Driving advice for patients & carers

Stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)

The DVLA provides specific advice for assessment of driving after a stroke or Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA or mini stroke) In summary, group 1 licence holders (generally non professional drivers) who have a stroke must not drive for a month and can only resume if there has been a satisfactory clinical recovery. The DVLA only has to be notified if one month after the stroke there are physical, cognitive or visual issues.

People who have a single TIA must not drive for a month and don’t need to notify the DVLA. Those who have multiple TIAs must not drive, have to notify the DVLA and if they occurred over a short period can only resume driving after 3 months if there have been no further TIAs.

Other neurological conditions

The DVLA also provides specific advice for assessment of driving for a number of neurological conditions, including individuals with a Serious Neurological Disorder, Epilepsy, Chronic Neurological Disorders (including Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neurone Disease), Parkinson’s Disease, Benign Brain Tumours, Malignant Brain Tumours, Traumatic Brain Injuries. For a full list of conditions and their specific guidance click here.

Applicants and licence holders have a legal duty to:

• notify the DVLA of any injury or illness that would have a likely impact on safe driving ability (except some short-term conditions)
• notify the DVLA if a condition or disability has got worse since you got your licence
• respond fully and accurately to any requests for information from either the DVLA or healthcare professionals
• comply with the requirements of the issued licence, including any periodic medical reviews indicated by the DVLA

You can be fined if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.