These pages are about driving laws in the UK. If you are looking for information about driving laws in another country, please contact your local epilepsy organisation.
These web pages are currently being updated.
The driving agencies
As well as licensing vehicles, the driving agencies decide if people are allowed to drive. They are also responsible for issuing driving licences to individuals.
| Country | Agency | Shortened name |
| If you live in England, Scotland or Wales | Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency | DVLA |
| If you live in Northern Ireland | Driver and Vehicle Agency | DVA |
Contact details are at the end of this driving section
The terms ‘driving agency’ and ‘driving agencies’ are used where the information applies to both DVLA and DVA. Where something applies only to DVLA or only to DVA, we make that clear.
Driving licence categories
| Vehicle description | Driving licence category |
| Motorcycles and scooters | A+A1 |
| Cars; vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes; vehicles with 1-8 passenger seats | B |
| Car plus trailer | B+E |
| Goods vehicles 3.5-7.5 tonnes | C1 |
| Goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes | C |
| Vehicles with 9-16 passenger seats | D1 |
| Vehicles with over 16 passenger seats | D |
| Tractors | F |
| Road rollers | G |
| Tracked vehicles | H |
| Electric vehicles | L |
| Mopeds | P |
| Sit-on lawn mowers; children's motor scooters | K |
By law you don’t need a driving licence to drive any vehicle on private land.
Contact DVLA or DVA for further information about vehicle descriptions and driving licence categories.
Driving licences and the epilepsy driving standards
Epilepsy driving standards for driving small vehicles
You can apply or reapply for a category A, B, B+E, F, G, H, K, L or P licence as long as:
- you have been free from seizures completely for one year*, or
- you have experienced asleep seizures only, for a period of at least three years; and
- as far as your are able, you follow your doctor’s advice about your treatment and check-ups for epilepsy; and
- the driving agency is satisfied that as a driver you are not likely to be a source of danger to the public.
* The one year’s seizure free period applies from the date of your most recent seizure.
Licences are usually for one, two or three years. Three years is the most common. Once you have been seizure free for a total of five years, and your doctor supports this fact, you can apply for a long term licence. In Northern Ireland you can apply for a 10 year licence. In England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the rules change when you get to 70.
Epilepsy driving standards for driving lorries and buses
To drive lorries you need a category C1 or C entitlement. To drive buses you need a category D1 or D entitlement. See Driving licence categories.
In England, Wales and Scotland you can apply for these entitlement categories to be added to your licence as long as you:
- hold a full car licence; and
- have been free of seizures for ten years; and
- have not had to take anti-epileptic drugs during this ten year period
In Northern Ireland you can apply to the DVA for these entitlement categories to be added to your licence as long as you:
- have been declared fit to drive after a medical examination by a consultant nominated by your driving agency.
This information has been produced under the terms of The Information Standard.
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Updated May 2011To be reviewed May 2013
Comments: read the 23 comments or add yours
Comments
i have had my last fit january this year, i did not have fits for for 5 years before the last. iam 17 and 18 in october and just wondering if i can apply for pervisonal just for id and would not use this to drive?
Cherry
Advice and Information Team
More information on driving
More information on the Citizen card
i have heard that if you have epilepsy but have never lost consciousness depsite still having seizures, you will be able to drive again by end of 2012. Please could you clarify who will be affected and how they go about getting their driving licence back?
Hi Alyson
Yes our current information is that the driving laws will be changing. However there is still no official confirmation from the DVLA about exactly when this will happen.
If you have only ever had seizures which involve no loss of consciousness, and if that has been the case for a year or more, then you may be able to reapply. But you will need this all confirming by a suitably qualified medical professional.
As soon as we have more information, we will put this on the website.
Cherry
Epilepsy Action
More information on the new UK driving regulations
Driving licences and the epilepsy driving standards
Epilepsy driving standards for driving small vehicles
You can apply or reapply for a category A, B, B+E, F, G, H, K, L or P licence as long as:
•you have been free from seizures completely for one year*, or
•you have experienced asleep seizures only, for a period of at least three years; and
•as far as your are able, you follow your doctor’s advice about your treatment and check-ups for epilepsy; and
•the driving agency is satisfied that as a driver you are not likely to be a source of danger to the public.
Can you please explain the last point on this - what does it mean what points does the DVLA take into account especially if, as I am, you are abiding with what the doctors say and taking all medication prescribed?
Hi
The last point means that you haven't been told by any of your doctors that they feel you are unsafe to drive. Some people will satisfy the epilepsy regulations, but have other medical conditions or disabilities that mean they are not safe to drive. Or they may have side-effects from medicines that make driving unsafe.
If your doctor tells you not to drive, and you continue driving, your licence could be invalid, as well as your insurance.
If you meet the epilepsy driving regulations, and your doctor has not said you are unsafe to drive, and you are not having side-effects from any medicines, once you have your licence back, you should be safe to drive.
Kathy
Advice and Information Team
Would I be able to become a driving instructor despite having epilepsy? I have been seizure free for two years and driving for a year.
Hi. Some people with a history of epilepsy will be able to train to become a driving instructor. However, they must meet a number of criteria to apply for this, including the following.
