Epilepsy and driving
You must tell DVLA if you’ve had any epileptic seizures or blackouts.
You must stop driving straight away.
You can be fined up to £1,000 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.
Car or motorbike licence
Report your condition online
You can also fill in form FEP1 and send it to DVLA. The address is on the form.
Your licence may be taken away. When you can reapply for it depends on the type of seizure you had.
You’ve had epileptic seizures while awake and lost consciousness
Your licence will be taken away. You can reapply if you haven’t had a seizure for at least a year.
If you had a seizure because your doctor changed or reduced your anti-epilepsy medicine, you can reapply when:
the seizure was more than 6 months ago
you’ve been back on your previous medication for 6 months
you haven’t had another seizure in that time
You’ve had your first-ever seizure while awake and lost consciousness
Your licence will be taken away. You can reapply when both the following are true:
you haven’t had a seizure for 6 months
DVLA’s medical advisers decide there isn’t a high risk you’ll have another seizure
Medical advisers will base their decision on information you and your doctors send them. If they need to carry out an investigation they’ll let you know.
Otherwise you can reapply after a year.
You’ve had seizures while asleep and awake
You may still qualify for a licence if the only seizures you’ve had in the past 3 years have been while you were asleep. DVLA will let you know whether or not you qualify after you’ve filled in the form. Until you hear from them you must stop driving.
You’ve only had seizures while asleep
You may still qualify for a licence if it’s been 12 months or more since your first seizure. DVLA will let you know whether or not you qualify after you’ve filled in the form. Until you hear from them you must stop driving.
You’ve had seizures that don’t affect your consciousness
You may still qualify for a licence if the only type of seizure you’ve ever had is one where:
you were fully conscious and aware of what was happening around you
you were able to move and did not lose control of your movements
Your first seizure must have been 12 months ago or more.
DVLA will let you know whether or not you qualify after you’ve filled in the form. Until you hear from them you must stop driving.
Bus, coach or lorry licence
Fill in form FEP1V and send it to DVLA. The address is on the form.
How long you will lose your licence for depends on what type of seizure you have.
You’ve had more than one seizure
Before you reapply for your licence, you must show you haven’t:
had an epileptic seizure for 10 years
taken any anti-epileptic medication for 10 years
got a 2% or higher risk of another seizure, according to DVLA’s medical advisers
You must also have a car and motorbike licence.
You’ve had a one-off seizure
Before you reapply for your licence, you must show:
you haven’t had an epileptic seizure for 5 years
you haven’t taken any anti-epileptic medication for 5 years
You must also have:
a car and motorbike licence
been assessed in the past 12 months by a neurologist
results from medical investigations for epilepsy that are satisfactory to DVLA’s medical advisers
Medical advisers will base their decision on information you and your doctors send them. If they need to carry out an investigation they’ll let you know.
Source Gov.UK