INF188/6

Can I drive while

my application is

with DVLA?

Please keep this leaflet safe

so you can refer to it in the future

Section 88 of The Road Traffic

Act 1988 may allow you to

continue driving even though

the application.

8/23

To continue driving under Section 88,

you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You meet the medical standards of fitness

to drive. If you have a medical condition and

have been told not to drive by a doctor or

healthcare professional, you should not do

so. If your doctor or healthcare professional is

unsure about how a medical condition affects

*below) and only drive vehicles you have

applied for on your current application and

were entitled to drive on your previous licence.

•

If you hold a Group 2 (bus or lorry) licence,

your entitlement has not been suspended,

revoked or refused by a traffic commissioner.

•

You meet any conditions that were specified

on your previous licence that still apply.

•

You are not currently disqualified

from driving by a court.

•

You are not reapplying for a driving licence

following your disqualification as a high risk

offender on or after 1 June 2013 (a high risk

offender is a driver convicted of a serious drink

driving offence).

* this licence can be a full GB licence,

While the DVLA is completing medical

investigations to decide whether a

you if Section 88 applies to you.

You and your doctor or healthcare professional

are in the best position to consider the Section 88

criteria and to decide whether you should drive

while you are waiting for a licence to be issued.

Section 88 cover is valid until any of the

following apply:

(as that will cover you to drive).

your application was sent to the DVLA.

Here are some scenarios which may help

explain how this law could apply to you.

I have a medical condition that I have already

told the DVLA about. The DVLA gave me a

licence when I first declared the condition and

my condition has not changed. I have no other

new medical conditions. 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. It is important that you are satisfied that

the medical condition you have declared on your

application does not stop you from driving.

If you are unsure, check with your doctor or

healthcare professional before you make a decision.

You can also look up your condition in the ‘Assessing

fitness to drive’ guide, which you can find at

I have a medical condition that the DVLA already

knows about, but it has changed/developed

since my last application.

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. It is important that your medical condition,

as it is today, would not bar you from driving. If you

are unsure, you should check with your doctor or

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

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-