Heart attacks, angioplasty, and driving

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 motorcycle licence

You don’t need to tell DVLA if you’ve had a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or a heart, cardiac or coronary angioplasty.

However, you should stop driving for:

  • 1 week if you had angioplasty, it was successful and you don’t need any more surgery
  • 4 weeks if you had angioplasty after a heart attack but it wasn’t successful
  • 4 weeks if you had a heart attack but didn’t have angioplasty

Check with your doctor to find out when it’s safe for you to start driving again.

Bus, coach or lorry licence

You must tell DVLA and stop driving for 6 weeks if you’ve had a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or a heart, cardiac or coronary angioplasty.

Fill in form VOCH1 and send it to DVLA. The address is on the form.

You must take an assessment with your doctor or GP after 6 weeks to see if you meet the medical standard to start driving again. DVLA might arrange for you to have specific tests, depending on your condition.

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