FACTSHEET No. 35

Driving and Disability

Having a medical condition or disability does not necessarily mean you cannot or will not be allowed to drive.

Whether you are a new or an experienced driver, you must let the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) know about any medical condition or disability that may affect your driving.

The minimum age for driving cars is 17, but if you're getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (mobility component), you can drive at 16.

All new drivers should have professional driving lessons and disabled drivers may want to look for instructors who have specialist knowledge of their needs.

Medical conditions, disabilities and driving

You must tell the DVLA if you have, or have ever had, a medical condition or an impairment that may affect your driving.

If you hold a current driving licence and have a 'notifiable' medical condition or disability, you must tell the DVLA right away. You should not wait until your licence is due for renewal.

You must also tell the DVLA if your medical condition or disability has become worse since your licence was issued or if you develop a new medical condition or disability.

Sometimes the best option can be to surrender your license, and reapply for its restoration at a later date.

'Notifiable' medical conditions and disabilities include epilepsy, strokes and other neurological conditions, mental health problems, physical disabilities and visual impairments. There is information about how to tell the DVLA in the general motoring section of Directgov.

The research charity Ricability publishes booklets aimed at motorists with particular needs, including motoring after amputation, receiving a brain injury or having a stroke, and motoring with arthritis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or restricted growth.

New drivers and the provisional driving licence

Before you can learn to drive a car, moped or motorcycle, you must apply for a provisional driving licence. If you have a notifiable medical condition or disability you must declare it on the application form.

The DVLA aims to deliver your provisional driving licence to you within three weeks of receiving your application. It might take longer if they have to check on your health or personal details.

Motoring information on Directgov

Directgov contains a lot of general information about motoring, from owning a vehicle, road safety and crime to personalised number plates and MOT.

Driving lessons and specialist driving instructors

You may prefer an instructor who is skilled at teaching disabled people. Look for instructors who have taken a special course - often at Banstead Mobility Centre or the Transport Research Laboratory.

Experienced instructors can teach you more than how to drive, including:

  • how to get in and out of the car more easily
  • how to get your wheelchair in and out of the car (if applicable) and
  • how to operate any adapted controls

Increasingly, instructors and driving schools have simple hand controls fitted to one or more of their fleet and will offer specialist tuition.

If you are aged between 16 and 24, Motability, the scheme that gives people an opportunity to own or hire a car, may be able to offer financial support towards the cost of driving lessons.

Taking your driving tests

It's worth booking your theory and practical tests as early as you can because waiting lists can be long.

You must pass the theory test before you can book the practical test. If you don't pass a practical test within two years of taking the theory test, you'll have to take the theory test again.

The theory test

The theory test has two parts, a 50-question multiple choice section and a hazard perception skills section. You need to pass both parts of the theory test in the same sitting to obtain your theory test pass certificate.

Theory tests are usually held at test centres, which are generally wheelchair accessible and offer specialist facilities for disabled people. However, arrangements can be made for you to take the test at home or at a different centre if your local centre is not accessible to you.

The theory test system has been designed to be accessible and is available in spoken as well as written format. Candidates with hearing difficulties can watch a video of the test in British Sign Language. The test conditions can also be adapted if you have light-sensitive epilepsy. You can ask for extra time for the multiple-choice element of the theory test.

It's very important to mention any special requirements you may have when you book your test with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

Please let the DSA know if you:

  • need access for a wheelchair
  • are deaf or have other hearing difficulties
  • are dyslexic or have reading difficulties
  • do not read or understand English

 

The practical test

No matter how serious your disability might be, you will still take the same driving test as every other candidate.

When you book your test, let the DSA know if you:

  • are deaf or have severe hearing difficulties
  • are in any way restricted in your movements
  • have any physical disability

Disabled drivers may be allowed extra time for their test. This is to allow you to explain to your examiner the nature and function of any adaptations you use, and to allow you extra time to get in and out of the car.

Driving examiners are specially trained to understand particular problems that may arise from disabilities.

How to book your theory or practical test

Contact the Driving Standards Agency for more details and to book your theory or practical driving test online.

In this section...

Additional Links

Please see also....

Do it online

Useful contacts

Updated 24 April 2011