DVLA issues driving licence medical conditions update - it is not good news

DVLA issues driving licence medical conditions update - it is not good news The DVLA has issued an update on driving licence medical condition applications for around 300,000 motorists in the UK The DVLA has released an update on driving licence applications linked to medical conditions - and it makes for uncomfortable reading. Drivers are obliged to notify the DVLA if they hold a driving licence and subsequently develop a 'notifiable' condition or disability. This can encompass diabetes, epilepsy, glaucoma and various other conditions. More than 2 million people have a medical condition recorded with the DVLA. Motorists must also inform the DVLA if their condition has deteriorated since they were granted a licence. There are, however, two categories of driving licence, depending on what you drive - group 1 and group 2. Group 1 covers cars and motorbikes, while group 2 encompasses large lorries, HGVs, buses and coaches - and the medical standards for this group are considerably more stringent, according to official guidance. Group 2 licences are valid for a maximum of five years or until the age of 45, whichever comes first, up until the age of 65, at which point they must be renewed on an annual basis. Additionally, shorter licences may be issued on medical grounds, reports Wales Online. This month, the Department for Transport was questioned over how long certain medical condition licence applications are taking to be processed. Richard Holden, Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay, pressed the department into releasing details after he asked "what the average time taken by the DVLA was to process vocational driving licence applications where a medical condition required assessment in each month since 4 July 2024 by (a) new applications and (b) renewals." On 22nd October, Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) - responded with figures on the matter for group 2 (bus and lorry) applications - and the data makes for unwelcome reading for those desperately waiting for their applications to be processed. Government data reveals there are approximately 280,000 HGV drivers across the UK, whose work is essential to businesses throughout the United Kingdom. The minister's response reveals that the average number of days taken by DVLA officials to reach a licensing decision peaked at nearly 65 in August this year. This is almost 30 days more than at certain points in 2025. The most recent figures indicate that officials are currently taking an average of 55.8 days - approaching two months. While this represents a reduction from the August figure, it remains higher than every other month in 2025 apart from one that also stood at 55.8 days - and is the third highest month this year. The worry for drivers is that lengthy delays in renewing their licence can seriously impact their ability to continue driving while awaiting a decision. That precise concern was put to the department this month when Ben Maguire MP questioned how long it was taking to process applications and what effect this could have on a driver's ability to get behind the wheel. DVLA action to reduce waiting times Earlier this month, Catherine Fookes MP also questioned the Department for Transport about what measures it was implementing to cut waiting times for vocational driving licences for (a) new applicants and (b) renewals. She also asked what evaluation had been carried out regarding the potential benefits of transitioning to a fully digitalised vocational driving licence application system. Mr Madders responded at the time that medical condition licence applications took longer than others - but acknowledged there was no timeframe in place to shift to a digital system. He said: "Straightforward applications for vocational driving licences are being processed within normal turnaround times of ten working days. "Applications where a medical condition must be assessed before a licence can be issued can take longer to process as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is often dependent on information from third parties, including medical professionals before a licence can be issued. While the DVLA plans to enhance the online services available for vocational drivers given the clear advantages for both the DVLA and drivers in doing so, there are no current timescales available." The minister had revealed earlier this month that four changes had been introduced to reduce waiting times for driving licence renewals for people with at least one medical condition. He stated that a new text message trial was being deployed to notify certain drivers in an effort to accelerate their applications. He also revealed that a new casework system had been established and additional staff had been brought on board. Furthermore, he said a new digital medical services portal had been developed that supports applications covering approximately 1,600 medical conditions. In that update, Mr Madders had stated that so far in 2026/27, the average number of working days to reach a licensing decision in medical cases stands at 62.3 working days.