Driving with a heart or circulatory condition

Heart conditions to tell the DVLA about

If you're newly diagnosed or there's a change to your health, you may need to tell the DVLA.

It’s always best to ask your doctor if you need to stop driving or talk to the DVLA about your condition. Usually, you’ll need to tell the DVLA if:

• your condition could affect your ability to drive safely
• your condition could cause you to suddenly become dizzy, faint or blackout while driving.

Some people may need to stop driving for a short while after a heart diagnosis or procedure, but most people will be able to return to driving.

If you need to tell the DVLA about your condition and you do not report it, you could be fined or prosecuted.

Heart attack

If you’ve had a heart attack you'll usually be asked to stop driving for:

• 1 week if you’ve had a successful angioplasty and have no other surgery planned
• 4 weeks if you’ve had angioplasty but it was not successful
• 4 weeks if you’ve had a heart attack but did not have an angioplasty.

Your doctor can tell you when it’s safe to drive again after a heart attack and answer any questions you have about driving.

You do not need to tell the DVLA if you’ve had a heart attack or an angioplasty.

Arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation

Many people diagnosed with an arrhythmia can keep driving. But you must not drive if your arrhythmia stops you from being able to safely stop or control a car.  You’ll need to tell the DVLA about your condition if:

• you're not able to safely stop or control a car
• your arrythmia is not controlled for at least 4 weeks
• it’s not known what’s causing your arrythmia.

You can usually start driving again once it’s known what’s causing your arrhythmia and your arrhythmia has been under control for 4 weeks or more.

Talk to your doctor and the DVLA about whether you can drive.

Heart failure

Many people with heart failure will be able to drive. However, you must not drive and will need to tell the DVLA if you have symptoms that:

• affect your ability to drive safely
• distract you while driving.

Symptoms that affect your ability to drive safely include being breathless when resting and finding any movement or physical activity difficult. Speak to your doctor if you’re not sure, or you start having new symptoms.

It’s important to speak to your doctor about your individual condition and whether you need to stop driving.

Angina

You can drive if you have angina, even if you’re taking medicine for it. You do not need to tell the DVLA that you have angina.

If you have any symptoms while driving, stop until they’re under control.

If you have a planned angioplasty you’ll need to stop driving for 1 week after the procedure, but there’s no need to let the DVLA know.

Heart surgery

If you've had surgery on your heart, like a coronary artery bypass or heart valve surgery, you will usually need to stop driving for a period of time.

• coronary artery bypass surgery, stop driving for at least 4 weeks
• heart valve surgery (including a TAVI), stop driving for at least 4 weeks
• heart transplant, stop driving for at least 6 weeks.

Ask your doctor how long you’ll need to stop driving for. Only start driving again once your doctor says you can.  

Usually, you do not need to tell the DVLA if you’ve had heart surgery, unless you have symptoms that affect your ability to drive safely.

Vascular dementia

You should tell the DVLA if you have vascular dementia. Your doctor and the DVLA will be able let you know if you need to stop driving.

Read about dementia and driving on the Dementia UK website.

Pacemakers

You’ll usually need to stop driving for at least 1 week after a pacemaker is fitted or you have a box change (battery change).

You must tell the DVLA if you've had a pacemaker fitted.

You do not need to tell the DVLA if you’ve had a box change (battery change).

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

You will need to stop driving for a period of time after having an ICD fitted. How long will depend on why you need an ICD and if your ICD has delivered treatment.

You will usually need to tell the DVLA you’ve had an ICD fitted.

• Dangerous heart rhythms – if you’ve had an ICD fitted because you’ve had dangerous heart rhythms you may need to stop driving for at least 1 to 6 months.
• Your ICD has delivered treatment – if your ICD has delivered treatment (a shock) you may need to stop driving for 1 to 6 months.
• You’ve not had a dangerous heart rhythm, but you’re at risk of one – if you’ve had an ICD fitted because you may have a dangerous heart rhythm in the future you’ll usually need to stop driving for 1 month.
• Battery changes – if you have a box change (battery change) you must not drive for 1 week, but you do not need to tell the DVLA.

Speak to your doctor and DVLA about your individual condition to find out how long you’ll need to stop driving for.

Stroke or mini stroke (TIA)

You will need to stop driving for at least 1 month after a stroke or mini stroke (TIA). Your doctor will tell you when it’s safe to drive again.

You do not need to tell the DVLA if you've had a stroke unless you're still having symptoms 1 month after the stroke.

You do not need to tell the DVLA if you've had a mini stroke (TIA) and recovered.

When you can start driving again

If you're asked to stop driving for a while, the length of time will depend on:

• your condition
• the type of vehicle you drive
• how serious your condition is and your symptoms
• the treatment you've had or you’re going to have.

You might be able to drive again once your doctor tells you it’s safe.

Sometimes the DVLA might ask you to give up your licence for a while. This could be because:

• your doctor tells you to stop driving for 3 months or more
• your condition or treatment will affect your ability to drive safely for 3 months or more
• the DVLA has told you that your current health does not meet the required standards for driving.

When your doctor tells you it’s safe to drive again, you may need to reapply for a new licence.

Options if you cannot drive

It can be hard to adjust to not driving for a while. But there are other ways to help you travel and be independent. You may be eligible for discounted or free travel.

Free bus pass

You may be able to get a free bus pass. If you are:

• over a certain age
• disabled
• not allowed to drive because of your medical condition.

Find out more about an older persons or disabled persons bus pass.

Discounted train travel

You may also be able to get a disabled persons travelcard to give you discount on some trains. There are also other railcards that you may be eligible for.

Find out more about railcards and travelling by train.

Local transport schemes

Your local area may have a community transport scheme.

Find out if there’s local transport in your area. You can also call the Community Transport Association for support on 0345 130 6195.

Move more

If you’re able to, you could walk or cycle more.

Physical activity can improve your mood, help you sleep better and reduce your risk of developing other heart and circulatory conditions. It can also help improve symptoms.

Find information and tips for getting active.

More information and support

If you’ve been told to stop driving it can be very hard to deal with. Many people rely on driving to get to work and be independent.

There are people you can talk to for more information and support:

• Contact Transport For All for help with journey planning, support with applying for free or discounted travel and information about your travel rights.
• Call our free Heart Helpline to speak to one of our cardiac nurses about your condition and what it means for you.
• Speak to other people going through a similar experience in our online community, Health Unlocked.