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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: Driving

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: Practical Issues

Doctors use guidance published by the DVLA when assessing whether a patient is medically fit to drive following a cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, or ICD implantation. This guidance sets out recommended periods of driving restriction based on diagnosis and treatment, and distinguishes between Group 1 licences (cars and motorcycles) and Group 2 licences (lorries and buses, which have stricter requirements).

For most people following a cardiac arrest or ICD implantation, a period of driving restriction is mandatory. The length of restriction depends on factors including whether an ICD was fitted, whether the arrest was due to an identifiable and treatable cause, and whether there are ongoing arrhythmia concerns. Restrictions typically range from one month to up to two years for Group 2 licence holders in some circumstances.

The responsibility for notifying the DVLA of a relevant medical condition rests with you as the licence holder, not your doctor. Your cardiologist or GP can advise you on whether and when you need to notify the DVLA, but you must make the notification yourself. Driving before you are medically and legally permitted to do so can invalidate your insurance.

For full clinical guidance, see the DVLA’s published Assessing Fitness to Drive guidance for medical professionals. For patient-facing information about driving restrictions after SCA, see our dedicated driving FAQs.

Category: Implantable Devices

This depends on your specific situation and DVLA regulations, and you must not assume it is automatically permitted. After a cardiac arrest or ICD implant, there is typically a mandatory period during which you are not allowed to drive any motor vehicle, including a motorcycle. For motorcycles specifically, the risk is heightened because an ICD shock or loss of consciousness while riding could cause a serious accident.

DVLA rules on riding after an ICD implant or cardiac arrest are complex and depend on the type of arrest, the rhythm involved, your licence group, and whether your ICD was fitted prophylactically or following an event. You must notify the DVLA of your ICD and wait for confirmation before riding again. Do not ride until your cardiologist and the DVLA have both confirmed it is safe to do so.

Our page on driving and the DVLA after cardiac arrest covers the regulations in more detail. If your situation is not clear after reading this, raise it directly with your cardiologist or device nurse.

Category: Implantable Devices

Yes. In the UK you are legally required to inform the DVLA if you have a condition or device that may affect your ability to drive safely. Having an ICD is a notifiable condition.

For Group 1 licences (car and motorcycle), there is typically a period of driving restriction following ICD implantation (usually six months), and further restrictions may apply if your device delivers a shock. For Group 2 licences (lorries and buses), the restrictions are stricter and in many cases permanent.

You should notify the DVLA using the appropriate medical questionnaire. For most people with an ICD, this is the DEFIB1 form, available on GOV.UK. If you drive a coach, bus or lorry (Group 2 licence), use the VOCH1 form instead. Your cardiologist or device clinic can support you with this process and provide any necessary medical information. You should also inform your motor insurer, as failing to disclose a relevant medical condition can invalidate your policy.

Always check the current DVLA guidance, as the rules are updated periodically. The full guidance is available at www.gov.uk/dvla/medicalenquiries.

Category: Implantable Devices

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: Implantable Devices

Section 88 refers to a part of the Road Traffic Act that may allow you to continue driving even if you do not physically have your driving licence.

There is a provision in the law, under section 88 that MAY allow you to drive while the DVLA 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.

For more information read the government leaflet on Section 88

Category: Driving

Once your advised period of voluntary surrender has elapsed you will be able to re-apply again and have your licence returned to you.  

You can find information on this process on the government website and a link to download the relevant form.

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 call them back on several occasions as this part of the process takes 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 it’s a good idea to chase your cardiologist to make sure you’re not forgotten.

It’s also worth starting the process a good 8 weeks before the date your period of driving restriction ends.

If your licence was revoked, as opposed to voluntarily surrendered, you may find that the process to get your licence back longer and more arduous.

Category: Driving

In our community 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: Driving

It will largely depend on your individual circumstances and medical conditions but common suspension periods are as follows:

If you had a heart attack as the cause of your cardiac arrest and it was remedied with medications and/or stents then the suspension period is 1 month.

If you had to have an ICD fitted then the suspension period will be 6 months from the date of the implant. If you have any shocks further suspensions will apply and the length will vary depending on a number of factors. See “Can I drive if I get a shock from my ICD” for more information.

You may also have to temporarily stop driving if your anti-arrhythmic medications are changed, typically for 1 month.

If your driving licence was revoked you’ll have to wait until all medical enquiries are complete. You will also need to have your driving licence back before you can start driving again.

You can check the DVLA information for medical professionals regarding assessing fitness to drive here, and this shows the rules regarding whether you can drive or not and if not, for how long.

Category: Implantable Devices