Last updated: 31 October 2026
Book your HGV / D4 medical with Dr Steve Walton, Sheffield S12: £80, 30-minute GP examination
First-ever seizure (isolated seizure)
If you've had your first seizure while awake and lost consciousness, your licence will be taken away. You can usually reapply when you've been seizure-free for 6 months and the DVLA's medical advisers are satisfied there isn't a high risk of another. If tests or clinical factors suggest a higher risk (for example a cause on the brain scan or EEG), the period is 12 months.
For licensing purposes, more than one seizure within 24 hours counts as a single event. An isolated seizure means an unprovoked seizure with no other unprovoked seizure in the previous 5 years.
Epilepsy (two or more unprovoked seizures)
You must stop driving for 12 months from your most recent seizure. That includes minor seizures without loss of consciousness, auras, absences and limb jerking. After a year seizure-free, you can reapply.
Seizures only while asleep
- If all your seizures have been while asleep, you may qualify after 12 months from the first sleep seizure, once a pattern of sleep-only seizures is established.
- If you've had both asleep and awake seizures, you may qualify if the only seizures in the past 3 years have been while asleep.
Seizures that don't affect consciousness
If the only type of seizure you've ever had leaves you fully aware and in control of your movements, you may qualify once a pattern has been established over 12 months from the first seizure. If you then have a different type of seizure, you lose this concession and must stop driving.
Changing or stopping epilepsy medicine
The DVLA advises not driving while anti-epilepsy medication is being withdrawn and for 6 months after the last dose. If a seizure happens because your doctor changed or reduced your medicine, you can reapply sooner than 12 months, once you've been back on your previous medication for 6 months and had no further seizures.
Provoked seizures
A seizure with a clear, non-recurring trigger, such as a head injury at the time or certain medical causes, may be treated as "provoked". In most cases car drivers must stop for 6 months, but each case is assessed individually. Seizures linked to alcohol or drugs follow different rules.
Dissociative (non-epileptic) seizures
For car drivers, licensing may be considered once you've been event-free for 3 months. If episodes have happened or are likely while driving, it's at least 6 months plus a specialist review.
How to tell the DVLA
Report online through GOV.UK, or fill in form FEP1. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don't tell the DVLA. You can reapply when you meet the rules above. The DVLA will let you know if you qualify. Until you hear, don't drive.
What about blackouts and faints?
Blackouts and fainting have their own DVLA rules, which depend on the cause. See GOV.UK: Blackouts and driving, and speak to your doctor.
Lorry, bus, C1 and D1 drivers
Group 2 rules are much stricter:
- Epilepsy: 10 years seizure-free without epilepsy medication, and a risk of further seizure below 2% a year.
- Single seizure: 5 years seizure-free without medication, a recent neurologist assessment and satisfactory investigations (brain imaging and EEG), with a risk no greater than 2% a year.
Lorry and bus drivers report using form FEP1V. Section 1 of the D4 form asks about seizures in detail.
While you're not driving
If you've lost your licence because of a seizure, you may be entitled to help with travel. Local councils issue disabled persons' bus passes to people refused a licence because of epilepsy, and you may be able to get a Disabled Persons Railcard. Access to Work can sometimes help with travel to work.
Support
Losing your licence is hard, especially if you need to drive for work. