Driving after cardiac arrest is not immediately possible — experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest and/or having an ICD fitted will mean that you have to surrender your driving licence for a period. This guide covers the rules, the process, and what to expect when reapplying.
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 our community
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 About Driving After Cardiac Arrest
Intimacy
Recovery
Psychological Support
Co-survivors
Inherited Conditions
Agonal Breathing
Living With an ICD
Fundraising
Fear and Anxiety
Life After Cardiac Arrest
Children
Defibrillators
Driving
Insurance
Sports
Cardiac Arrest
Electromagnetic interference
Shock
Practical Issues
Treatment
CPR
Meet Ups and Events
Work
Travelling
Can I drive without my physical licence?
It may be possible, it depends on whether you satisfy the criteria for Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act.
See “What is Section 88” for more information.
Category: DrivingCan I drive after a cardiac arrest?
In most cases, yes, but not immediately. Following a cardiac arrest, the DVLA in the UK requires you to stop driving and notify them. Whether and when you can drive again depends on several factors, including the type of heart rhythm that caused the arrest, whether you have had an ICD fitted, whether you have a Group 1 (ordinary) or Group 2 (lorry or bus) licence, and whether you experienced symptoms beforehand.
For Group 1 drivers who have had an ICD fitted after a cardiac arrest due to a shockable rhythm, there is typically a period of several months before driving may be considered. The rules are complex and have been updated over time. The DVLA and your cardiologist are the definitive sources. Do not drive until you have explicit confirmation that you may.
Our page on driving and the DVLA after cardiac arrest covers this in more detail, including the relevant guidance and how to notify the DVLA. Many members of our community have been through this process and can share their experience of navigating it.
Category: DrivingCan I drive after getting an ICD?
In the UK, driving after receiving an ICD is governed by DVLA regulations, not solely by your doctor’s assessment.
For Group 1 licences (car and motorcycle), a driving ban of at least six months typically applies following ICD implantation. If your ICD delivers a shock that causes or could have caused incapacity, a further period of restriction applies. Once the restriction period has passed and your cardiologist confirms your condition is stable, you can usually resume driving.
For Group 2 licences (lorries and buses), the restrictions are much stricter. Having an ICD typically results in permanent revocation of a Group 2 licence in most circumstances. This can have significant implications for professional drivers.
You are legally required to notify the DVLA and your motor insurer. Your cardiologist or device clinic will advise you on when it is medically appropriate to resume driving, but the final determination is made by the DVLA. Always check the most current guidance at www.gov.uk/dvla/medicalenquiries.
Category: DrivingMy job involves driving. Can I return to work after a cardiac arrest?
This depends on what type of driving licence you hold and the nature of your role, and it is one of the most important practical questions to resolve before you attempt to return.
Group 1 licence (ordinary car): There is typically a mandatory period during which you cannot drive after a cardiac arrest or ICD implant. Once this period has passed and the DVLA has confirmed you may drive again, returning to a job that involves some driving is generally possible, subject to your cardiologist’s advice.
Group 2 licence (lorry, bus, or coach): The DVLA rules for Group 2 drivers are much stricter. Following a cardiac arrest, Group 2 licensing is usually permanently revoked, and in most cases cannot be reinstated after an ICD implant. If your job specifically requires a Group 2 licence — HGV driver, bus driver, coach driver — this is likely to mean a permanent change of role. This is one of the most significant practical impacts cardiac arrest can have on employment.
Do not drive for work until you have received explicit written confirmation from the DVLA that your licence has been reinstated or retained. Our page on driving and the DVLA after cardiac arrest covers the regulations in full. Members of our community who have navigated this process, including those who have had to change careers, are often willing to share their experience.
Category: DrivingCan I keep my HGV or Group 2 licence with an ICD?
In the UK, holding an ICD will prevent you from holding a Group 2 licence, which covers lorries (LGV/HGV) and buses (PCV). If you currently hold a Group 2 licence, having an ICD implanted will typically result in its revocation by the DVLA.
This can be a significant and distressing consequence for professional drivers, and it is worth discussing the implications with your cardiologist before implantation where possible. In some circumstances, alternatives to ICD therapy may be considered, though this is always weighed carefully against the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
If you drive professionally and have been told you need an ICD, speak to your cardiologist and contact the DVLA for specific guidance on your situation. Occupational health support from your employer may also be available.
Category: DrivingNotifying the DVLA After Cardiac Arrest
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 After Cardiac Arrest
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.