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In Great Britain you must be fit to drive every time you get behind the wheel, and you must tell the DVLA about any health condition likely to affect your driving. Not telling the DVLA about a condition that affects your driving can mean a fine of up to £1,000, and you may be prosecuted if you have an accident as a result. This guide covers Highway Code Rules 90 to 94 (fitness, tiredness and eyesight), which conditions need reporting, and how learners declare a condition.
Key facts (as of November 2026)
- Rule 90: you MUST report to the DVLA any health condition likely to affect your driving.
- Fine: up to £1,000 for not telling the DVLA about a condition that affects your driving. You may also be prosecuted if you are involved in an accident as a result.
- When you apply: you declare notifiable conditions on the licence application form, including a first provisional licence, so you do not need to contact the DVLA separately.
- Northern Ireland: report to the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), not the DVLA.
Which medical conditions do you have to tell the DVLA about?
GOV.UK describes a notifiable condition as anything that could affect your ability to drive safely. Its examples include:
- diabetes or taking insulin
- syncope (fainting)
- heart conditions, including atrial fibrillation and pacemakers
- sleep apnoea
- epilepsy
- strokes
- glaucoma
You must also tell the DVLA if a condition or disability you already reported has got worse since you got your licence.
Conditions young drivers often ask about
The rule for car licence holders varies by condition. GOV.UK has an A to Z list, and each entry links to its own guidance. A few examples:
| Condition | When a car driver must tell the DVLA |
|---|---|
| Epilepsy or seizures | If you have had any epileptic seizures or blackouts. You must stop driving straight away. |
| Diabetes | If insulin treatment lasts, or is expected to last, more than 3 months; or if you have disabling hypoglycaemia or have been told you are at risk of it. On tablets or non-insulin injections, ask your doctor or nurse. Diet-controlled only: no need to tell the DVLA. |
| ADHD | If the condition or its medication affects your ability to drive safely. |
| Anxiety | If it affects your ability to drive safely. |
| Blackouts or fainting | If the condition affects your driving. Ask your doctor if you are unsure. |
If your condition is not on the A to Z and you cannot use the online service, contact the DVLA. If you are unsure whether a condition affects your driving, ask your doctor.
How to tell the DVLA
- Find your condition on the GOV.UK A to Z list (“Check if a health condition affects your driving”).
- Car and motorcycle licence holders can report online through the same service.
- Or send the paper form for your condition. GOV.UK names, for example, form A1 for ADHD, M1 for anxiety and DIAB1 for some diabetes treatments. The address is on each form.
- The DVLA then decides whether you can keep, or be given, a licence.
If you are applying for your first provisional licence, the form asks about medical conditions. Answer it honestly there.
When you must give up your licence
You must surrender your licence to the DVLA if:
- your doctor tells you to stop driving for 3 months or more
- your condition affects your ability to drive safely and lasts 3 months or more
- you do not meet the required driving standards because of your condition
You can apply to get your licence back when you meet the medical standards again.
Tiredness: what Rule 91 says
Driving tired greatly increases your risk of a collision. Rule 91 advises you to:
- not begin a journey if you are tired, and get enough sleep before a long journey
- avoid long journeys between midnight and 6 am, when natural alertness is lowest
- plan breaks: a minimum of 15 minutes after every two hours of driving is recommended
- if you feel sleepy, stop in a safe place, but not in an emergency area or on a motorway hard shoulder
The two-hour figure is a planning guide, not a promise that you will stay alert that long. Learners often tire much sooner on unfamiliar or busy roads. For a longer practice drive:
- build a real stopping place into the route, such as services or a car park
- agree that either you or your supervisor can end the session early without argument
- treat missed signs, drifting in the lane or not remembering the last few miles as a cue to stop, not to concentrate harder
- do not rely on loud music or an open window to keep you going
Eyesight, glare and tinted lenses (Rules 92 to 94)
- Rule 92: you MUST be able to read a number plate in good daylight from 20 metres (20.5 metres for an old-style plate), wearing glasses or contact lenses if you need them. Police can ask you to take an eyesight test. Full detail: driving eyesight rules.
- Rule 93: slow down, and stop if necessary, if you are dazzled by bright sunlight.
- Rule 94: do not wear tinted glasses, lenses or visors at night or in poor visibility if they restrict your vision.
Medicines and drugs
Rule 96 says you MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicine. Check with your doctor or pharmacist and do not drive if you are told you may be impaired. Certain medicines have legal blood limits. If you are over a limit only because you were prescribed a high dose, there is a statutory medical defence, provided your driving was not impaired. Limits and penalties are in the drink and drug driving guide.
Scenarios
You are 17, on insulin, and applying for a provisional licence. Insulin expected to last more than 3 months is notifiable, so declare it on the application. The DVLA will decide on your licence.
You fainted once after giving blood. GOV.UK says to tell the DVLA if a condition affects your driving, and to ask your doctor if you are not sure. Do that before assuming either way.
You had a seizure for the first time. Stop driving straight away and tell the DVLA. GOV.UK says your licence will be taken away after a first seizure while awake with loss of consciousness, and explains when you can reapply.
Common questions
How much is the fine for not telling the DVLA about a medical condition?
Up to £1,000, as of November 2026. You may also be prosecuted if you are involved in an accident as a result.
Do I need to tell the DVLA about ADHD or anxiety?
Only if the condition, or for ADHD its medication, affects your ability to drive safely. If you are unsure, ask your doctor.
Do learner drivers have to declare medical conditions?
Yes. The provisional licence application asks about notifiable conditions. The duty in Rule 90 applies to anyone driving.
Does a broken arm or leg need reporting?
Broken limbs have their own entry on the GOV.UK A to Z list. Check that guidance for your situation.
I live in Northern Ireland. Who do I tell?
The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), not the DVLA.
Will telling the DVLA mean I lose my licence?
Not necessarily. The DVLA decides case by case whether you can keep your licence.
Back to the main guide: Learning to Drive in Great Britain. Related: before you drive checks, the road user and the law, driving at night.
Sources
- Department for Transport, “The Highway Code: Rules for drivers and motorcyclists (89 to 102)” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Medical conditions, disabilities and driving” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Check if a health condition affects your driving” and its A to Z list (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Epilepsy and driving” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Diabetes and driving” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “ADHD and driving” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Anxiety and driving” (gov.uk)
- GOV.UK, “Blackouts and driving” (gov.uk)