When it comes to buying and driving cars, one of the many things motorists have to consider is whether they’re fit to drive. There are many conditions a licence holder can have which the Driver Vehicle Licence Agency (DVLA) need to know about.
Your health conditions and driving or your mental health and driving could prove a dangerous combination if you’re ill in some way. However, some motorists, who have a particular health condition, may not be certain on whether what they have prohibits them from driving or if the DVLA needs informing about.
In this guide we’ll examine certain health conditions, if they are considered ‘notifiable’ and how to respond.
Which medical conditions can affect your driving?
The general rule is that you need to tell the DVLA if you have a driving licence and you develop a ‘notifiable’ medical condition or disability. A notifiable condition is defined as anything that could affect your ability to drive. If you fail to notify the DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving then you could be fined up to £1,000.
Particular medical conditions
Anxiety
You have to tell the DVLA if you suffer from any anxiety disorder that affects your ability to drive.
You’ll need to fill in a questionnaire form (known as M1), which you can get online, and send it to the DVLA via the address on the form itself. If you’re unsure as to whether your anxiety disorder affects your driving, ask your doctor.
Asperger syndrome
Asperger syndrome is a disorder which isn’t guaranteed to affect driving to the point that the DVLA needs to be informed about it, but it is possible.
Ask your doctor if you’re unsure if your Asperger syndrome affects your driving and inform the DVLA and send form M1 to them if it does.
Blood pressure problems
People who have blood pressure problems can have their driving affected depending on what sort of treatment they’re getting.
If you have blood pressure issues, consult your doctor as to whether the side effects of the treatment affects your driving. If they do, then you must tell the DVLA and send them form BP1, which is available to download online.
Cancer
You may not need to tell the DVLA if you have cancer, but it all depends on how exactly it affects you.
You will need to inform the DVLA if your cancer affects the brain or nervous system or it has restricted you to vehicles that have been adapted for you. Of course, you’ll also need to inform the DVLA if your doctor tells you the cancer itself or the medication you’re taking for it affects your ability to drive.
You’ll need to fill in form G1 and sent it to the DVLA if your cancer does affect your driving.
Cataracts
If you have cataracts in just one eye, then you don’t need to inform the DVLA, unless your other eye also suffers a medical condition. If this is the case, or you have cataracts in both eyes then you must inform the DVLA and fill in and send them form V1.
If you have had surgery to remove cataracts from your eyes, you will need to undergo an eyesight test with an optician before you can be deemed fit to drive.
You can check out our guide for more details about driving eyesight rules.
Convulsions/fits/seizures
If you have any condition that can cause you to suffer from fits, seizures or convulsions then you must tell the DVLA. You’ll also need to fill in form FEP1 and send it to the DVLA.
Deafness
Car and motorcycle drivers do not need to tell the DVLA that they are hearing impaired. The only kind of hearing impaired drivers who need to inform the DVLA about this are those who hold a bus, coach or lorry licence.
Déjà vu
People who suffer from frequent or severe cases of déjà vu will need to tell the DVLA and send them form FEP1, since the condition is linked with seizures and epilepsy.
Not all examples of déjà vu are related to a serious health condition, however, so talk to your doctor first if you’re at all unsure.
Depression
If you have a driving licence and you’ve been diagnosed with depression, ask your doctor if the condition will affect your driving. If your doctor says it does, inform the DVLA via the M1 questionnaire.
Diabetes
Whether or not you need to tell the DVLA about your diabetes depends on what sort of medication you’re taking for the condition.
If you’re a car or motorcycle driver taking tablets or non-insulin injection for your diabetes, then you only need to tell the DVLA if the treatment can give you low blood sugar (also known as hypoglycaemia). If they can, fill in form DIAB1 and send it to the DVLA. Ask your nurse or doctor if you’re unsure whether your tablets or injection can affect you in this way.
You must tell the DVLA about your diabetes if it is being treated with insulin. If, however, you’re not taking any medication and are only treating your diabetes through how you manage your diet, then the DVLA doesn’t need to know about it.
HIV and AIDS
If you have AIDS, you must inform the DVLA by sending them form G1. You don’t, however, need to inform the DVLA if you have HIV.
Memory loss
If you have severe memory problems then the DVLA will need to be informed. Check with your doctor if you’re unsure if your memory problems should be considered severe. If they are, then send form CG1 to the DVLA.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
You need to tell the DVLA if you’ve been diagnosed with Obsessive compulsive disorder. You’ll have to send them the M1 questionnaire. If you’re unsure as to whether your OCD actually affects your driving, then consult your doctor first.
Pacemakers and heart conditions
Driving licence holders need to inform the DVLA if they have been fitted with a pacemaker. Certain conditions related to the heart will also need the DVLA’s attention. These include arrhythmia and heart palpitations. If you have either of these conditions or a pacemaker, you should send the DVLA form H1.
If you have previously suffered a heart attack, heart failure or heart valve disease or had a heart valve replaced, you don’t need to tell the DVLA. If any of these do happen, however, you will need to stop driving for at least one month and you shouldn’t resume driving until your doctor says it’s safe to do so.
Stroke
You only need to tell the DVLA about a stroke if you’re still suffering problems because of it one month after it first occurred. If there are still issues, then fill in and send form STR1 to the DVLA.
Bus, coach and lorry drivers must inform the DVLA of any stroke, regardless of its severity.
Tourette’s syndrome
If you have Tourette’s syndrome but you’re not sure as to whether it affects your driving, ask your doctor. If it does, send form B1 to the DVLA.
Alcoholism
Drivers who have been diagnosed with an alcohol problem must inform the DVLA by sending them form DR1. Whether or not you’ve been charged with drinking and driving is irrelevant to this matter.
Making sure you're fit to drive
If there’s another physical or mental condition (not mentioned above) which you have and you’re not sure if it affects your driving, then consulting a doctor is always a smart course of action.
The Government has an online page which has a comprehensive list of health conditions and addresses whether or not you need to inform the DVLA if you have any of them.
Surrendering your driving licence
Certain conditions can affect you enough that you fail to meet medical standards of fitness to drive. If your doctor confirms you are unfit to drive then you’re legally obliged to stop doing so and will have your driving licence surrendered, at least until you can meet medical standards again.
If you have to stop driving because of medical reasons, you may be able to shorten the time you wait to get back on the road if you surrender your licence voluntarily. To do this, you can download a declaration of voluntary surrender and send it to the DVLA along with your driving licence.
