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Driving Licences: Health

Answer

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) meets regularly with Department for Transport (DfT) officials to discuss all aspects of the DVLA's work, including medical applications.

There has been a sustained growth in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued. The length of time taken to deal with an application often depends on the condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from third parties, for example doctors or other healthcare professionals, before a licence can be issued.

The table below shows the average number of working days taken to process medical driving licence applications in 2026.

Average Processing time for Drivers Medical
Month/Year	Average working days
January 2026	57.8
February 2026	68.3
March 2026	55.9
April 2026	55.3
May 2026	56.5

To keep up with growing customer demand and to offer a better service, the DVLA has launched a new casework system and a new digital medical services portal. This new online service covers around 1,600 medical conditions and allows the majority of customers to apply online via the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account. While digital services are increasingly available, the DVLA recognises that not all customers can or want to access services online or via a mobile device. Customers can contact the DVLA by telephone, or in writing and paper application facilities continue to be available.

These changes are already helping the DVLA to process applications more quickly and further enhancements for customers applying for a provisional licence and those renewing at the age of 70 or over will be made later this summer.

The DVLA encourages customers to use the online service wherever possible to help speed up processing times.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

12252

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Administrative delays Health Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Driving licences

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk