Driving after a stroke

This webpage gives you general information about driving after a stroke. You should always get individual advice from your doctor about your stroke and any other health conditions that affect your driving. If you think your driving might be affected by stroke, a driving assessment centre can give you individual advice.

Can you drive after a stroke?

After a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke):

Car and motorbike drivers must not drive for a minimum of one calendar month.
Bus and lorry drivers must stop driving for a minimum of one year.

Some people will be able to drive after the minimum period, but others will have to stop for longer. Some people will have to stop driving for good.

The laws about driving with medical conditions are to help keep everyone safe on the roads.

Who will tell me if I should stop driving for longer?

It is your responsibility to ensure you are safe to drive.

If a health professional such as a doctor, therapist or eye specialist thinks you are not safe to drive, they should tell you to stop driving. They might ask you to have a driving assessment.

But even if nobody tells you to stop driving, it is your responsibility to find out if you are able to drive after a stroke.

This depends on several things including:

The type of stroke
The effects of your stroke
Other medical conditions you may have.

If you think your driving might be affected by stroke, a driving assessment centre can give you individual advice. They can tell you if you need to inform the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland), arrange a driving assessment and support with going back to driving. Visit drivingmobility.org.uk to find your local centre.

Who should I tell about my stroke or TIA?

You must tell your motor insurance company if you have had a stroke or TIA.

Some car and motorbike drivers will also need to tell the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland), depending on whether your ability to drive is affected or you have certain medical conditions. See the table below for more detailed information. You can inform the DVLA online.

All bus and lorry drivers must tell the DVLA/ DVA about a stroke or TIA, using form STR1V.

See the DVLA stroke guidance online orcontact DVLA medical enquiries on 0300 790 6806 for advice about the process. Motorists in Northern Ireland can call the DVA on 0300 200 7861 for advice.

If you do not tell the DVLA/DVA about a medical condition that affects your driving, you could be fined up to £1,000. If you have a crash, you could be prosecuted and get a criminal conviction.

If you do not tell your motor insurance company about your stroke, your insurance might be invalid. If you drive without insurance, you can be fined or lose your licence.

Who decides if I can drive again?

The DVLA/DVA makes the final decision about licences. The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) is responsible for driver licensing in England, Scotland and Wales. The DVA (Driver and Vehicle Agency) is responsible for driver licensing in Northern Ireland.

The role of GPs and other medical professionals is to give you advice about your stroke, and how it might affect your driving. They cannot give permission to drive, but they can help you understand what you need to do.

1. If you had to tell DVLA/DVA about a stroke or medical condition:

You will need permission from the DVLA/DVA to start driving again. You may need an eye test, medical check or driving assessment.

2. If you did not have to tell DVLA/DVA about your stroke:

Even if you did not have to report your condition to the DVLA, you must follow the rules about when you can and cannot drive. You may need a driving assessment, medical check or eye test to make sure you are safe to drive.

DVLA/DVA rules about driving after stroke

Driving after a stroke depends on four things:

The type of driving licence you hold.
The type of stroke you had.
How your stroke affects your ability to drive.
Other medical conditions you may have that affect driving.

Types of licence

There are several categories of licence, covering a range of vehicles from mopeds to tractors. The most common types of vehicle are in these categories:

Group 1: cars and motorbikes, including mopeds.
Group 2: buses and lorries.

If you need individual advice about the type of licence you hold and what you should do following a stroke, contact a driving assessment centre or the DVLA/DVA.

Types of stroke

There are different types of stroke. There are different rules about driving after some kinds of stroke. If you are not sure about the type of stroke you had, speak to your stroke team or GP.

Strokes due to a clot

Ischaemic stroke
Transient ischaemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke, lasts less than 24 hours)
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT, due to blocked blood vessels leaving the brain).
Retinal artery occlusion and amaurosis fugax (vision loss due to clot in blood vessels at the back of the eye).

