I voluntarily surrendered my licence and have
now applied for a new one. Can I drive?
As soon as the DVLA receives your correct and
complete application for a new licence and as long
as you meet all the Section 88 criteria you may
drive. If your medical condition meant you had to
take a specified amount of time off driving to ensure
the stability of your condition, you must still complete
that time off driving before you drive under Section
88 of The RTA. If you are unsure please check the
‘Assessing fitness to drive’ guide, which can be
found at www.gov.uk/dvla/fitnesstodrive or check
with your doctor or healthcare professional.
I am going abroad and I would like to drive while
I am there. Am I covered for this?
Because the Section 88 provision is in UK
legislation, it may not be accepted in other
countries. We advise you to check with the
relevant licensing authority before you travel.
My licence was revoked/refused for medical
reasons. Can I drive?
No. You must wait for the DVLA to reissue you
with a new driving licence before you can start
driving again.
My last licence entitled me to drive lorries/
buses. It has expired and I am now only
applying for a licence to drive a car. Can I drive?
And if so, what can I drive?
You can check if you still have valid car and
motorcycle entitlement online at www.gov.uk/view-
driving-licence. If your entitlement has expired,
you can drive as soon as the DVLA receives your
correct and complete application for a new licence
as long as you meet the Section 88 criteria. You
must only drive vehicles you have applied for on
your current application and were entitled to drive
on your previous licence.
If you are unsure about whether you meet the
medical criteria for driving, you can check your
condition(s) in the ‘Assessing fitness to drive’ guide
for healthcare professionals, which can be found
at www.gov.uk/dvla/fitnesstodrive or ask your
doctor or healthcare professional for advice.
5