Your obligations

You have a legal responsibility to notify the DVLA if you have any condition which may affect your ability to drive safely. Referral to the Acquired Brain Injury service usually means your injury is severe enough for you to have to tell the DVLA. If you are unsure about whether or not you should be driving, please discuss this with your GP.

How do I inform the DVLA?

You should contact the DVLA by phone, letter or email, telling them briefly what has happened to you. A member of the brain injury team can help you with this if needed. You should include your driving licence number. You do not need to send your licence off as well.

What happens next?

  • The DVLA will normally send you a medical questionnaire (B1 form) asking you to give details of your injury and how it affects you. To save time you can get this from the goverment website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/b1-online-confidential-medical-information. They will ask you to give permission to contact your GP and\or your consultant. If you refuse to give permission, they can legally and automatically take away your licence.
  • The DVLA will use the information you provide and, if needed, will contact your GP or consultant, requesting more details
  • Trained staff and medical advisors who make the licensing decisions consider all the information. They work to guidelines issued by the Secretary of State’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel.
  • The DVLA aim to respond within 6 weeks and you will be notified in due course of their decision.

What can the DVLA decide?

They can conclude one of the following:

  • You may be allowed to keep your licence or get a new one.
  • Your licence may be withdrawn or your application turned down. If so, the reason for this decision will be explained to you and you will also be told when you can re-apply for a licence – e.g. six months or a year later.
  • You may be given a time-limited licence which is valid for up to five years, after which your fitness to continue driving will be re-assessed.
  • You may be asked to take a driving assessment at a mobility centre, or to undergo an eye test or driving test before a final decision is made.
  • Your licence may require you to have special controls fitted to the vehicle that you drive, to enable you to overcome any physical disability.

Can I appeal against any decision?

The DVLA will explain why they made the decision and when you can reapply for your licence; if this is suitable. They will also send you a notice which will explain your right to appeal to a magistrates’ court.

Further information

  • The Headway booklet ‘Driving after Brain Injury’ provides further information. Contact the Headway Helpline on 0115 924 0800 for details, or see the website: https://www.headway.org.uk/media/7040/driving-after-brain-injury-e-booklet.pdf.
  • More information about driving with a health condition can also be found at: https://www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions
  • It may also be useful to discuss your situation with your GP.

The information in this leaflet is aimed at car drivers; the system may vary for drivers of other vehicles such as lorries, buses and coaches where regulations are much stricter.

Contact Us

Acquired Brain Injury Service,
Bridge Mills,
Stramongate,
Kendal
LA9 4UB

Call 01539 718118

Acquired Brain Injury Service,
The Coppice,
Carleton Clinic,
Carlisle
CA1 3SX

Call 01228 602155

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302