DVLA says drivers 'must tell' two things or face £1,000 fine

Man driving

There are two circumstances in which you need to alert the DVLA about your health or a disability (Image: Getty)

Drivers in the UK have been warned they “must tell” the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) two things. Failing to inform the authority of this could land you a £1,000 fine.

This rule applies to anyone with a medical condition or disability that could affect their ability to drive.

The DVLA is a UK government agency responsible for registering drivers and vehicles in the UK.

It also handles the issuing of driving licences, vehicle registration certificates, and other related services.

Currently, the DVLA holds more than 52 million driver records and more than 46 million vehicle records.

Senior woman checking blood sugar level at home

You must tell the DVLA if your condition or disability has got worse since you got your licence (Image: Getty)

The Government website explains that motorists must let the DVLA know if you have a driving licence and:

You develop a ‘notifiable’ medical condition or disability
A condition or disability has got worse since you got your licence

Notifiable conditions are anything that could affect your ability to drive safely. They can include:

Diabetes or taking insulin
Syncope (fainting)
Heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation and pacemakers)
Sleep apnoea
Epilepsy
Strokes
Glaucoma

The full list can be found on GOV.UK. The DVLA warns: “You could be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a condition that might affect your ability to drive safely. You could also be prosecuted if you have an accident.”

If you have a car or motorcycle licence, you can either:

You’ll then be told how to report your condition - this will either be in the online service or by printing off and sending a paper form.

If you’re in Northern Ireland you must contact the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA). You should contact DVLA if you’re not sure what to do.

Giving up your licence

You must surrender your licence to DVLA if any of the following are true:

Your doctor tells you to stop driving for three months or more
Your medical condition affects your ability to drive safely and lasts for three months or more
You do not meet the required standards for driving because of your medical condition

The DVLA says: “You can apply to get your licence back when you meet the medical standards for driving again.”

You must also tell DVLA about notifiable conditions if you: