Driving
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Driving regulations and help
with travel costs.
For a printed copy, or for a large
print version, call our helpline on
01494 601 400.
For further information visit
epilepsysociety.org.uk/driving
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I’ve had a seizure – what do I do?
When can I drive again?
Permitted seizures
Stopping medication
Changing medication
How do I apply for my new licence?
Car insurance
Taxi drivers
Learning to drive
Driving abroad
Where you don’t need a licence
Help with travel costs
Other travel benets
Further information
Scan this QR
code for further
information.
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Driving regulations and help with
travel costs
For people who drive, one immediate effect
of having a seizure is that they have to stop
driving. This is true for all types of seizure,
and whether the person has a diagnosis of
epilepsy or not. For many people this can have
a big impact on their life, and can also be
dicult and upsetting. This leaet explains
the driving regulations for people with epilepsy
in the United Kingdom. It also
explains what
help is available with travel costs.
The driving agencies license cars and
drivers for driving on public roads.
In England, Scotland, and Wales it is the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
In Northern Ireland it is the Driver and Vehicle
Agency (DVA). If you have a driving licence,
by law it is your duty to tell the driving
agency about any medical condition that
may affect your ability to drive, including
epilepsy. This is a condition of holding a
driving licence.
See page 19 for DVLA and DVA contact details.
Medical standards of tness to drive
Epileptic seizures are specically included in
the Road Trac Act 1988. This means that if
you have one or more seizures, by law you
must meet certain medical standards in
order to have a driving licence.
The DVLA’s ‘Assessing tness to drive’ sets
out the medical standards and regulations
for driving, advised by expert medical panels,
and based on UK legislation.
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Only the driving agencies can decide whether
a licence can be issued. The standards apply
even if you have had only one seizure, and
whether you are taking anti-seizure medication
(ASM) or not.
The driving regulations for epilepsy cover all
epileptic seizures, including seizures where
you are conscious, myoclonic seizures, focal
seizures (auras), and seizures where you
lose consciousness.
If you are not sure how these regulations
apply to you, contact the driving agency. You
can download the DVLA factsheet for people
with epilepsy (INS9) from the DVLA website.
Visit gov.uk/government/publications/
ins9-epilepsy-fact-sheet
I’ve had a seizure – what do I do?
If you have a driving licence and have a
seizure of any kind, in most cases you must
stop driving* and tell the driving agency.
You are responsible for telling the driving
agency and returning your licence to them
(see page 5).
*If you already have an established pattern
of certain types of seizure you may be able
to continue to drive (see page 10).
If you have had a seizure, you also need to
tell your insurance company as part of your
insurance terms and conditions. If you don’t
tell them, this could invalidate your insurance
and may affect your insurance in the future.
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Why do I have to stop driving and tell the
driving agency?
It is important to stop driving and tell the
driving agency because:
• there is a risk that you might have a seizure
while driving;
• your licence will not be valid and driving
without a valid licence is a criminal offence;
• you could be ned up to £1000; and
• your car insurance will not be valid.
Can my doctor tell the driving agency?
If you have a seizure, it is your responsibility
to tell the driving agency.
Guidelines from the General Medical Council
(which registers doctors in the UK) tell
doctors to explain that it is your legal duty to
tell the driving agency, and that they will write
this in your medical records.
If you continue to drive, they can break
condentiality and tell the driving agency.
They should tell you if they are going to
do this.
How do I tell the driving agency?
In Great Britain there are three ways to tell
the DVLA:
• If you have a Group 1 licence (cars and
motorcycles), ll in the ‘Declaration of
surrender for medical reasons’ and send
it to the driving agency along with your licence.
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• If you have a Group 2 licence (buses, coaches,
and lorries) you also need to ll in form VOC99.
It may help to keep a copy of your licence or
take a note of the licence number for when
you reapply for your new licence. You may
also want to keep a copy of your surrender
acknowledgement from the DVLA as proof
of eligibility for discounted travel.
• You can complete an FEP1 form (FEP1V for
Group 2 licences). If you do this, the driving
agency will carry out medical enquiries and
may take away your licence (revoke it).
They will send you a letter telling you their
decision and when you can reapply for a new
licence. If you disagree with their decision,
you can appeal (see page 14).
• You can complete the online form at
gov.uk/epilepsy-and-driving. However, this
will be treated the same way as the FEP1
form and your licence may be revoked
(see above). The
online form is not currently
available for Group 2
licences or
undiagnosed seizures.
