The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is warning drivers about various medical conditions that could affect their ability to drive. It urges individuals to declare any listed conditions to remain compliant with regulations.
It cautions that failing to report a condition that impacts driving could result in a substantial fine. It warns: “You need to tell DVLA about some medical conditions as they can affect your driving.
“You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving.” In addition to the listed conditions, you may choose to voluntarily give up your licence. You might choose to do this if:
- you do not meet the required standards for driving because of your medical condition
- your doctor tells you to stop driving for three months or more
- your medical condition affects your ability to drive safely and lasts for three months or more
However if you have a medical condition that affects your driving but don’t voluntarily give up your licence, you must inform the DVLA, which will decide if you can continue holding a driving licence. The GOV.UK website lists a number of A-Z conditions. This applies to people across the UK whether you drive a car, motorcycle or another vehicle.
A
B
C
D
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Deafness | Check the guidance on deafness |
| Defibrillator | Check the guidance on defibrillators |
| Déjà vu | Check the guidance on deja vu |
| Dementia | Check the guidance on dementia |
| Depression | Check the guidance on depression |
| Diabetes | Check the guidance on diabetes |
| Dilated cardiomyopathy | Check the guidance on dilated cardiomyopathy |
| Diplopia (double vision) | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
| Dizziness | Check the guidance on dizziness (including vertigo) |
| Drug misuse | Check the guidance on drug misuse |
E
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Eating disorders | Check the guidance on eating disorders |
| Empyema (brain) | Check the guidance on brain empyemas |
| Epilepsy | Check the guidance on seizures and epilepsy |
| Essential tremor | Check the guidance on essential tremors |
| Eye conditions | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
F
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Fainting | Check the guidance on blackouts and fainting |
| Fits | Check the guidance on fits, convulsions and seizures |
| Fractured skull | Check the guidance on head injuries |
| Friedreich’s ataxia | Check the guidance on ataxia, including Friedrich’s ataxia |
G
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Glaucoma | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
| Global amnesia | Check the guidance on global amnesia |
| Grand mal seizures | Check the guidance on seizures and epilepsy |
| Guillain-Barré syndrome | Check the guidance on Guillain Barré syndrome |
H
I
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) | Check the guidance on defibrillators |
| Intracerebral haemorrhage | Check the guidance on intracerebral haemorrhages |
| Ischaemic heart disease | Check the guidance on ischaemic heart disease |
K
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Kidney dialysis | Check the guidance on kidney dialysis (also known as renal dialysis |
| Kidney problems | Check the guidance on kidney problems |
| Korsakoff’s syndrome | Check the guidance on Korsakoff’s syndrome |
L
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Labyrinthitis | Check the guidance on labyrinthitis |
| Learning difficulties | Check the guidance on learning difficulties |
| Left bundle branch block | Check the guidance on left bundle branch blocks |
| Leukaemia | Check the guidance on leukaemia |
| Lewy body dementia | Check the guidance on Lewy body dementia |
| Limb disability | Check the guidance on limb disability |
| Long QT syndrome | Check the guidance on Long QT syndrome |
| Loss of an eye | Check the guidance on monocular vision |
| Low blood sugar | Check the guidance on hypoglycaemia |
| Lumboperitoneal shunt | Check the guidance on lumboperitoneal shunts |
| Lung cancer | Check the guidance on lung cancer |
| Lymphoma | Check the guidance on lymphoma |
M
N
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Narcolepsy | Check the guidance on narcolepsy |
| Night blindness | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
O
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Obsessive compulsive disorder | Check the guidance on obsessive compulsive disorder |
| Obstructive sleep apnoea | Check the guidance on excessive sleepiness |
| Ocular myasthenia gravis (with double vision) | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
| Ophthalmoplegia (with double vision) | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
P
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Pacemakers | Check the guidance on pacemakers |
| Palpitations | Check the guidance on heart palpitations |
| Paranoia | Check the guidance on paranoia |
| Paranoid schizophrenia | Check the guidance on paranoia |
| Paraplegia | Check the guidance on paraplegia |
| Parkinson’s disease | Check the guidance on Parkinson’s disease |
| Peripheral arterial disease | Check the guidance on peripheral arterial disease |
| Peripheral neuropathy | Check the guidance on peripheral neuropathy |
| Personality disorder | Check the guidance on personality disorders |
| Petit mal seizures | Check the guidance on seizures and epilepsy |
| Pituitary tumour | Check the guidance on pituitary tumours |
| Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | Check the guidance on PTSD |
| Psychosis | Check the guidance on psychosis |
| Psychotic depression | Check the guidance on psychotic depression |
| Pulmonary arterial hypertension | Check the guidance on pulmonary arterial hypertension |
R
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Renal dialysis | Check the guidance on kidney dialysis (also known as renal dialysis |
| Retinal artery fugax | Check the guidance on transient ischaemic attacks and mini-strokes |
| Retinitis pigmentosa | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
| Retinopathy (with laser treatment) | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
S
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Schizo-affective disorder | Check the guidance on schizo-affective disorders |
| Schizophrenia | Check the guidance on schizophrenia |
| Scotoma | Check the guidance on scotoma |
| Seizures | Check the guidance on fits, convulsions and seizures |
| Severe communication disorders | Check the guidance on severe communication disorders |
| Severe depression | Check the guidance on severe depression |
| Sight in one eye only | Check the guidance on monocular vision |
| Sleep apnoea | Check the guidance on excessive sleepiness |
| Sleepiness (excessive) | Check the guidance on excessive sleepiness |
| Spinal problems and injuries | Check the guidance on spinal problems |
| Stroke | Check the guidance on strokes |
| Subarachnoid haemorrhage | Check the guidance on subarachnoid haemorrhages |
| Surgery | Check the guidance on surgery |
| Syncope | Check the guidance on blackouts and fainting |
T
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Tachycardia | Check the guidance on tachycardia |
| Temporal lobe epilepsy | Check the guidance on seizures and epilepsy |
| Tonic clonic fits | Check the guidance on seizures and epilepsy |
| Tourette’s syndrome | Check the guidance on Tourette’s syndrome |
| Transient global amnesia | Check the guidance on global amnesia |
| Transient ischaemic attack | Check the guidance on transient ischaemic attacks and mini-strokes |
| Tunnel vision | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
U
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Usher syndrome | Check the guidance on Usher syndrome |
V
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Valve disease or replacement valve | Check the guidance on heart valve disease or replacement valves |
| Ventricular defibrillator | Check the guidance on defibrillators |
| Vertigo | Check the guidance on dizziness (including vertigo) |
| Vision in one eye only | Check the guidance on monocular vision |
| Visual acuity (reduced) | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
| Visual field defect | Check the guidance on eye conditions |
| VP shunts | Check the guidance on VP shunts |
W
| Medical condition | Check if you need to report it |
|---|---|
| Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome | Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome |
How do I declare my condition to the DVLA?
If you live in Northern Ireland, you can read how to do that here. In order to declare your condition if you live in the UK, you can do that here. The service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
Before you begin, you’ll need to enter details about your current driving licence and your condition. Make sure you have this to hand before you begin and if you’re unsure how your condition affects you, contact your GP.