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When can I apply or reapply for my driving licence?

Last checked 18/06/2008

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Driving, car on motorway

  

  

Categories of driving licences

The UK regulations

Vehicle Descriptions

Category

Motorcycles and scooters

A

Light Vehicles; Cars; Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes; Vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats; Invalid Carriages

B

Medium and large goods vehicles

C

Large passenger carrying vehicles

D

Mopeds

P

This table is only a summary. See leaflet Driver Licensing Information published by the DVLA for further information.

Epileptic seizures

You can apply or reapply for your category A, B or P driving licence as long as:

  • you have been free from seizures completely for one year*; or
  • you have only experienced sleep seizures for a period of at least three years; and
  • the DVLA is satisfied that as a driver you are not likely to be a source of danger to the public.

*The 12 months’ seizure free period applies from the date of your last seizure and not from the date you returned your licence, or when it was withdrawn by the DVLA.

To qualify for a category C or D licence, people with epilepsy would need to satisfy the higher health standards. See Driving lorries and buses.

Provoked seizures

Some seizures that have been provoked by a specific cause may be dealt with on an individual basis by the DVLA. This is as long as you do not have a history of seizures.

Examples of seizures that may be classed as provoked include:

  • eclamptic seizures (a condition which can occur during pregnancy)
  • seizures that happen within seconds of a head injury
  • seizures that happen within 24 hours of a stroke.

Seizures that are triggered by alcohol or illegal drug use are not classed as provoked seizures.

If you have a provoked seizure, a doctor will recommend how long you should stop driving for, based on the results of medical investigations. To make this decision, the doctor will consider a number of things.

  • Did the seizure have a specific cause and is there any reason to believe that you are at risk of having any more seizures for the same reason?
  • Does the cause of the seizure suggest that you already had a low seizure threshold, meaning that you could be at risk of further seizures?
  • Has the reason for the seizure been successfully treated or removed?
  • Is it likely that a seizure will happen while you are driving?

10 July 2007

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