High blood pressure (hypertension) and driving

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not 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 do not need to tell DVLA if you have high blood pressure. 

You must stop driving if a doctor says you have malignant hypertension (a sudden rise in your blood pressure, also known as accelerated hypertension).

You can drive again when a doctor confirms that your condition is well controlled.

Bus, coach or lorry licence

You do not need to tell DVLA if your blood pressure is consistently below 180/100mmHg. You can keep driving.

However, you must stop driving and tell DVLA if either:

  • your blood pressure is consistently above 180/100mmHg
  • a doctor says you have malignant hypertension

You can drive again when a doctor confirms that your condition is well controlled.

How to tell DVLA

There’s a different way to tell DVLA depending on your condition. You must:

  • fill in form BP1V if your blood pressure is consistently above 180/100mmHg (but you do not have malignant hypertension)
  • fill in form VOCH1 if you have malignant hypertension

Send it to the address on the form.

Low blood pressure

You do not need to tell DVLA if you have low blood pressure.

You only need to tell DVLA if you develop a health condition that affects your driving, such as dizziness or fainting.

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