Driver Medical Frequently Asked Questions

Any Doctor who holds full registration with the GMC (General Medical Council) and is licensed to practise medicine in the UK can complete the DVLA D4 Driver Medical. This can be your own GP or a private firm like D4Drivers whose Doctors specialise in D4 medicals. Additionally EU registered Doctors can complete the D4 medical for drivers who have the medical completed outside the UK.

We strongly advise booking your medical with a reputable provider with doctors experienced in completing driver medicals.

All our doctors carry copies of the D4 medical form, however we always advise bringing your own copy to your appointment just to be on the safe side, you can get a copy of the the D4 medical form here:

• Download the D4 medical off our website here.
• You can order a D2 and D4 medical form pack from DVLA by post: gov.uk/dvlaforms
• Some post offices stock D2 forms or failing that your local HGV/PCV training school should have spare copies. If you are renewing your group 2 licence you will be sent a D47P renewal form from DVLA, this is only available by post.

If you are applying for your first group 2 licence, as well as needing a D4 medical to be completed by a doctor you will need to fill in a D2 application form. If you are renewing a group 2 licence instead of D2 application form you will be sent a D47P renewal form by DVLA along with your D4 medical form. If you lose your D47P renewal form when renewing your group 2 licence you can complete a D2 application form instead.

Please note our doctors are not able to assist you in completing a D2 application form or D47P renewal form and they will only complete the D4 medical form.

The doctor will examine you in accordance with the requirements of the relevant D4 Medical Form.

During the medical our Doctor will:

• Complete an eye test (if you wear glasses/ contact lenses, one test without and one test whilst you’re wearing them)
• Record your blood pressure
• List on the D4 Form any medication you’re currently taking
• Ask about your previous medical history (these questions are on the form and are compulsory).

Once the medical is completed you sign the back page to confirm you have given the correct information to the Doctor and you must then check you are happy the form is fully completed and correct before ticking at the end of the form. This is very important as if there are mistakes or omissions the form is returned to you by DVLA who deem this the driver’s responsibility.
Once you have posted the form to DVLA they make a decision on fitness, they will either accept your application or reject it and explain why.

It is difficult to give an exact amount of time for how long a D4 medical will take. For someone with a non-eventful medical history and who is relatively fit and healthy the medical will be shorter in duration than for someone who has a complex medical history and/or current medical conditions, for example repeat blood pressure checks may be required. On average the medical takes approximately 10-15 minutes and we allow at least a 15 minute slot per medical which is longer than your average NHS GP consultation.

You can drive group 2 vehicles even if you only meet the vision standard when wearing glasses or contact lenses. If that is the case a code will be added to your licence to stipulate that you must wear them when driving group 2 vehicles.

We conduct an eye test as part of the D4 medical and if you wear glasses you must bring your optical prescription. The minimum requirement is reaching 6/7.5 in the better eye and 6/60 in the worse eye on a snellen chart. If our doctor records that you do not meet the standard, we will ask you to visit your optician for this section to be completed, in the interest of road safety.

We always try to see drivers quickly and at times to suit you so there is no need to take time off work but our clinics are very popular so please get in touch as soon as possible. Call us on 0300 3030 668, email bookings@d4drivers.uk or book online and we will be able to offer you a range of appointments at your closest centre(s), including on evenings and weekends.

Below is a list of the six items you will need to bring to the doctor for your driver medical assessment:

1. D4 Medical Form (or form relating to the medical you have booked)
2. Driving licence (or passport if your licence is currently with DVLA or lost)
3. Your driving glasses and optical prescription (contact lenses must be removed for the ‘uncorrected vision’ eye test);
4. A list of all your current medication, the dosages and the dates you began taking them
5. Any hospital letters or details of hospital consultants who are treating you;

The medical form requires medical information from you in detail so please bring as much information as possible so that our Doctor can fully complete the form. For example if you have a heart condition we need information about this in order to complete this section of the form. If you have high blood pressure and take medication for this we need 3 previous readings.

During COVID-19 DVLA have advised that there are longer waiting times due to many of their staff working from home, but they are prioritising applications from key workers like HGV/PCV drivers.

Prior to COVID-19 DVLA advised you should allow 2-3 weeks however they have previously confirmed in a Freedom Of Information request that over 99% of cases are dealt with within a week- but we always advise allowing 3 weeks.

The DVLA D4 medical form is valid for 4 months from the date of the Doctor’s signature (ie date of D4 form completion), so you must send the paperwork in to DVLA within 4 months of your medical for it to be accepted, for group 2 licence categories to be added to your licence or renewed. Please note this does not mean you must pass your HGV/PCV theory or practical driving test within 4 months.

If this is your first application, when you receive your licence back from DVLA with the additional provisional categories these are available to view online and will not show on your physical photocard driving licence.

There are stricter rules surrounding driving group 2 vehicles such as HGV or bus than for group 1 vehicles like cars and motorbikes, due to the weight of the vehicles and the fact that you could be carrying a high number of passengers.

Diabetes

You can still hold a group 2 licence if you are diabetic. You must be able to demonstrate you are in control of your diabetes including taking regular blood sugar readings.

Epilepsy/fits

There are complex medical standards for these conditions depending on the severity of the faint/seizures.

Hypertension (High blood pressure)

You will not be granted a group 2 licence if your blood pressure is persistently 180/100 or higher. If you have high blood pressure and take anti-hypertensive medication please bring 3 previous blood pressure readings.

Pyschotic Illness

You are unlikely to be granted a licence if you have had psychotic illness within the last 12 months.

Please note that DVLA have a team of doctors that specialise in each area of medicine and where a medical condition is disclosed they will investigate the application on a case by case basis.

Please go to https://d4drivers.uk/book-online/ now to book your medical online or call us on 0300 3030 668.