• You can download the DVLA forms at gov.uk
below, or you can call them for a copy.
Visit gov.uk/epilepsy-and-driving
How do I tell the DVA (in Northern Ireland)?
In Northern Ireland you can surrender your
licence by sending a letter to the DVA
explaining why you are surrendering your
licence, along with both parts of your licence.
If you do not wish to surrender your licence,
you can let the DVA know by phone or email.
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They will then send a medical questionnaire
for you to complete.
See page 19 for contact details.
The benet of surrendering your licence
If you surrender your licence voluntarily,
you may be able to start driving again as
soon as your doctor conrms that you meet
the medical standards to drive, and the
driving agency conrms that it has received
your application.
If your licence is revoked, you will not be able
to drive until the driving agency issues your
new licence and you have received it.
When can I drive again?
When you can drive depends on the type of
seizures you have now, the type of seizures
you have had previously, and the type of
licence you have (see pages 8 – 11).
Visit epilepsysociety.org.uk/driving-and
-epilepsy-quick-guide
You must also meet all normal driving
requirements and these two conditions:
• You must follow your doctor’s advice about
your treatment and check ups.
• The driving agency must be satised that you
are not likely to have any more seizures.
Provoked seizures
If someone with no history of seizures ‘or
previous brain disease’ has a seizure caused
by something that is unlikely to happen
again, this
may be a ‘provoked seizure’.
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The driving agency
must agree with your
doctor that the seizure was provoked.
The driving agencies will look at provoked
seizures on an individual basis but usually
you will have to stop driving for six months
for a
Group 1 licence and up to ve years for
Group 2
.
Seizures caused by sleep deprivation are not
usually considered provoked.
First and single (isolated) seizure
This is a rst and single seizure that is not
provoked (see above) in a person who has
never had any other unprovoked seizures.
It includes where someone has had more
than one seizure if they all occurred within
a 24 hour period.
Group 1 licence: You may be allowed to start
driving again after six months if you have had
no
further seizures and there are no clinical
factors
(such as a scar on the brain) or
results from tests (such as an EEG) which
suggest an increased risk of you having
another seizure.
Group 2 licence: You may be allowed to start
driving again after ve years if you have seen
a specialist and there are no clinical factors
(such as a scar on the brain) or results from
tests (such as an EEG) which suggest a high
risk of you having another seizure. You must
not have been prescribed anti-seizure
medication (ASM) during the ve years
before applying for a new licence.
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Awake seizures
These are the regulations if your seizures
start when you are awake and affect your
consciousness or ability to act:
• Group 1 licence. You must meet all normal
driving requirements and must have been
completely free of seizures for one year,
whether you are prescribed ASM or not.
Different regulations may apply if your
seizures do not affect your consciousness
(see page 10).
• Group 2 licence. You must meet all normal
driving requirements and must have been
seizure-free, without ASM, for the last 10 years.
Asleep seizures
Asleep seizures (sometimes called
‘nocturnal seizures’) are seizures that
happen as you are falling asleep, while you
are asleep, or as you are waking up. The term
‘asleep seizure’ might also apply if you have
a seizure in your sleep during the day, if
sleeping during the day is part if your normal
routine (for example, shift work).
If you have had asleep seizures and are then
seizure free for one year, you can apply for a
Group 1 licence, as you can for ‘awake
seizures’ (see above).
If you continue to have only asleep seizures,
you may be eligible to apply for a new Group 1
licence after one year, depending on the
pattern of your seizures (see page 11).
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Permitted seizures
The following are types of seizure where you
can drive under a Group 1 licence. The DVLA
form (INS9) has more details about
permitted seizures.
Awake seizures that do not affect
consciousness or the ability to act
For some types of awake seizure, you may
be able to drive under a new Group 1 licence
after one year even if you are still having
seizures. This is only if all of the following
apply to you:
• You stay fully conscious during your seizures.
• Your seizures do not stop you doing anything
(affect your ability to act).
• You have only ever had this type of seizure and
have never had a seizure that affects your
consciousness or ability to act.
If you have or have ever had a seizure which
affects your ability to act, such as where you
are confused or unable to remember what
happens, these standards will not apply to you.
Asleep seizures (see page 9) with no history
of seizures when awake
If you have only ever had asleep seizures
(and have never had an awake seizure), once
this pattern of only asleep seizures has been
seen for one year, you can apply for a Group
1 licence, even if you still have these seizures.