You can find out if you can apply to be a driving instructor, by answering some questions on the Gov.UK website: www.gov.uk/become-a-driving-instructor
More information about becoming a driving instructor is available from the Driving Standards Agency: http://assets.dft.gov.uk/dsa-bl/dsa_adi_14.pdf
I hope that helps.
Amanda
Advice and Information Team
I have a history of epilepsy but have been fit free for about 6years but I have just had an asleep seizure due to a missed medication will I lose my license
Hi Michelle
You are allowed to drive if you meet either of the following criteria.
• You have had sleep seizures only for a pattern of at least 3 years.
• You have not had any kind of seizure for at least 12 months.
So, if the last seizure you had 6 years ago happened when you were asleep, you will be allowed to continue to drive. This is because you have only had sleep seizures for at least 3 years.
However, if the last seizure you had 6 years ago happened when you were awake, you will lose your driving licence. This is because you have not built up a pattern of sleep seizures only for at least 3 years.
I hope this helps. If you would like to discuss it further with an epilepsy adviser, please contact the Epilepsy Helpline, freephone: 0808 800 5050.
Amanda
Advice and Information Team
hi i haven't had a seizure for over 10 yrs but l'm still on medication . will i be able to apply for a taxi badge ?
jon
Hi Jon
Each licencing unit in each area has its own conditions to qualify to drive a taxi. The basic criteria is that you need to have held a full driving licence for at least 12 months. In London, for example, you need to have held a full driving licence for three years. Some licencing units say that you should qualify to drive a category C or D licence (class 2 licence). If this is the case you will need to be 10 years seizure free and 10 years off epilepsy medicine.
For specific licencing criteria for epilepsy and taxi driving in your area, you will need to contact your local licencing unit.
Rosanna
Advice and Information Team
Hi
My Daughter of 18 has just started driving lessons and had a tonic clonic seizure last week, she has not been diagnosed with anything, is taking medication only for migraine and is waiting for a referral to a neurologist. Does she need to stop driving?
Hi Julie,
If it’s suspected that your daughter is having epileptic seizures she will need to stop driving until her medical investigations are finished. She will also need to send her driving licence back to the driving agency. If it’s found that she has epilepsy, she will need to fulfil the driving law before being able to drive.
If it isn’t epilepsy, the driving agency will be able to advise your daughter when she can reapply for her driving licence.
Rosanna
Epilepsy Action Advice and Information Team
Hi, I'm learning to drive and I have my test booked for a months time. I am being medically investigated for possible sleep seizures that started a month ago. There has been no diagnosis of Nocturnal Epilepsy yet. it is not likely that I will be diagnosed until after my Driving Test. therefore is it illegal for me to take my test in a month? or will I have to wait a whole year instead of a month to take it? thank, Georgie
Hi Georgie
It must be very disappointing for you to have seizures a month before your driving test. However, if you are suspected of having epileptic seizures, even though you haven’t had a diagnosis of epilepsy, you should stop driving. Your provisional licence should be sent back to the driving agency. If you do have a diagnosis of epilepsy, you will be able to reapply for your provisional licence when you’ve been 12 months completely seizure free. Or, if you have only ever had seizures while asleep for a pattern of 12 months, you can apply for your licence.
If your seizures are found not to be epilepsy, the driving agency will advise you if there are any driving laws related to the type of seizures you had.
I hope this helps.
Rosanna
Epilepsy Action Advice and Information Team
Hi,
I have just noticed that the medical driving laws have changed and I am confused about how long I need to be free from seizures before I can drive. Would you be able to answer this question please? Iona
Hi Iona
Epilepsy affects people differently, so we’ll need to know about your epilepsy to be able to say if the new driving laws will affect you. Most people will find they will need to be 12 months seizure free before being able to drive. However, there are a few changes to the driving law which will affect some people.
If you go to the first page in the epilepsy and driving section of our website, this gives information on the new changes to the driving laws. If you prefer, you can speak to one of our trained epilepsy advisers on our Epilepsy Helpline 0808 800 5050. They can discuss how the new driving regulations might affect you.
Rosanna, Epilepsy Action Advice and Information Team
My daughter is eighteen and passed her theory when she was seventeen but had to stop her driving lessons due to partial seizures, the seizures are still not under control. What happens to her theory as it will be two years snce she passed in November.
Thank you
Jackie
Hi Jackie
The theory test certificate lasts for two years.
Cherry
Advice and Information Team
https://www.gov.uk/driving-theory-test/how-the-theory-test-works
i had a seziure at the begining of february this year how long till i can ride a 50cc motor bike
Hi George,
The Epilepsy driving standards for driving small vehicles says that you can apply or reapply for your licence as long as:
In England, Scotland and Wales, you can reapply up to two months before the date you can legally drive again.
In Northern Ireland these forms can only be sent in two weeks before the date the person can legally drive again.
If we can be of any more help please feel free to contact us again either by email or the epilepsy helpline freephone number 0808 800 5050
Kind regards
Vicky
Advice & Information Team
I'm 18 and I had my first seizure a week ago, a tonic-clonic seizure. I passed my theory test last month and I still hold a provisional driving licence. Do I have to give this licence up, where can I find the regulations on this?
Thanks
Jamie