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In total there are 182 different medical conditions that need to be declared to the DVLA which they consider could affect someone’s ability to drive safely, but many of these are not as obvious as others and are not being declared by many motorists who suffer from them.

If you suffer from one of these 182 different conditions and are involved in an accident, and have not notified the DVLA about this condition, you could face a £1,000 fine plus prosecution. It is important that all drivers are aware of exactly what they need to declare to avoid this.

Five medical conditions you must declare

The list of medical conditions which need to be declared to the DVLA consists of 182 separate issues, but many of these may not have been considered by motorists due to them not realising the affect they could have on their ability to drive.

The website; LeaseCar.co.uk carried out research on the most common conditions that drivers may not be aware of which they need to declare to the DVLA and this is the top five which people should be alerted about:

1. Déjà vu

Although many people suffer from déjà vu every now and again the DVLA need to know if you have medically induced déjà vu which can be associated with epilepsy. This type of déjà vu is caused by a neurological anomaly which could affect an individual’s ability to drive, but those who get ‘standard’ déjà vu occasionally do not need to declare this.

2. Labyrinthitis (ear-ache)

Linked to an inflamed Labyrinth, which can be found deep within the ear, Labyrinthitis can cause headaches and hearing loss at different levels of severity, and often passes in a few weeks. However, it can also cause vertigo which may last a bit longer, and if a motorist is suffering from this it may make it dangerous for them to drive.

3. Sleep apnoea (sleep apnea)

A relatively common condition, sleep apnoea refers to when the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep which affects both breathing and sleeping patterns. This can lead to sleep deprivation which could result in the individual falling asleep behind the wheel. The DVLA have stated that anyone suffering from sleep deprivation for any reason should not be driving, whether this is due to sleep apnoea or any other condition. However, you can undergo treatment which will allow you to drive as normal, although the DVLA should still be informed.

4. Eating disorders

Due to causing the sufferer to feel weak and dizzy, those who have eating disorders may be unable to drive safely which is why if you have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, you must inform the DVLA in order to cover yourself should you be involved in an accident.

5. Arthritis

Another common condition, arthritis affects around 10 million people in the UK and causes pain and discomfort in the joints of the individual. Any pain felt in the joints of the hands, spine, knees and hips could mean that the sufferer is unable to drive safely, and the DVLA should be notified if you use special controls or if your doctor believes they should know.

How to report a condition

If you feel that you may have a condition which could affect your driving you can access the full list on the gov.uk website.

If your condition does appear on this list you simply need to contact the DVLA who will be able to log this for you. You will be required to give up your driving licence if your doctor tells you that you must stop driving for 3 months or more, or if your medical condition means that you don’t meet the required standards for driving.

It is also important to know that this may affect you even if you suffered from the condition historically, so it is always safest to check this with the DVLA if you are unsure.



Were you aware of how many different conditions needed to be declared to the DVLA? Are there any on the list which surprise you? Let us know in the comments below.

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