You should notify the DVLA if you have been diagnosed with any of the following health issues
Heart conditions, strokes and glaucoma are among the conditions that must be reported to the DVLA.(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Motorists across the UK are being urged to remember their obligation to inform authorities of any medical conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability behind the wheel.
With 189 conditions currently listed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), officials are encouraging drivers to verify their status to prevent serious legal repercussions. Neglecting to report a notifiable condition to the motoring agency represents a considerable oversight that could lead to penalties of up to £1,000.
In more serious circumstances, particularly incidents where an undisclosed condition plays a role in a road traffic collision, motorists could face criminal charges.
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Any licence holder is legally obligated to notify the DVLA upon developing a fresh medical condition or if a pre-existing one deteriorates. That said, the duty to inform varies depending on the condition’s characteristics and its impact on the person’s driving ability.
While the DVLA keeps an A-Z register of 189 conditions, the fundamental principle remains straightforward: if a condition compromises your capacity to drive safely, it must be declared.
Although the register of potential conditions is comprehensive, the DVLA emphasises seven particular categories that commonly require formal disclosure:.
EpilepsyDiabetes (particularly if requiring insulin treatment)Heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation and the use of pacemakers)Strokes (including mini-strokes/TIAs)Sleep apnoeaSyncope (fainting episodes)Glaucoma
Prevalent mental health conditions, including anxiety or depression, may equally necessitate notification if they compromise a motorist’s ability to control a vehicle safely.
(Image: Getty Images)
Numerous motorists worry that declaring a medical condition will inevitably lead to losing their driving licence. However, this isn’t necessarily true.
The DVLA evaluates each case on an individual basis to establish whether a driver can continue on the road, frequently recommending vehicle modifications or limited licences instead of outright revocation.
Motorists are legally obliged to voluntarily surrender their licence to the DVLA only under the following circumstances.
Medical advice – Your doctor has formally advised you to stop driving for a period of three months or longer.Impairment – Your medical condition affects your ability to drive safely and is expected to last for three months or more.Safety standards – You no longer meet the medical standards required for driving.
After a condition is declared, the DVLA will assess the information. In numerous instances, individuals are allowed to carry on driving while their application is being reviewed, provided they aren’t otherwise disqualified.
Should further action be necessary, the DVLA will relay its decision by post, offering comprehensive guidance on any required vehicle alterations, licence limitations, or directions to cease driving.
Below is the full list of conditions you may need to declare to the DVLA:
Absence seizuresAcoustic neuromaAddison’s diseaseAgoraphobiaAlcohol problemsAlzheimer’s diseaseAmaurosis fugaxAmputationsAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)AnginaAngioplastyAnkylosing spondylitisAnorexia nervosaAnxietyAortic aneurysmArachnoid cystArrhythmiaAtrial defibrillatorArteriovenous malformationArthritisAsperger syndromeAtaxiaAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Autistic spectrum conditionBalloon angioplasty (leg)Bipolar disorderBlackoutsBlepharospasmBlood clotsBlood pressureBrachial plexus injuryBrain abscess, cyst or encephalitisBrain aneurysmBrain angiomaBrain haemorrhageBrain injury (traumatic)Brain tumoursBroken limbsBrugada syndromeBurr hole surgeryCaesarean sectionCancerCataractsCatheter ablationCardiac problemsCarotid artery stenosisCataplexyCavernomaCentral venous thrombosisCerebral palsyCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChiari malformationChronic aortic dissectionCognitive problemsCongenital heart diseaseConvulsionsCoronary artery bypass or diseaseCoronary angioplastyCranial nerve palsy (with double visionCystic fibrosisDeafnessDefibrillatorDéjà vuDementiaDepressionDiabetesDilated cardiomyopathyDiplopia (double vision)DizzinessDrug misuseEating disordersEmpyema (brain)EpilepsyEssential tremorEye conditionsFaintingFitsFractured skullFriedreich’s ataxiaGlaucomaGlobal amnesiaGrand mal seizuresGuillain-Barré syndromeHead injuryHeart attackHeart arrhythmiaHeart failureHeart murmursHeart palpitationsHeart valve disease or replacement valveHigh blood pressureHIV or AIDSHodgkin’s lymphomaHuntington’s diseaseHydrocephalusHypertensionHypertrophic cardiomyopathyHypoglycaemiaHypoxic brain damageHysterectomyImplantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)Intracerebral haemorrhageIschaemic heart diseaseKidney dialysisKidney problemsKorsakoff’s syndromeLabyrinthitisLearning difficultiesLeft bundle branch blockLeukaemiaLewy body dementiaLimb disabilityLong QT syndromeLoss of an eyeLow blood sugarLumboperitoneal shuntLung cancerLymphomaMacular degenerationMalignant brain tumoursMalignant melanomaManic depressive psychosisMarfan’s syndromeMedulloblastomaMemory problems (severe)MeningiomaMini-strokeMonocular vision (sight in one eye only)Motor neurone diseaseMultiple sclerosisMuscular dystrophyMyasthenia gravisMyocardial infarctionMyoclonusNarcolepsyNight blindnessObsessive compulsive disorderObstructive sleep apnoeaOcular myasthenia gravis (with double vision)Ophthalmoplegia (with double vision)PacemakersPalpitationsParanoiaParanoid schizophreniaParaplegiaParkinson’s diseasePeripheral arterial diseasePeripheral neuropathyPersonality disorderPetit mal seizuresPituitary tumourPost traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)PsychosisPsychotic depressionPulmonary arterial hypertensionRenal dialysisRetinal artery fugaxRetinitis pigmentosaRetinopathy (with laser treatment)Schizo-affective disorderSchizophreniaScotomaSeizuresSevere communication disordersSevere depressionSight in one eye onlySleep apnoeaSleepiness (excessive)Spinal problems and injuriesStrokeSubarachnoid haemorrhageSurgerySyncopeTachycardiaTemporal lobe epilepsyTonic clonic fitsTourette’s syndromeTransient global amnesiaTransient ischaemic attackTunnel visionUsher syndromeValve disease or replacement valveVentricular defibrillatorVertigoVision in one eye onlyVisual acuity (reduced)Visual field defectVP shuntsWolff-Parkinson-White syndrome