Experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest and/or having an ICD fitted will mean that you have to give up your driving licence for a period.
We have put together a list of frequently asked questions and a brief guide to provide you with information in relation to voluntarily surrendering your driving licence to re-applying for your licence to be returned.
The reason for putting this guide together is that the instructions from DVLA can be complicated to understand and it is a common topic in our Facebook group.
If you used your car to get to work and can no longer drive it’s worth checking out the Access to Work scheme as you may qualify for support for your transport costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Section 88
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Shock
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Do I have to stop driving if I have a cardiac arrest?
The simple answer is yes, but usually only temporarily.
The length of the period that you cannot drive for is mainly dependent on the cause of your cardiac arrest and the remedial action taken.
For example, if you had a heart attack as the cause and you had stents and medications to prevent future episodes then the period to stop driving would typically be 1 month.
If you had to have an ICD fitted then the period that you had to stop driving would typically be 6 months from the date of the implant – not the date of the cardiac arrest
Category: Implantable DevicesDo all cardiac arrest survivors get the same suspension period?
No.
The length of your suspension can vary depending on a number of factors including but not limited to cause of your cardiac, remedial actions taken, subsequent or other conditions.
It may seem tempting to compare one person’s case with another but it is often difficult to do so because of not having the full facts about a person’s situation.
Category: DVLAWhat happens to my ICD if airbags go off in a car?
If your air bags go off while you are in a car, whether you have an ICD or not, seek immediate medical attention.
Category: DrivingWhy was my licence revoked?
In the SCA UK Facebook Group we are seeing an increasing number of members who get their licence revoked when they voluntarily surrender it.
At this time it is not clear why this happens as we have seen members with apparently similar circumstances have different outcomes.
The DVLA can revoke your licence on medical grounds and it may be the differences in the details that they make their decision but for now, it is a bit of a mystery.
Our only advice would be to not use the online form but as soon as possible fill in the paper forms and send in your licence stating that you are voluntarily surrendering your licence. This is because anecdotal evidence from the group indicates that if you use the online form it appears you’re more likely to get your licence revoked.
Remember if your license is revoked you cannot use Section 88 rules to drive until your license is reinstated.
Category: DrivingCan I drive after getting an ICD?
The decision to drive after getting an ICD depends on your medical condition and the laws in your area. Your doctor will look at your electrophysiology (EP) tests, how you’re responding to the ICD and its therapies, and any other medications you take. The one exception that definitely requires a conversation with your doctor is being a commercial driver like a bus driver or truck driver.
Category: Implantable DevicesNotification to DVLA
It is a licence holder’s responsibility to contact DVLA and advise them that, due to medical advice they have been advised to cease driving for a period.
Your consultant will advise you how long you have to stop driving for [typically 6 months for those who have experienced a cardiac arrest and had an ICD implanted].
This link provides details of a number of conditions, scenarios and how long you should cease driving for…
On occasions, you do not need to tell DVLA of your condition, see the following link
Link for forms
Telling the DVLA about a medical condition or disability
Once you have identified the correct form associated with your condition from the link above you should complete it and send it off with your licence.
You will receive a letter from DVLA confirming receipt of voluntary surrender of your licence. You must physically send your licence away to DVLA – not a nice thing to do but has to be done.
DVLA address:
Drivers Medical Group,
DVLA,
Swansea
SA99 1TU
0300 790 6806
www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving
Be aware that if you just complete the form online* and do not send your licence back there is a likelihood that the DVLA will revoke your licence rather than just suspending it. There are different rules for licences that have been revoked rather than suspended, the main difference being that for a voluntarily surrendered licence you may drive again under the provision of Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act whereas if it’s been revoked you cannot – you have to re-apply and wait for that to be processed, which can take some time!
*This service has been currently suspended
Re-applying for your licence
Once your advised period of voluntary surrender has elapsed you will be able to re-apply again and have your licence returned to you. Download the relevant form from the link above again.
Once you have mailed this you will receive a letter from DVLA stating that they have written to your consultant with an expected 6 -week turnaround. You do not need to do anything further other than to call them back on several occasions as this part of the process can take a long time!
The DVLA will send your cardiologist forms to get more information about your cardiac status. Your cardiologist will need to sign these forms to say they should issue you with a licence. This all takes time, and as the number of people having ICDs implanted increases, this process may take longer. Therefore, we suggest you start reapplying for your licence three to four months after your ICD was implanted/event.
Can you drive without a physical licence?
Firstly – only after your advised time to abstain from driving has elapsed and only if you surrendered it i.e. it wasn’t revoked.
DVLA will send a progress update letter stating that they have contacted your consultant. This letter will also contain a reference to
Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 states…
There is a provision in law, under this section that MAY allow you to drive while we process your application. You must meet the following criteria
- You must be confident that your application will not be refused due to any medical condition you declared.
- You must have held a valid driving licence and only drive vehicles you are qualified to drive.
- You must meet any conditions specified on your previous licence
- You must have sent your fully completed application (re application) to DVLA in the last 12 months
- Your licence has not been refused or revoked
- You are not disqualified from holding a licence by a court
If you fulfil these points you can drive again even though your licence has not been returned to you.
DVLA cannot tell you if this section of the law applies to you.
If you decide to drive you MUST meet all the criteria listed in the bullet points above.
Section 88 is valid until any of the following apply: –
- You receive your driving licence back from DVLA
- You receive a letter saying your licence has been revoked
- Your application is more than a year old
- You have since been disqualified by a court since you submitted your application.
You should carry the DVLA letter with you at all times should you feel you meet the criteria and be able to produce it to a Police Officer should you be asked to produce your driving licence.
Remember this is only if you voluntarily surrendered your licence due to a medical condition.
This guidance does not cover the circumstances if your licence was revoked.
Download DVLA Section 88 leaflet
Informing the insurance company
The official advice is that you should inform your insurance company of your heart condition and implant (ICD/pacemaker) if you have one, but from our members experience most insurance companies do not seem to be interested in the fact that you have had an SCA. If you have a valid licence to drive then they will be happy to insure you. Of course, if you are on a prolonged suspension and your car isn’t going to be used you may wish to speak to them to alter your level of cover and potentially save a few pounds.
Changes
Should any changes occur to your heart situation there is the likelihood that you will have to inform the DVLA and a further suspension will be imposed.
You must not drive for one month if any of the leads are changed or revised.
You must not drive for one month if your cardiologist or any other doctor changes your anti-arrhythmic drugs e.g. beta-blockers.
If you receive an appropriate shock from your ICD i.e. one that is correcting a potentially fatal arrhythmia, you must again surrender your licence and be suspended for 6 months. If you were incapacitated (eg unconscious) whilst you received the shock the suspension is two years, which can be reduced to 6 months if your cardiologist takes steps to prevent any further events requiring a shock, (eg starting or increasing meds).
If you receive an inappropriate shock i.e. the shock was unnecessary, then you will receive a one-month suspension.