General
If you’ve had, or currently have, a medical condition or disability that may affect your driving you should speak to your doctor or check with the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA).
For more information on telling the DVA about your condition click here
You should also seek advice from your insurance company to make sure it covers your medical condition.
COPD
If you have been diagnosed with COPD there are usually no restrictions on driving your own car and the DVA need not be notified, except if you have attacks of breathlessness which leave you with disabling light headedness, fainting or loss of consciousness.
SLEEP APNOEA
You must tell the DVA if you have sleep apnoea with symptoms can affect your ability to drive.
STOKE and TIA
Stroke is a condition which could affect your ability to drive and so you must report it to the DVA. Everyone has to stop driving for one month after a stroke or TIA.
Whether or not you can then return to driving depends on how your stroke affected you, especially your vision and the mobility of your arms and legs. If you have disability in your limbs, this does not mean you will never be able to drive again, but it may mean you have to drive an automatic or adapted car.
In all cases, please seek medical advice from your GP about whether you can drive again.
You do not need to tell the DVA if you have had a single TIA (mini–stroke). However, you must tell them if you have had more than one recently.
HEART CONDITIONS
There are many different types of heart disease and details of the specific rules for each can be found on the DVA website. In general…
Angina – you do not have to tell the DVA if you are diagnosed with angina, unless you are a bus, coach, lorry or taxi driver.
Angioplasty – you do not have to tell the DVA if you have had any type of angioplasty, unless you are a bus, coach, lorry or taxi driver.
Arrhythmia – you must tell the DVA if you have arrhythmia.
Congenital Heart Disease – you must tell the DVA if you have congenital heart disease.
Coronary Artery Bypass – you do not have to tell the DVA if you have had a coronary artery bypass, unless you are a bus, coach, lorry or taxi driver.
Heart Attack – you do not have to tell the DVA if you have a heart attack, unless you have had pain while driving, or sudden and disabling attacks of dizziness, loss of awareness, confusion or fainting. It may, however, be advisable to stop driving for a few weeks after a heart attack. If you are a bus, lorry or taxi driver you must stop driving public service vehicles immediately and contact the DVA.
Heart Failure – you do not have to tell the DVA if you have heart failure, unless you are a bus, lorry or taxi driver.
Heart Palpitations – you must tell the DVA if you have heart palpitations.
High blood pressure – you do not have to tell the DVA if you have high blood pressure, unless you are a bus, lorry or taxi driver.
Low blood pressure – you do not have to tell the DVA if you have low blood pressure, unless you are a bus, lorry or taxi driver.
Pacemaker – you must tell the DVA if you have been fitted with a pacemaker.
Tachycardia – you must tell the DVA if you have tachycardia.
Valve disease or a replacement heart valve – you must tell the DVA if you have valve disease or a replacement heart valve.