What 10 Medical Conditions Must Be Reported To Dvla

If your blood sugar drops faster than a politician’s approval rating, the DVLA wants to know. Severe hypos where you need someone else’s help count—like that time you ate a whole cake and then passed out. Surprising fact: you can still drive if you check your glucose before and every two hours on a long trip. Just don’t snack on the steering wheel.

2. Epilepsy or recurrent seizures

Had a seizure? The DVLA says “no driving for a year” if it’s a single, unprovoked event. But if you’ve had two or more, it’s a longer timeout—think of it as a really boring time-out in the corner of your living room. The good news? If you’ve been seizure-free for 12 months on medication, you can get back on the road. Just don’t celebrate with strobe lights.

3. Sleep apnoea

If you snore like a chainsaw and fall asleep at traffic lights, you need to report it. The DVLA calls this “excessive daytime sleepiness,” but we all know it’s just your body’s way of saying “I’ve given up on life.” Treatment (like a CPAP machine) is a breeze—once it’s sorted, you can drive again. Surprising fact: untreated sleep apnoea makes you 12 times more likely to crash than a drunk driver. Yes, twelve. So, get that mask on, sleepyhead.

4. Glaucoma or vision loss

If you can’t see the billboard, the car, or the sun, the DVLA needs to know. You must have visual acuity of at least 20/40 (with glasses) and a field of vision that’s not like looking through a straw. Fun fact: if you’re blind in one eye, you’re fine—as long as the other eye is perfect (and you’ve had it for at least three months). So, no pirate driving licenses yet.

DVLA £1,000 fine and penalty points warning to any driver who wears

5. Heart conditions (palpitations, fainting)

If your heart does the cha-cha when you’re just sitting still, tell the DVLA. Conditions like valve disease or a pacemaker are totally drivable once you’re stable. But if you faint—even once—you’re benched for six weeks minimum. Surprising fact: 80% of fainting episodes are harmless, but the DVLA treats them like you’re auditioning for a soap opera. Better safe than “oh no, he’s in a ditch again.”

6. Stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

Had a mini-stroke? That’s a “come to Jesus” moment for your driving privileges. You can’t drive for one month after a TIA, and for a full stroke, it’s at least four weeks—longer if you still have weakness. Surprising fact: 69% of TIA patients ignore the warning signs. Don’t be a statistic; be a person who reports it and lives to tailgate another day.

What Happens During The Driving Test - Goodluck Driving School

7. Dementia or Alzheimer’s

If you’re forgetting where you parked, where you live, or what a steering wheel is for, report it. The DVLA will ask for a medical report and possibly a driving assessment. Surprising fact: some people with early dementia can drive safely for a while—but the DVLA decides, not your family’s “I’m sure she’s fine, she just got confused about which pedal is which.”

8. Psychiatric conditions (mania, psychosis, paranoia)

If you’re hearing voices that tell you to “drive into the sunset at 90 mph,” yes, you must report it. Conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia that cause episodes of severe mania or psychosis are a big red flag. The rule of thumb: you need to be stable for at least three months before driving. Surprising fact: according to DVLA stats, less than 1% of accidents are linked to psychiatric conditions—so the voices are mostly just terrible backseat drivers.

Drivers must report medical conditions to DVLA to avoid penalties - UK

9. Narcolepsy

If you randomly fall asleep mid-sentence (or mid-drive), the DVLA wants a chat. You can’t drive until you’ve been stable on medication for at least three months. Surprising fact: narcolepsy affects about 1 in 2,000 people—so odds are, someone near you is fighting the urge to nap right now. Fight it, champ. Fight it behind a desk, not a wheel.

10. Cancer (the brain or spinal kind)

If you’ve got a brain tumour or spinal cord cancer that could cause seizures or fainting, you’re on the list. But don’t panic—many people with cancer can drive immediately if symptoms are controlled. The key is reporting it so the DVLA can say, “Okay, you’re fine, now go get groceries.” Failing to report can lead to a £1,000 fine—which is just adding insult to, well, injury.

So, there you have it—ten medical gremlins that could land you in bureaucratic hot water. The moral of the story? Tell the DVLA and you might get a funny letter in return. Ignore it, and you’ll be explaining to a judge why you thought “seeing double” was a fun driving game. Stay safe, stay honest, and for heaven’s sake, check your glucose before the bakery run.