If you then have an awake seizure, you will
need to stop driving and tell the driving agency.
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Asleep seizures (see page 9) with a history of
awake seizures
If you have had only asleep seizures over a
period of three years since your last awake
seizure, you can apply for a Group 1 licence,
even if you still have asleep seizures.
It is important that this pattern of only asleep
seizures is seen over at least three years,
starting from the rst asleep seizure you
have had since your last awake seizure.
Stopping medication
If you are seizure-free and stop taking your
ASM, there is a risk that your seizures will
start again. If you, with your doctor, decide
to stop taking (withdraw) your ASM, your
doctor is likely to advise you to stop driving
while you are withdrawing and for six
months after you have stopped your ASM.
Although this is not ‘the law’ it is strongly
recommended by the DVLA. If you drive
against your doctor’s advice, you will be
driving illegally.
If you have a seizure after withdrawing your
ASM, you will need to stop driving and tell
the driving agency. If you go back onto the
same medication at the same dose as before,
and are seizure-free and on this medication
for six months, you can apply for a new
licence. This only applies if you
withdraw
your ASM under medical supervision.
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Changing medication
If you are changing from one medication to
another, your doctor will advise you if you
need to stop driving.
However, if you have a seizure you will need
to stop driving and tell the driving agency.
If you go back onto the same medication
and
dose as you were on before, and are
seizure-free
on this medication for six
months, you can apply for a new licence.
An exception to the above is if you have
‘permitted seizures’ (see page 10). You will
still need to tell the driving agency about the
seizure but you may be allowed to carry on
driving, depending on the type of seizures
you have had previously.
How do I apply for my new licence?
Once you meet the medical standards to
drive, you can apply to the DVLA for either a
new, or a rst, licence.
For a Group 1 licence you will need to ll in a
D1 and FEP1 application form.
For a Group 2 licence you need D2 and
FEP1V forms and, if you are aged 45 to 65,
you will also need a D4 form and you will
need to pay a doctor to complete this.
The FEP1 form asks for your permission for
the DVLA to contact your GP or consultant if
they need any further information.
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See the GOV.UK website or contact the DVLA
to order a D1, D2, or D2/D4 pack and an
FEP1 or FEP1V form. D1 packs are also
available from post oces.
Visit gov.uk/reapply-driving-licence
In Northern Ireland, contact the DVA for a
DL1 form. Once they receive this from you,
they may send you a medical questionnaire.
Visit nidirect.gov.uk/articles/reapply-your
-driving-licence-when-medically-t
If possible, the driving agency will decide
whether you can have a driving licence
based on the information you provide in
these forms.
As the process of issuing a licence can take
time, you can apply for your licence up to
eight weeks before you would normally be
eligible to drive.
You will not usually need to take your driving
test again.
What sort of licence will I get?
When you get your Group 1 licence it will
usually be a medical licence, valid for between
one and ve years. If you are seizure-free for
ve years, you may be given a licence which
is valid until you are 70.
Once the driving agency conrms that you
can have a driving licence, you can drive any
vehicle that your licence covers.
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What if my licence is revoked or refused?
If the driving agency revokes your licence
or refuses your application for a new licence,
you can write to the DVLA to ask them to
reconsider, but you must have new in
formation
that was not in the original application.
Alternatively, you can appeal against the
decision. You need to make your appeal in
writing. In England and Wales, this needs to
be at a magistrates’ court within six months
of the DVLA’s decision, and in Scotland,
within 21 days at a Sheriff’s Court.
You must also tell the DVLA, in writing, that
you are going to appeal.
In Northern Ireland, an appeal must be
lodged with the appropriate Clerk of Petty
Sessions within three months of the date of
the issue of the refusal/revocation letter to
you. You must also tell the DVA, in writing,
that you are going to appeal.
It is important to get advice before deciding
to appeal. If you don’t win, you may have to
pay the driving agency’s costs.
Car insurance
Insurance companies can ask questions or
for more information about medical conditions
to assess your application. They may ask to
see your driving licence or a letter from the
driving agency conrming that you are
allowed to drive.
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Under the Equality Act 2010, insurance
companies cannot increase the cost of a
policy if a medical condition does not affect
the risk of making a claim.
Visit equalityhumanrights.com
Insurance companies cannot use the fact
that you have a medical licence as a reason
for increasing the premium, or changing or
refusing a policy. If they increase your
premium, they must be able to tell you why.
This should mean that each application is
considered fairly. It may be worth contacting
several companies to get the best quote.