Strokes due to bleeding

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH, due to bleeding inside the brain).
Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH, due to bleeding around the brain).

You might hear the term ‘brain haemorrhage’. This can also mean bleeding due to a head injury.

Rules for car and motorbike drivers

In the first month after a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)	Stop driving for one calendar month. Tell your motor insurance company.
After the first month	You must tell the DVLA/DVA about your stroke if you think your ability to drive is affected in any way. Effects include: - Vision. - Weakness or reduced coordination of your hand or leg. - Lack of sensation in your hand or foot. - Thinking, memory and concentration problems, including slower thinking and reaction speeds. See the section on driving assessments for more about the effects of stroke and what you should do. You must also tell DVLA/DVA about: - Seizures. - Brain surgery (a thrombectomy is not counted as brain surgery). - Other medical conditions, including insulin-treated diabetes and some heart conditions.
What happens next?	You may be able to start driving after one month if: - Your ability to drive is unaffected. - You do not have any other medical conditions that affect driving, including seizures. To get individual advice before starting driving, see drivingmobility.org.uk to find your local driving assessment centre. If you had a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) - SAH due to an aneurysm: You often need to tell DVLA/DVA, but it depends where the aneurysm is in the brain and how it is treated. You may need to wait up to six months before driving. You will probably need a medical check before driving. - SAH not due to an aneurysm: You must tell the DVLA/DVA. You may be able to drive again if: - Your ability to drive is unaffected. - You have no other medical conditions that affect driving. You will probably need a medical check before driving. For more information on types of stroke visit stroke.org.uk/types-of-stroke
Effects of stroke and other medical conditions that affect driving
Vision problems including visual field loss, double vision, and visual inattention. stroke.org.uk/vision	For all eye conditions, if you do not reach minimum standard of vision for car and motorbike drivers, you must tell the DVLA/DVA. - Visual field defect: might be able to drive after a driving assessment. - Loss of vision in one eye: may be able to drive after you have clinical advice on how to adapt to the condition. Tell the DVLA if you are not able to adapt. - Visual inattention/neglect (reduced awareness of things to one side): Cannot drive. - Double vision: might be able to drive if it’s treated. - Nystagmus: do not need to tell DVLA/DVA unless you fail an eye test.
Physical problems such as hand and leg weakness or paralysis. stroke.org.uk/physical-effects	You must tell the DVLA/DVA about physical problems that affect your driving for longer than a month. This includes anything that makes it harder for you to control the steering wheel, pedals and other controls. It is often possible to drive with vehicle adaptations. If you have very mild limb weakness, but you do not need vehicle adaptations, you do not need to tell the DVLA/DVA. However, if you do need adaptations, you must tell the DVLA because your licence will need to be coded
Problems with memory and thinking (cognitive problems), including confusion, problems with concentration and judging distances. stroke.org.uk/memory-and-thinking	You must tell the DVLA/DVA about any long-lasting cognitive problems. You cannot usually drive with cognitive problems. However, for some mild problems that are stable, you might be able to drive after a driving assessment.
Reading, comprehension, speech (aphasia and cognitive problems) stroke.org.uk/aphasia	Aphasia (language processing problems) may affect skills needed for driving such as reading and understanding road signs.
Seizures and epilepsy stroke.org.uk/seizures	If you have a seizure you must tell the DVLA/DVA. - If you have a seizure within a week of a stroke (known as a provoked seizure), you must stop driving for 6 months. - If you have a single seizure more than a week after stroke (unprovoked seizure), you must stop driving for 12 months. - If you have a provoked seizure followed by a single unprovoked seizure, you must stop driving for 12 months from the latest seizure. - If you have more than one unprovoked seizure, you must stop driving for 12 months after the latest seizure.
Insulin-treated diabetes stroke.org.uk/diabetes	If you take insulin for diabetes, you must tell the DVLA/DVA. They will write to you explaining what you need to do to meet their requirements for driving while using insulin. You don’t have to tell the DVLA/DVA about other types of diabetes medication but you should be aware of the risks of hypoglycaemia and may need to tell the DVLA/DVA if you develop any complications.

