Heart failure 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 need to tell DVLA about your heart failure if you have symptoms and they:

  • affect your ability to drive safely
  • distract you when driving
  • happen when you’re not doing any activity (‘at rest’)

Report your condition online

Otherwise fill in form H1 send it to DVLA. The address is on the form.

You must stop driving.

Read ‘Car or motorcycle drivers with heart conditions’ for more information.

How long you must stop driving for

If you’re still experiencing symptoms of heart failure, you must stop driving while DVLA investigates.

Otherwise, you must stop driving for at least 1 month. You can only restart driving when your doctor tells you it’s safe.

Bus, coach or lorry licence

You must tell DVLA if you’ve had heart failure.

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

You must stop driving.

How long you must stop driving for

If you’re still experiencing symptoms or your doctor says you have ‘poor contractility’ of the heart muscle, you must stop driving while DVLA investigates.

Otherwise, you must stop driving for at least 1 month. You can only restart driving when your doctor tells you it’s safe.

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