycaemia or other related conditions • DIZ1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / DIZ1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – dizziness, labyrinthitis, vertigo or other related conditions • DR1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / DR1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – for alcohol problems • FEP1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / FEP1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – convulsions, seizures and fits, myoclonus, petit mal and grand mal, déjà vu, blackouts and fainting (syncope) • G1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / G1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – AIDS, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis, brachial plexus, cancer, learning difficulties, limb disability, paraplegia, spinal problems or any persisting issues which can affect movement • H1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / VOCH1 form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – aneurysm, Brugada syndrome, arrhythmia, congenital heart disease, heart palpitations, Long QT syndrome, Marfan syndrome, pacemakers, tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or other related conditions • K1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers - kidney dialysis, kidney problems or other related conditions • M1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / M1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – agoraphobia, anxiety, bi-polar disorder (manic depression), depression, eating disorders, Korsakoff’s syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), paranoid schizophrenia, personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychosis, psychotic depression, schizo-affective disorder, schizophrenia or other related conditions • PAH1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / PAH1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – Pulmonary arterial hypertension • PK1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / PK1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – Parkinson’s disease and other related conditions • SL1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / SL1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – for sleep conditions such as narcolepsy, cataplexy, sleepiness, obstructive sleep apnoea or obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome • STR1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / STR1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers - intracerebral haemorrhage, stroke or other related conditions • V1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / V1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – blepharospasm, diplopia (double vision), glaucoma, nyctalopia (night blindness), retinitis pigmentosa, visual field defects and other related conditions
The type of form that you’ll need to use will depend upon your medical condition. • AUD1 form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – deafness, Usher syndrome or other related conditions • B1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / B1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers - acute subdural haematoma, aneurysm, arachnoid cyst, Arnold-Chiari malformation, arteriovenous malformation, blood clots, brain abscess, cyst or encephalitis, brain injury, brain tumour, burr hole surgery, cerebral palsy, chronic subdural haematoma, head injury, hydrocephalus, hypoxic brain damage, Lewy body dementia, Medulloblastoma, meningioma, pituitary tumour, serious head injury, subarachnoid haemorrhage, transient global amnesia, VP shunt or other related conditions • BP1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / BP1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers - blood pressure problems, high blood pressure (hypertension) or other related conditions • C1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / C1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – cancer, Hodgkins lymphoma, leukaemia, lung cancer, lymphoma, malignant melanoma or other related conditions • CG1 form - Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cognitive problems or other related conditions • CN1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / CN1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – ataxia, muscular dystrophy, Friedrich’s ataxia, Guillain Barré syndrome, Huntington’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis or other related conditions • DEFIB1 form - atrial and ventricular defibrillator or other related conditions • DG1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / DG1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – for drug problems • DIAB1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / VDIAB1GEN form or a VDIAB1SG form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – diabetes, hypoglycaemia or other related conditions • DIZ1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / DIZ1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – dizziness, labyrinthitis, vertigo or other related conditions • DR1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / DR1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – for alcohol problems • FEP1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / FEP1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – convulsions, seizures and fits, myoclonus, petit mal and grand mal, déjà vu, blackouts and fainting (syncope) • G1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / G1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – AIDS, ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis, brachial plexus, cancer, learning difficulties, limb disability, paraplegia, spinal problems or any persisting issues which can affect movement • H1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / VOCH1 form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – aneurysm, Brugada syndrome, arrhythmia, congenital heart disease, heart palpitations, Long QT syndrome, Marfan syndrome, pacemakers, tachycardia, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome or other related conditions • K1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers - kidney dialysis, kidney problems or other related conditions • M1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / M1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – agoraphobia, anxiety, bi-polar disorder (manic depression), depression, eating disorders, Korsakoff’s syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), paranoid schizophrenia, personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychosis, psychotic depression, schizo-affective disorder, schizophrenia or other related conditions • PAH1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / PAH1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – Pulmonary arterial hypertension • PK1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / PK1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – Parkinson’s disease and other related conditions • SL1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / SL1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – for sleep conditions such as narcolepsy, cataplexy, sleepiness, obstructive sleep apnoea or obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome • STR1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / STR1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers - intracerebral haemorrhage, stroke or other related conditions • V1 form for cars and motorbike drivers / V1V form for lorry, bus and coach drivers – blepharospasm, diplopia (double vision), glaucoma, nyctalopia (night blindness), retinitis pigmentosa, visual field defects and other related conditions
If you can’t find the relevant medical condition in the above list, you can check for more information on Gov.uk (external website).
If you’re still unsure of which form you need to fill out, then you should contact the DVLA to double-check what the right steps are for you. You can email the DVLA on Gov.uk, talk to them on webchat or call the DVLA’s medical enquiries division on 0300 790 6806 between 8:00am – 7:00pm from Monday – Friday, and between 8:00am – 2:00pm on Saturdays. You can also write to the DVLA on: Drivers' Medical Enquiries, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1TU If you wish to stop driving, keep reading about how we can help you sell your car on Auto Trader quickly.
If you’re still unsure of which form you need to fill out, then you should contact the DVLA to double-check what the right steps are for you. You can email the DVLA on Gov.uk, talk to them on webchat or call the DVLA’s medical enquiries division on 0300 790 6806 between 8:00am – 7:00pm from Monday – Friday, and between 8:00am – 2:00pm on Saturdays. You can also write to the DVLA on: Drivers' Medical Enquiries, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1TU If you wish to stop driving, keep reading about how we can help you sell your car on Auto Trader quickly.