If you have a mental health problem, you may have to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about it. It might affect your ability to drive.
These rules are in place for the purposes of road safety. The DVLA has to be satisfied that drivers with medical conditions can safely control their vehicle and are not a risk to other road users. This includes certain mental health problems.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) advise that people must not drive during or shortly after an episode of acute mental illness.
This is because your concentration, awareness, or decision-making may be affected.
You must tell the DVLA if you have a diagnosis of any of the following:
- Bipolar disorder
- Paranoid schizophrenia
- Psychosis
- Psychotic depression
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Schizophrenia
If you have a diagnosis of one of the following mental health problems, you only need to tell the DVLA if it affects your ability to drive:
- Agoraphobia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Personality disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
You must also tell them if symptoms such as agitation, poor concentration, or suicidal thoughts affect your ability to drive.
It depends what effect the medication has on your ability to drive. Some medicines can make you drowsy or slow your reactions.
It's illegal to drive or attempt to drive if your ability to do so is impaired by drugs. This includes prescribed medication for a mental health problem.
Your clinical team will explain if this applies to you.
Even if you have leave from the ward, you are not automatically allowed to drive.
Your doctor must assess whether it is safe.
If your mental health affects your ability to drive safely, you must inform the DVLA. If you do not, and continue to drive while unsafe, your doctor may be required to tell the DVLA.
If you are applying for your first driving licence (including provisional) or applying to renew your licence, there is a section on the application form which asks questions about your health. You should use this part of the form to tell the DVLA about your mental health problem.
If you already have a driving licence and are diagnosed with a mental health problem which your doctor says you need to tell the DVLA about, you need to fill in a form and send this to the DVLA.
If you’ve already told the DVLA about a mental health problem, but the symptoms of it get worse, you will need to tell the DVLA about this.
You may drive again once your mental health is stable and your doctor confirms it is safe.
The DVLA may request a medical report and will use the information you provide to decide if you can drive.