DVLA driving licence backlog for motorists with medical conditions up 65 per cent in 12 months

• The number of drivers waiting for a medical driving licence increased from 203,890 applications on 25 March 2021 to 336,759 applications 12 months later. 
• Almost 40 per cent of all delayed licence applications in the UK are medical licences.
• Drivers are waiting up to six months for a new or renewed medical driving licence, research suggests.

More than 300,000 drivers with medical conditions are waiting for their driving licence application to be processed by the DVLA, according to a freedom of information request (FOI) by HonestJohn.co.uk's sister brand heycar.

The FOI found that on 25 March 2021 there were 203,890 applications awaiting a medical driving licence decision; however, by 25 March 2022 this had increased 65 per cent to 336,759 applications.

A medical driving licence is issued to a driver who suffers from a condition that needs to be declared to the DVLA. This can include diabetes, sleep apnoea, epilepsy or a heart condition.

Drivers with a notifiable medical condition account for 39 per cent of more than 800,000 people in the UK waiting for a new driving licence in March 2022. 

How long are drivers waiting for their medical driving licence? 

The research conducted by heycar suggests that drivers with medical conditions are waiting up to six months for their licence in some cases. 

However, there are also examples of drivers waiting considerably longer. 

One HonestJohn.co.uk reader, who did not wish to be named, said that his father has been waiting 15 months and has still not had his medical driving licence renewed. 

His father, who is in his 80s, lives alone in rural Yorkshire and is “very dependent on his car”, the reader said. 

His father had to renew his licence on medical grounds as he has glaucoma.

"His consultant believes him fit to drive, as does his GP. Nevertheless, off he went to have his eyes checked by the DVLA-approved optician,” the reader told us.

“The necessary forms were filled in and sent off to the DVLA. But then nothing from DVLA.”

His father continued to drive under Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which allows drivers to continue driving while their licence is being processed, provided certain conditions are met. 

His local police force issued him with a printed statement confirming his eligibility to drive, which he carried in his car, along with the note from his GP. 

However, Section 88 only applies for 12 months so now his father can no longer drive.

“Now my father has an expensive lump of metal sat on the drive, and is, of course, paying for tax and insurance. After a couple of years of semi-isolation through Covid he is now faced with further isolation as a result of DVLA inadequacies in processing his application. His world was already small enough, without this additional restriction,” the reader said. 

“We have chased and harried the DVLA as best we can - phone calls, social media and emails. We have reference numbers from the DVLA confirming the email enquiries going back 15 months, but not one response. Currently, his local MP has agreed to take up his cause, but, as yet, no joy.”

Four-month wait for disabled motorist 

Disabled motorist Barry Kirby was severely impacted by a four-month wait for his driving licence. 

He made a paper application for his 70 and over licence renewal in September last year and declared that he had had sleep apnoea in the past, along with neurological problem, so the DVLA sent him a medical questionnaire to complete. 

He then heard nothing for two months and was left frustrated at being unable to speak to anyone at the DVLA - despite numerous attempts. 

“I didn’t know what was going on,” Barry said. “I found it impossible to contact anyone at the DVLA. When I telephoned them I would get redirected and wait and wait, and nobody answered. All I could do was check on the GOV.UK website and found that my licence had been revoked.”

That led to the leasing company which Barry leases his car from telling him to “cease driving immediately” and he was left making £250 monthly payments for a vehicle that he couldn’t use. 

“I live in a rural area and we only have a bus service every two hours during daylight hours so I was very restricted at home,” Barry said.

“I had to go to the hospital, which takes 10 minutes in a car. I tried to walk it and it took me an hour to walk to the next bus route and I was exhausted. And that bus never came. I ended up in the middle of the countryside ringing for a taxi.”

Towards the end of November, the DVLA wrote to Barry to inform him they had contacted his doctor and expected a delay in receiving a reply due to the ongoing situation with Coronavirus. 

Barry spoke to his doctor’s surgery and had confirmation within two days of the DVLA letter that the doctor had responded to say he was medically fit to drive. 

He then heard nothing from the DVLA and after a month of being unable to get through on the phone he contacted HonestJohn.co.uk for help. 

Within two days of HonestJohn.co.uk contacting the DVLA on Barry’s behalf in January 2022 he was informed his driving licence had been authorised. 

Barry said that it brought an end to “months of frustration”. 

When will the DVLA clear the backlog?

As we reported in April 2022, the DVLA expects to reach ‘normal’ turnaround times for paper drivers licence applications (up to three weeks including some time for postage) by the end of May.

For medical applications, the target by the end of September is for 90 per cent of cases to be processed within 90 days.