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F A C T S H E E T
If you have had one suspected seizure of any kind including an aura
sensation, you must stop driving immediately and notify the Driver and
Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). If you do not notify the DVLA, you can
be fined up to £1,000, and may also be prosecuted if you are involved in an
accident caused by a potential seizure. If you continue to drive or fail to
notify the DVLA, your insurance is also likely to be invalid.
We understand that giving up your licence can have a big impact on work,
your social and family life but these rules are designed to keep you and
other road users safe. In many cases, people with epilepsy can resume
driving again if they have remained seizure free for a required period. Find
more details below.
Giving up your licence
You can voluntarily surrender your licence by phoning the DVLA on 0300
790 6806, or contacting them by webchat, email or by post. For contact
details, go to https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla/y/driving-and-medical-
issues.
Voluntary surrender
When you contact the DVLA, advise them that you want to voluntarily
surrender your licence. You can also download their form ‘Declaration of
voluntary surrender’ here https://www.gov.uk/giving-up-your-driving-licence,
and send this, together with your driving licence to the DVLA.
A voluntary surrender potentially allows you to drive under Section 88 of the
Road Traffic Act 1988 as soon as your qualifying period of being seizure
free is up, while your application to have your driving licence reinstated is
Epilepsy and driving
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still with the DVLA. This means, you may not have to wait until your licence
has been returned to you. Your doctor will also need to be satisfied that
you are safe to drive before you resume driving under Section 88.
Having your licence revoked
If you do not voluntarily surrender your licence, the DVLA may formally
revoke your licence depending on how long ago the seizure was. You will
have to complete a questionnaire and give details of the date of your last
seizure. If you have not been seizure free for the required period, the DVLA
will then send a letter confirming that your licence has been revoked and
asking you to return your licence.
Once you have been seizure free for the required period, you will need to
wait until the DVLA have processed your application and returned your
licence to you before you are allowed to resume driving. This can often add
several weeks or months before you are allowed to drive again.
Appeals against a DVLA decision
If you disagree with a decision made by the DVLA to revoke your licence
you can appeal against that decision. The DVLA will send you a note
explaining your rights to appeal and how to go about it. Here in Scotland,
the appeal needs to be made within 21 days through a summary application
and lodged with the Sheriff Court. A summary application is a legal
document, and we recommend that you seek legal advice from either a
solicitor or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
How to reapply for your licence
Before you can apply to have your licence reinstated, you will need to meet
the legal requirements outlined below. In addition, your doctor will also have
to agree that you are safe to drive again.
You can apply to the DVLA up to eight weeks before you are due to get your
licence back.
You can order the application form (D1, for a car or motorcycle licence, or
D2 for a bus, coach or lorry licence) online from the DVLA’s ordering service
https://www.gov.uk/dvlaforms. You also need to download and complete a
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confidential questionnaire (FEP1 for car or motorcycle licences, or FEP1V
for coach or lorry licences) which assesses your medical fitness to drive and
return this with your D1 or D2. You can find these forms at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fep1-confidential-medical-
information. Your local post office may also stock these forms.
You do not need to take another driving test, but some people may find it
helpful to have a few refresher lessons to increase their confidence.
Ordinary driving licence
You can ask for your ordinary driving licence to be reinstated if:
• you have not had a seizure (with or without taking medication) for at
least 12 months, or
• you have established a pattern for one year or more of only having
seizures when you are asleep, but you must never have had any kind
of seizure while awake. If this pattern is broken by any kind of awake
seizure, you must stop driving immediately and tell the DVLA. You do
not need to tell the DVLA if your seizures still only happen when you
are asleep; or
• you have previously had awake seizures, but for at least three years
have only had seizures while asleep. This means, if you continue to
have sleep seizures after this period of time, you may start driving
again. However, as soon as you have any kind of seizure while
awake, you must stop driving immediately and notify the DVLA; or
• you have seizures which do not affect your level of consciousness,
awareness, or ability to act. The DVLA may consider reinstating your
licence under those circumstances even if you continue to have this
type of seizure, provided you have never had a different type of
seizure. As soon as you experience any other type of seizure, you
must stop driving immediately and tell the DVLA.
Short term licence
The licence you will initially be given will be a short term licence lasting
between one and five years. It will then need to be renewed again. You
can renew a short term licence online at https://www.gov.uk/renew-medical-
driving-licence.
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One-off (isolated) seizures
The rules are less strict if you have had a one-off single seizure. If
• you have only ever had one seizure, and
• your EEG and brain scan were clear, and
• you do not need to take anti-epileptic drugs, and
• your neurologist thinks you will be safe to drive,
you may get your ordinary driving licence back after six months instead of
having to wait the full 12 months. In some cases, you may, however, still
need to wait for 12 months to have your licence reinstated.
Provoked seizures
A provoked seizure is caused by an unusual event which normally will not
happen again. In this situation, the DVLA may allow you to drive sooner
than the 12 months if the cause of the seizure can be found and either
removed or treated.
For example, you may have a seizure immediately after a head injury. If the
head injury can be treated and you make a full recovery, this could be
classed as a provoked seizure.
Moped and motorcycle licences
The medical requirements are the same as for a car licence above.