If you have any problems with insurance, you
can contact the Financial Ombudsman
Service (see page 19 for contact details).
If you have not been driving for two years,
this may affect any no-claims discount you
had before.
Taxi drivers
Local authorities set their own standards
for taxi drivers, and some use the DVLA
regulations for Group 2 licences.
Visit gov.uk/nd-local-council
Learning to drive
If you have epilepsy and want to learn to
drive, you need to meet the medical
standards for
the type of seizures you have
(see pages 8 –11)
. You will need to tell the
driving agency about your epilepsy and ll in
a regular application form.
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Driving abroad
To drive abroad, you must meet the medical
standards for driving for the country you visit.
If you are coming to the UK and need to
apply, or reapply, for a UK licence, then the
regulations in this leaet will apply to you.
Where you don’t need a licence
The DVLA medical standards cover vehicles
that are driven on public highways, not those
that are used on private land.
A driving licence is not needed for the
following vehicles as long as they are only
being driven on private land and not on
public roads: forklift trucks, farm vehicles
(such as
tractors and quad bikes), and sit-on
lawn mowers.
Employers need to consider health and
safety regulations if someone drives these
vehicles on private land as part of their job.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
advises on driving standards for these
vehicles that are similar to Group 1 and 2
standards, depending on their size and
weight. If these vehicles are driven on public
highways, a driving licence would be needed.
Visit hse.gov.uk
Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters
There are two ‘classes’ of electric
wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Class 2
cannot be used on the road, but Class 3 can.
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You don’t need to have a licence for either, but
you need to register and tax Class 3 as it can
be used on the road (although you won’t
have to pay for this).
Your doctor may be able to advise whether
these wheelchairs or scooters are suitable
and safe for you to use.
Help with travel costs
If you have epilepsy and are still having
seizures you may be entitled to free, or
discounted, travel on buses, coaches,
trams, tubes or trains. This is usually
because you would be refused a driving
licence if you applied.
Visit epilepsysociety.org.uk/what
-help-available
You usually need proof that you are eligible
for the discount. This may vary depending on
where you live, the type of transport, and the
rules of the discount scheme. Most councils
will accept your letter from the DVLA either
revoking your licence or acknowledging
receipt of surrendering your licence as proof
of eligibility for discounted travel. Contact
each travel company to nd out more, or
your local council for details about the
national bus pass.
You may be able to use community transport
schemes, such as Dial-a-Ride, for people who
have diculty using public transport.
Visit gov.uk/community-transport
-services-shopmobility
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The NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme
provides nancial help for people on certain
benets, or a low income, to get to some
medical appointments.
Visit nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health
-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs
If you are unable to use public transport
due to your epilepsy, you may be able to
get nancial help with the cost of getting to
and from work through the government’s
Access to Work scheme.
Visit gov.uk/access-to-work
Other travel benets
If you qualify for certain benets based on
your mobility, you may be entitled to:
• a Blue Badge parking permit (can be used by
another driver when you are a passenger).
This also entitles you to register for a full
discount on the London congestion charge.
Visit gov.uk/apply-blue-badge
• free road tax for a car registered in your name,
or for a car which someone drives for you
specically, with you as a passenger.
Visit gov.uk/get-vehicle-tax
-exemption-disability
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Every effort is made to ensure that all information is correct at
the time of printing. Please note that information is intended
for a UK audience. This information is not a substitute for
advice from your own doctors. Epilepsy Society is not
responsible for any actions taken as a result of using
this information.
Further information
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
Medical enquiries: 0300 790 6806
gov.uk/contact-the-dvla/y/driving-and
-medical-issues
Driving agency in Great Britain.
Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA)
Drivers’ enquiries: 0300 200 7861
nidirect.gov.uk/motoring
dva@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
Driving agency in Northern Ireland.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Advice line: 0808 800 0082
equalityhumanrights.com
Promoting and upholding equality and
human rights ideals and laws across
England, Scotland, and Wales.
Financial Ombudsman Service
Consumer helpline: 0800 023 4567
nancial-ombudsman.org.uk
Guidance about problems with insurance.
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Helpline
01494 601 400
helpline@epilepsysociety.org.uk
Condential, national call rate.
Information and emotional support.
Visit epilepsysociety.org.uk/helpline
for opening hours.
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Chalfont St Peter,
Buckinghamshire
SL9 0RJ
Scan this QR
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information.
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©Epilepsy Society May 2023
Registered charity number 206186