Short term licences

If you take insulin you will be issued with a licence for one, two or three years. Just before the expiry date, you will receive a reminder to renew and you will be asked to return your current licence. You will also be sent another form to confirm your medical condition. Renewals of short term licences are supplied free of charge.

If you are treated with tablets or diet alone and you live in England, Wales or Scotland, you will normally be issued with a 'till 70' licence (though you will be required to renew your photocard every 10 years). When this licence expires, you will need to renew it every one to three years, just like other people in the UK who are over 70 years old. There is a charge for this renewal. If you live in Northern Ireland you will be issued with the standard 10 year licence  

Provisional licences are short term, to one, two or three years only if your diabetes is treated with insulin.

When you are renewing your licence, you must send your old licence to the DVLA/DVA. It is always sensible to keep a note of the driver number in case of a need to contact the DVLA/DVA. Some people also keep a photocopy of their driving licence, though this would not normally be acceptable if the licence had to be presented to the police.

Normally, you will be sent your new licence within six to eight weeks, before your old licence actually expires. Sometimes this process will take longer, especially if the DVLA/DVA has to seek medical advice from your doctor. This may mean that your old licence expires before your new licence is issued – and therefore you are theoretically driving without a licence. If this situation arises you should seek advice from your doctor as to your fitness to drive. If your doctor confirms that you meet the medical standards, you are legally entitled to drive under Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act. If your previous licence was revoked for medical reasons, then you do not have a legal entitlement to drive until a new licence is issued.

If you ride a motorcycle, the rules for informing the DVLA/DVA are the same as those for a car.

You must inform the DVLA/DVA of any changes in your treatment or if any problems or diabetic complications develop which may affect your ability to drive.

Photocard licences

The DVLA/DVA started issuing photocard licences in 1999. You will be required to renew your photocard driving licence every ten years. The DVLA/DVA will issue you with a reminder when your photocard driving licence is due for renewal.

If your licence has to be renewed more frequently because you are on insulin, your photograph will not need to be renewed on each licence renewal. However you will be asked to provide a new photograph every ten years. If you have specific questions about photocard licences please contact the DVLA/DVA.