Rules for bus and lorry drivers

In the first month	- Stop driving for a minimum of one year. - Tell the DVLA/DVA about your stroke immediately. - Tell your motor insurance company. If you had a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) you may be able to drive after six months, depending on the cause of the stroke and the treatment you had. To get individual advice, contact your local driving assessment centre.
What happens next?	If you had a stroke due to a clot, including: - Ischaemic stroke. - Transient ischaemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke). - Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). - Retinal artery occlusion and amaurosis fugax (clot in retinal blood vessels). Your licence might be returned after one year if: - Your ability to drive is unaffected. - You have no other medical conditions that affect driving, including seizures. If you had multiple strokes or TIAs, you will need to have some medical tests before your licence is returned. If you had a stroke due to a bleed, including: - Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). - Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Most types of stroke due to a bleed mean a licence is revoked for a long period or permanently. For some types of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), you may be able to drive after six months.
More about the effects of stroke and other medical conditions
Vision problems including visual field loss, double vision, and visual inattention. stroke.org.uk/vision	For all eye conditions, you must reach the minimum standard of vision for LGV and PCV drivers. - Visual field defect: it might be possible to drive after a specialised assessment. - Loss of vision in one eye: cannot drive. - Visual inattention/neglect (reduced awareness of things to one side): cannot drive. - Double vision: cannot drive. - Nystagmus: do not need to tell DVLA/DVA unless you fail an eye test
Physical problems such as hand and leg weakness or paralysis. stroke.org.uk/physical-effects	If your physical problems are mild and stable, it may be possible to drive with vehicle adaptations. The DVLA/DVA will ask for an assessment.
Cognitive problems including memory, confusion, concentration and visuospatial perception. stroke.org.uk/memory-and-thinking	You cannot usually drive with cognitive problems. However, for some mild problems that are stable, you might be able to drive after a driving assessment.
Reading, comprehension, speech (aphasia and cognitive problems) stroke.org.uk/aphasia	Aphasia (language processing problems) may affect skills needed for driving such as reading and understanding road signs. You may need to have a driving assessment.
Severe hearing loss	If you lose most of your hearing due to stroke, you will be assessed for your ability to communicate in an emergency. This could be via speech or another means such as text messages.
Seizures and epilepsy stroke.org.uk/seizures	If you have a seizure, you must tell the DVLA/DVA. - If you have a seizure within a week of a stroke (provoked seizure) or a single seizure more than a week after a stroke (unprovoked seizure), you must stop driving for five years after the latest seizure. - If you have a provoked seizure followed by a single unprovoked seizure, you must stop driving for five years after the latest seizure. - If you have more than one unprovoked seizure, you must stop driving for 10 years after the latest seizure. To go back to driving after unprovoked seizures, you must have been seizure-free without medication for the full five- or ten-year period. Visit stroke.org.uk/seizures for more information about seizures and epilepsy after a stroke.
Insulin-treated diabetes stroke.org.uk/diabetes	If you take insulin for diabetes, you must tell the DVLA/DVA. They will write to you explaining what you need to do to meet their requirements for driving while using insulin. You don’t have to tell the DVLA/DVA about other types of diabetes medication but you should be aware of the risks of hypoglycaemia and may need to tell the DVLA/DVA if you develop any complications.

How to report unsafe driving

Sometimes people continue to drive after a stroke, even when it’s against the law.

This can happen for several reasons, including behaviour changes, or denial that stroke has affected their ability to drive. This can lead to them driving when it’s unsafe and illegal to do so.

If you have already tried to speak to them about it and they keep driving, then you can:

Speak to their GP or stroke team.
Report the person’s driving to the DVLA/DVA.

It might feel hard to report someone who is close to you, but it could save their life and protect other road users.