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  2. Motoring
  3. Driving licences
  4. Medical conditions and telling the DVA about a bereavement

How to tell DVA about a medical condition

If you've had or currently suffer from a medical condition or disability that may affect your driving you must tell the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA). You also need to provide details if you develop a new condition or disability or if an existing condition worsens.

How to tell DVA

All driving licence application forms contain a series of health questions for you to complete when applying for a new or replacement licence.

If you already have a driving licence and need to tell DVA of a new or worsening medical condition or disability, you must tell them right away and not wait until your licence is due for renewal.

Failure to tell DVA is a criminal offence and is punishable by a fine of up to £1,000.

You can contact DVA in the following ways:

By post

Send both parts of your driver licence, along with a covering letter detailing the nature of your condition to:

Drivers Medical Section
DVA
Castlerock Road
Waterside
Coleraine
BT51 3TB

Telephone or email

You can tell DVA of a medical condition by phone or email. Remember to quote your full name, date of birth and/or driver number (if known).

You must also give details of your specific medical condition or disability so that you can be sent the necessary medical questionnaire.

  • phone: 0300 200 7861 (lines are open Monday to Friday, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
  • email: dva@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

Surrendering your driving licence

The medical standards of fitness to drive are available to all medical practitioners. If your doctor, in line with these standards, has advised that you should stop driving, you must surrender your licence. You can re-apply for its restoration at a later date. 

Surrendering your licence has advantages if and when you decide to re-apply.

  • How to surrender your driving licence and return to driving at a later date  

More useful links

  • Motoring, travel and transport for people with disabilities
  • At a glance guide to the current standards of fitness to drive - GOV.UK website
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Medical conditions and telling the DVA about a bereavement

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  • Tourette's syndrome and driving

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