Informing the DVLA or DVA about Parkinson's

Having Parkinson's does not mean you can't continue to drive. But you need to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in England, Scotland and Wales or the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland about your diagnosis.

Failure to inform the DVLA or the DVA of a Parkinson's diagnosis is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Contact the Drivers' Medical Group at the DVLA or the Drivers Medical Section at the DVA. You'll need to give your driver number or full name, your date of birth, and as much detail as possible about how Parkinson's affects you.

For the relevant contact details:

• Gov.uk - DVLA forms - if you're in England, Scotland or Wales
• nidirect - How to tell DVA about a medical condition - if you're in Northern Ireland

Telling the DVLA or DVA about Parkinson's diagnosis

Once you have notified the DVLA or DVA of your health condition, it will decide whether or not you are fit enough to drive.

You will be asked to complete form PK1 'Medical fitness to drive' in England, Scotland and Wales.

In Northern Ireland you need to complete a DL1 form.

The DVLA or DVA may be able to make its decision just from the information provided.

However, if they need more information, the DVLA or DVA will write to your GP or specialist for further details.

They may ask you to go for a medical examination that will be carried out by a doctor specially chosen by the DVLA or DVA.

Once the DVLA or DVA has assessed your ability to drive, it will decide one of the following:

• to give you a licence without any restriction
• to give you a licence for 1, 2 or 3 years
• to refuse or withdraw your licence
• to restrict your licence to particular vehicles with adaptations

If you have your licence refused or taken away on medical grounds and then become well enough to drive again, you can reapply for your licence.

If the DVLA or the DVA is happy after their medical enquiries, you can be issued with a new licence.

Challenging the DVLA's or DVA's decision

If you want the DVLA or DVA to reconsider its decision because you feel that they have misinterpreted or misunderstood the information provided, you should contact them explaining why you feel the decision is wrong.

The DVLA or DVA will generally reconsider its decision, but will expect the request to be supported by fresh medical evidence.

You may need to ask your GP or specialist to provide this, and you may have to pay for any letter that is written.

If the DVLA or DVA does not change its decision, you can appeal to the Magistrates' Court in England and Wales, Sheriff Court in Scotland or to Petty Sessions in Northern Ireland.

For more details see our free Driving and Parkinson's booklet.

In this section

• Driving and Parkinson's
• The impact of Parkinson's on driving
• Informing the DVLA or DVA about Parkinson's
• Car insurance and Parkinson's
• Car adaptations for drivers with Parkinson's
• Useful contacts

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