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Health & driving

Medical conditions and your licence

Some medical conditions have to be declared to DVLA. Declaring one rarely stops you driving — not declaring it can land you a fine.

Facts checked against GOV.UK · September 2026

Which conditions you must declare

DVLA publishes an A–Z of health conditions and whether each one needs declaring. Examples include:

  • epilepsy or seizures
  • diabetes treated with insulin
  • sight problems affecting both eyes, or your only eye
  • some heart conditions, strokes and fainting
  • sleep apnoea causing excessive sleepiness
  • some neurological and mental health conditions

Your doctor can tell you whether your condition could affect your driving.

Health conditions A–Z on GOV.UK

How to declare

The provisional licence application asks health questions. Answer them honestly. DVLA may then send a specific medical questionnaire for your condition, which you can often complete online.

What happens next

DVLA may contact your GP or consultant, or ask you to have an examination or eyesight test. Applications with a declared condition can take longer, so apply in good time.

You can be fined up to £1,000 for not telling DVLA about a condition that affects your driving — and you could be prosecuted if you are involved in an accident as a result.

Questions

Will declaring a condition stop me getting a licence?

Usually not. Many people with declared conditions get a normal licence, or a shorter licence that is reviewed every few years.

What if my condition starts after I get my licence?

You must tell DVLA when you are diagnosed with a notifiable condition, or if an existing one gets worse, at any point.

Who decides whether I can drive?

DVLA's medical team makes the decision, sometimes after contacting your doctor or asking for an eyesight or medical check.

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