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After you have told DVLA about your medical condition or disability

The medical questionnaire that you use to tell DVLA allows you to provide specific details about your medical condition or disability. The questionnaire also asks you to give consent for a DVLA medical adviser to request medical information from your doctor. DVLA aim to make a decision from the information you provide.

However, if further information is required, the medical adviser may:

• contact your own doctor or consultant
• arrange for you to be examined by a locally appointed medical officer or local consultant or specialist
• ask you to undergo a driving assessment, eyesight or driving test

How long your medical enquiry will take

DVLA aims to finish its enquiries as quickly as possible. The time taken by DVLA to deal with your medical enquiry will depend on the medical condition you have and the information that DVLA needs to gather. If a decision can be made based on the information you originally provided, DVLA aims to make a decision within three weeks.

If DVLA need more information about your medical condition, they aim to make a decision within 90 working days.

To do this they may need more information from:

• you
• your doctor
• other sources

Decisions that can be made about your driving licence

Once the medical adviser is satisfied that all the relevant medical information is available, a decision will be made about your driving licence. They will use the medical standards of fitness to drive to help with the decision.

The decisions that can be taken are:

• you may be able to retain your licence or be issued with a new driving licence
• you may be issued with a driving licence for a period of one, two or three years if the medical adviser decides that a review of your medical fitness is required in the future
• you may be issued a driving licence which indicates that special controls need to be fitted to the vehicle you drive to enable you to overcome the effects of a physical disability
• DVLA will tell you to stop driving if medical enquiries confirm that you are not fit to drive until your condition improves

If your driving licence is revoked or refused by the medical adviser at DVLA you will be:

• provided with a medical explanation of why this decision was taken (wherever possible DVLA will advise you when you can re-apply for your licence)
• sent a notice that explains your right of appeal to a Magistrates’ Court if you live in England or Wales, or to a Sheriff Court if you live in Scotland