Medical Review License

Living with Parkinson's Daily life
1

I was diagnosed with Parkinsons in February 2025
I informed the DVLA, who wrote to my consultant.
I got a letter sayin I am being transferred toa 3 year validity medical review driving license.

A) Is this normal practise
B) I guess after three years I need to get my GP to confirm I am OK to drive
C) I am hoping this does not mean a retest every three years

2

Good evening … My Parkinson’s was diagnosed in June 2023. I am 71 years old and as such have to renew my driving licence every 3 years, even if I did not have Parkinson’s.

My licence runs till I am 73 and then will go through the same medical checks ups I had when this new driving licence was issued. So the DVLA will write to my GP and to my Parkinson’s team, ie my Parkinson’s nurse.

I am fit to drive and have no concerns on that issue. However should I lose my ability to drive I would become housebound as I cannot walk to the bus stop and I cannot afford regular taxis.

So yes, a new licence every 3 years. Not sure about a driving test, maybe that happens if my ability to drive is marginal.

Best wishes
Steve2

AI Overview

At age 70, you must renew your driving licence every three years, and the DVLA will send you a renewal form. A new medical self-declaration and potential GP confirmation may be required, especially if you have certain medical conditions, and you may need to pass eye tests. Failure to renew can lead to penalties, and if you hold certain professional licenses like C1 or D1, they may be automatically removed unless you complete further forms and a medical.

Licence renewal

  • You must renew your licence when you turn 70: and every three years after that.
  • The DVLA will send you a renewal form approximately 90 days before your 70th birthday.
  • You can renew online, but be aware that the renewal is not automatic.

Medical and health requirements

  • You must declare any medical conditions that could affect your driving, and the DVLA may ask for a medical report from your GP.
  • Conditions like epilepsy, strokes, or significant visual impairments may require a doctor’s confirmation.
  • Eye tests may become mandatory for all drivers over 70 during the renewal process.

Licence categories

  • At age 70, you may automatically lose categories C1 (medium-sized vehicles) and D1 (minibuses) on your licence.
  • To keep these, you will need to complete further application forms and a D4 medical examination report.

Penalties for not renewing

  • If you continue to drive after your licence expires, your insurance will not be valid, and you will be committing a serious offence.
  • Penalties can include heavy fines and having your car seized.
  • New rules may also introduce automatic licence suspension if you miss a renewal.
3

Hello @BearNumberOne, welcome to our forum and thank you for sharing a post. It’s great that you notified the DVLA when you were diagnosed. Yes, this is a normal process . There are several outcomes the license agency will decide and one is that you can have a short licence, valid for 3 years. This decision is then reviewed when the licence runs out.

You can read more about driving and telling your licensing agency you have Parkinson’s on our website, it also includes more about the different outcomes and what to expect if you’re invited to a driving assessment which you might find helpful: Telling your licensing agency you have Parkinson's | Parkinson's UK. We hope the community will also share their experiences to support you too.

Take care :blue_heart:

Parkinson’s UK Moderation Team