APS and Driving
Many APS patients are concerned about their safety to drive and whether they need to declare their condition to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Despite the DVLA listing a vast number of health conditions that you have to declare, antiphospholipid syndrome is not included. We have listed here the possible conditions the DVLA recognises which can arise from having APS and what you need to do:
- Blood clots
- Cognitive problems
- Dizziness/Vertigo
- Eye conditions
- Heart attack/angioplasty
- Heart valve disease or replacement valve
- Kidney problems
- Memory problems (severe)
- Fits, seizures or convulsions
- Stroke
- Mini-stroke/Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA)
Please remember that the law requires you to tell the DVLA about any condition that may affect your ability to drive safely. If you are involved in an accident and it is found that your health condition was a contributing factor, you may be prosecuted and your insurance may not be valid.
Blood clots and driving
If you hold any type of vehicle licence, you will not need to tell the DVLA that you have had a blood clot in the limbs (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or lung (Pulmonary Embolism). You must tell DVLA if you have a blood clot in the brain. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form B1/B1V.
Cognitive problems and driving
If you hold any type of vehicle licence, you will need to tell the DVLA that you have cognitive problems. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form CG1.
Dizziness and driving
If you hold any type of vehicle licence, you will need to tell the DVLA that you suffer from dizziness or vertigo. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form DIZ1/DIZ1V.
Eye conditions and driving
You need to tell DVLA about any of the following eye conditions if you have a car or motorcycle licence, even if it is only in one eye. You need to tell DVLA about any of the following eye conditions if you have a bus, coach or lorry licence, even if it is only in one eye. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form V1/V1V.
Heart attack, angioplasty, and driving
If you have a car or motorcycle licence, you will not need to tell the DVLA you have had a heart attack. However, you should stop driving for at least one month and only restart when your doctor tells you it is safe to do so. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence will automatically have to inform the DVLA. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form VOCH1.
Heart valve disease and driving
If you have a car or motorcycle licence, you will not need to tell the DVLA you have heart valve problems. You should stop driving for at least one month and only restart driving when your doctor tells you it’s safe. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence will automatically have to inform the DVLA. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form VOCH1.
Kidney problems and driving
If you have a car or motorcycle licence, you will not need to tell the DVLA you have kidney problems. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence will automatically have to inform the DVLA. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form K1V.
Memory problems (severe) and driving
If you hold any type of vehicle licence, you will need to tell the DVLA that you suffer from severe memory problems. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download form CG1.
Fits, seizures or convulsions and driving
You must tell DVLA if you have fits, seizures or convulsions – this applies to all licence holders. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download the questionnaire FEP1/FEP1V.
Stroke and driving
If you have a car or motorcycle licence and are not suffering from any residual problems after a month from having your stroke, you will not need to tell the DVLA about your medical condition. However, if you are still experiencing problems, then you will need to let them know. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence will automatically have to inform the DVLA. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download questionnaire STR1/STR1V.
Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIAs) and driving
You must stop driving for at least one month after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke. This includes amaurosis fugax or retinal artery fugax. You can restart only when your doctor tells you it is safe. Anyone with a bus, coach or lorry licence must stop driving for at least one year after a TIA. You can restart only when your doctor tells you it is safe. You must tell DVLA if you had a transient ischaemic attack or mini-stroke. This includes amaurosis fugax or retinal artery fugax. Please visit the GOV.UK website and download questionnaire STR1/STR1V.