PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Driving Licences: Applications (21 February 2022)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to instruct the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to expedite the processing of driving licenses in instances where the applicant has a medical or physical need for a car.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

The quickest and easiest way to apply for a driving licence is by using the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online service. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their licence within a few days.

However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. The DVLA is working hard to process paper applications as quickly as possible for all drivers, including those with health conditions. To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham.

The DVLA recognises the impact on drivers who have to renew their licence more regularly due to a medical condition and is working hard to improve the process. Drivers with diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, a visual impairment, a sleep condition or a heart condition can renew their licence online.

The DVLA has recently introduced a simplified licence renewal process for drivers with epilepsy and multiple sclerosis and is piloting this for some mental health conditions. This renewal process has significantly reduced the need for the DVLA to seek further information from medical professionals and enabled more licensing decisions to be made based on the information provided by the driver. The DVLA is looking at adding more medical conditions to this process.

The length of time taken to deal with an application depends on the medical condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from medical professionals. The majority of those renewing their licence will be able to continue driving while their application is being processed, providing they can meet the criteria outlined here.

Answered by:
Trudy Harrison (Conservative)
24 February 2022