LGV and PCV licences
Rules are much stricter for LGV/PCV licences. If you have a diagnosis of
epilepsy, you need to meet the following criteria before you can apply for an
LGV/PCV licence:
• you must have been seizure free for ten years; and
• you must have had no treatment (this includes not taking any anti-
epileptic drugs) for epilepsy for at least ten years; and
• DVLA doctors must be satisfied that you are not likely to have another
seizure.
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Isolated one-off seizure
If you have had one single isolated seizure, you may get your LGV/PCV
licence back after five years if the following applies to you:
• you have only had one seizure, and
• your EEG and brain scan were clear, and
• you do not need to take anti-epileptic drugs, and
• your risk of further seizures is considered by your neurologist to be
two percent or less per annum, and
• you are not otherwise considered to be a source of danger while
driving.
Taxi or Private Hire Vehicle licences
In order to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle you need a taxi licence from
your local authority.
Each local authority sets their own medical standards for issuing such
licences. For example, some authorities may issue a taxi licence after the
standard 12 months being seizure free required for an ordinary licence.
Other authorities may apply the much stricter rules for LGV/PCV licences,
requiring anyone with a history of seizures to be seizure and medication free
for ten years.
To find out more, contact your local authority.
Forklift trucks and farm machinery
Driving a forklift truck or farm machinery on a public road requires a full
licence. The type of licence required will depend on the size of vehicle.
Depending on the licence, a diagnosis of epilepsy will usually mean you will
not be able to drive or operate this type of farm machinery for a required
period on public roads.
If you are driving on private land, you do not need a driving licence, but it is
important to check with your insurance company that you remain fully
insured after a diagnosis of epilepsy. If your seizures are not well
controlled, you could be putting yourself or others at risk. Restrictions under
the Health and Safety at Work Act might also apply.
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Applying for a provisional licence
If you have epilepsy and are applying for a provisional driving licence, you
must fill in application form D1. You can get this from DVLA’s ordering
service or from most post offices. You will need to declare your epilepsy on
the application form and will need to answer questions to assess your
medical fitness to drive.
Changing or stopping your medication
If you are changing or stopping your medication, you will need to stop
driving until your doctor says it is safe to start again.
If you are coming off your anti-epileptic drugs under medical supervision, the
DVLA recommend that you stop driving during the time your medication is
being withdrawn and for six months after.
You do not need to inform the DVLA of a medication change or medication
withdrawal, but you will need to follow medical advice.
If you have a seizure due to a prescribed change or withdrawal of your
medication, you must inform the DVLA. You can reapply for your licence
when
• you have returned to your previous medication for six months; and
• you have been seizure free for six months.
Car insurance
If you have had a seizure or diagnosis of epilepsy, you must contact your
insurance company to let them know. If you don’t do this, your insurance
may be invalidated, and you may also find it difficult to get future car
insurance.
Once you are allowed to drive again, you may have to do some shopping
around or use comparison websites to find affordable car insurance with a
diagnosis of epilepsy. Generally, insurers should not turn you down or
charge you more just because you have epilepsy, but they can charge you
more if they consider you to be a higher risk than someone without epilepsy.
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Taking extra care when driving
Once you are seizure free and have your licence back, be mindful of
potential seizure triggers and avoid driving when a seizure is more likely:
• avoid driving when you are tired or for long stretches without a break
• eat regular snacks and keep yourself well hydrated while driving
• do not drive if you have missed a dose of your epilepsy medication
• do not drive if you feel unwell
• do not drive if you experience side effects of your epilepsy medication,
which may affect your concentration
• Avoid alcohol. Small amounts of alcohol mixed with your epilepsy
medication can seriously affect your ability to drive safely even if this is
well below the legal drink-drive limit.
Driving abroad
The driving regulations in this factsheet apply to the UK. If you want to drive
abroad, check out that country’s driving regulations for people with epilepsy
to make sure you can legally drive there. Some countries have stricter
driving regulations for people with epilepsy.
Discounted travel
If you are unable to drive because of your epilepsy, you usually can take
advantage of the following discounted travel schemes to help you get out
and about or to and from your work:
Scotland wide free bus pass
If you meet the minimum age requirement for a UK driving licence (aged 16
and over) and have had a seizure within the last 12 months, you are entitled
to a free National Entitlement Card (bus pass). You may also be entitled to
a companion card if you are in receipt of certain benefits, allowing someone
else to travel with you free of charge.
This card gives you free bus travel across Scotland and concessionary fares
on some local trains. Our helpline 0808 800 2200 can give you more
information on eligibility criteria and how to apply.
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Disabled Person’s Railcard
You may be entitled to a Disabled Person’s Railcard if you continue to have
seizures despite taking epilepsy medication. You need to purchase this
card at an annual fee, and it will give you, and an adult travelling with you,
up to one third off UK train fares. Check out the Disabled Person’s Railcard
website for more information.
Access to Work Scheme
If you need your car for work, the Access to Work Scheme may be able to
offer you help with extra travel costs getting you to and from work, or to
appointments. Find out more at https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work.
Contact us
If you need more information or want to talk about anything mentioned in
this factsheet, please contact our freephone helpline on 0808 800 2200. All
calls are confidential.
Our resources are always free. If you would like to support our work
please text FACTS to 70085 to donate £3. Texts cost £3 plus one
standard rate message.
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Freephone helpline: 0808 800 2200
Tel: 0141 427 4911
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