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. 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.

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