Driving with a Disability

Introduction

Below are details on what you have to do if you are returning to driving following a disability or illness and also links to other information sources for further information on specific disabilities and driving. If you have a disability and want to find out how to get a licence for the first time, click on How to apply for a Licence for the first time.

The Forum of Mobility Centre provides assessment and advice for people with all types of disability, including advice on adaptations and it is advised you visit your local Centre or call Information Services free on 0800 559 3636 so they may assess exactly what you need to return to driving.

Returning to Driving

Many thousands of people return to driving after becoming disabled through accidents or illness. There are a few simple guidelines to follow. If you hold a current driving licence when you become disabled, you are required by law to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The same law applies to any disability or medical condition which worsens and is likely to affect your ability to drive safely. For an alphabetical list of medical conditions that might affect your ability to drive click here.

To notify the DVLA, you should write to the DVLA (Drivers Medical Branch) Swansea , SA99 1TU , advising them of the nature and extent of the disability, giving your driver number or your full name and date of birth. The DVLA will normally respond by sending a "medical-in-confidence" form, which will ask you for more details of your disability, details of any adaptations required, and for your consent to contact your doctor or specialist for a report to the Department's Medical Advisers.

A Medical Adviser will consider this report and make a recommendation about the continuation of your licence. If he or she is still in some doubt about the effect your disability might have on your ability to drive safely, then you might be asked to attend an examination by an independent doctor in your area or by one of the DVLA's own medical specialists. Alternatively, in certain circumstances, you might be asked to take a driving test with one of the Driving Standards Agency's driving examiners or to go to one of the driving advice and assessment centres that are situated around the country.

A decision about your future entitlement to drive after you have notified the DVLA of your disability or medical condition will depend on the medical facts and the result of any driving test/assessment.

The DVLA may restore your full driving licence valid until you are 70. Alternatively, a restricted licence could be issued for one, two or three years. When your restricted period licence runs out, you will not have to pay to renew it. If you require adaptations to the car to enable you to drive, this will be noted on the licence.

Even if you are given a licence valid until you are 70, you are still legally bound to tell the DVLA if your disability worsens at any time before that.

After you reach the age of 70, your licence will be renewed for three years or less depending on the circumstances, with the possibility of further renewals.

If your licence is withdrawn as the result of the development or theworsening of a disability, the DVLA will tell you and will also give you details of your right of appeal against the decision.

Every effort will be made by the DVLA to allow you to continue to drive; they would only withdraw your licence if it were apparent that your condition was such that driving could be potentially hazardous to yourself and other road users.

Disability Specific Driving Guides

Below are links to guides that have been created by the Forum of Mobility Centres and Ricability. Click on the links below and it will take you to Ricability’s website and at the bottom of the page are some details of things to consider if you have the following disabilites or illness:-

Motoring with arthritis

Motoring after amputation

Motoring after brain injury

Motoring with cerebral palsy

Motoring with multiple sclerosis

Motoring after a stroke

Motoring with resticted growth

Also, you can find out further information on driving with Parkinson’s by clicking here to view a guide created by the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Disabled Drivers Clubs

March 2010

Download Disabled Drivers Clubs as PDF

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