Despite the note on the back of the practical test pass certificate many people seem to be unaware of the need to report certain medical conditions to DVLA. Why do they need to know about your condition? It’s not so they can take your licence away but to make sure you are safe to drive. Some conditions only need to be reported if they affect your driving, others need to be reported in all cases. Sometimes the DVLA will seek further information from people such as your GP before they make a decision on issuing the licence. Some licences will only be issued for a limited time (e.g. 1 to 5 years) rather than the usual 10 years so they can review any conditions that may deteriorate over time. You can find out whether or not your condition needs to be reported by following this link www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving. If you had a condition that you informed DVLA about when applying for your licence you will need to inform them if the condition worsens. If you are unsure whether or not you need to declare any conditions you can contact DVLA for further advice. If you fail to report any conditions affecting your driving you may be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000. It can also invalidate your insurance, insurance companies will ask you when you apply whether or not any conditions have been reported to DVLA. Further information can be found here www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions/telling-dvla-about-a-medical-condition-or-disability.
