Hi. I have been diagnosed with PD for over a year now. Am 52 and still doing my normal things, except with a bit of tremor in the leg and on medication.

At time of diagnosis, my Consultant said i could still drive and i am still driving, weell aware of the requirement to inform DVLA / Insurers.

I dread to take this bold step because i cannot imagine what life will be without a car, especially living on my own in an area with limited public transport.

Can someone advise me from their experience please. Once you inform DVLA, does this mean you stop driving until you hear from them and they tell you so?

Thank you

you will probably get a 3 year licence without a problem.
shouldnt be a problem for some time.
or at least thats what i've found.

ps i believe you are driving uninsured which is illegal. when you bump into a brand new masseratti causing £20,000 of damage you might wish you had told the dvla?

Hi
I told DVLA immediately and they said I could carry on driving untill a decision was made. I too have tremor in my right arm and leg. They consulted my neuro who agreed I was ok to drive. The DVLA then issued me with a 3 year licence which can be renewed if I am still ok to drive.

It really is not worth not telling DVLA. If you have an accident you are not covered by your insurance and DVLA are likely to remove your licence.

My insurance company were great and did not increase my premiums at all.

Hi.

As soon as you are diagnosed with PD you are obliged by law to inform the DVLA and your insurers. Not to do so is an offence in itself, and until you do your current licence/insurance aren't valid.

As soon as you've informed them you're in the clear, everything is valid again. Your insurers will inform you of any extra charges or special conditions. Your licence remains fully valid until the DVLA informs you otherwise, even if it goes past an existing expiry date, or they are still considering your case a year later!

Meanwhile the DVLA will make whatever enquiries it deems necessary, and could contact your GP, consultant, nurse, pharmacist, police or anyone. It can also require you to take a specialised "disabled" driving test.

Its decision, against which you can appeal, could be to:

1. Renew the licence unconditionally;
2. Renew it for a specific period, e.g. 1, 2 or 3 years;
3. Send you for a special driving test;
4. Require you to undergo a special medical;
5. Withdraw your licence.

If the licence is withdrawn they may say that if you improve in the future (e.g. if a new super drug were to arrive) you may be allowed to have it back, IF the medical people were all to give their consent.

Special conditions apply to HGV or PSV licences.

Ray.

.

Hiya

I think I'm a few days behind everyone else but I was diagnosed in December and informed the DVLA in the January and they were fantastic....they got my medical records from my Doctor and about 4/5 weeks later I received my new 3 year licence. A week after diagnosis I moved from a large town with endless bus routes to a tiny village with 1 bus per week so I was petrified that I'd lose my licence but it all worked out just fine. Also my Insurer's were great and didn't increase my premium, much to my surprise....It was a tense 4/5 week wait but better that than worry every time you go out incase something happens and you haven't told the DVLA...

lulu1

I was really worried they wouldn't let me drive and that my insurance would soar. but it was all so easy, everyone I spoke to was really helpfull and the only bad point was the dreadful photo on the new licence

I totally agree with all the above postings. The DVLA did take rather a long time to get back to me with a decision but had quickly told me I could carry on while they reached that decision, and have given me a 3 year licence. (I was 69 when I was diagnosed early last year so only had one year to go before I had to go on to a 3 year licence anyway so a 3 year licence was never an issue for me.) No problems with insurance either. Their response was "if it is OK with DVLA then it is OK with us".

If I remember correctly, you can download the necessary forms to notify DVLA from the Parkinson's website.

John

Hi All,

Thank you very for the response and advice.
I have now informed both DVLA and insurers. Shall await outcome from DVLA. Insurance was ok and as long as I am entitled to drive.
I now feel releived!

Regards
Chad

On renewing our car insurance online I ticked the box which referred to a restricted licence. However, when I phoned the insurance company direct,a 3 year licence is not a restricted one, it's a FULL licence with an end date.

No insurance company can increase their premium if you have a FULL licence and you have declared your Parkinsons.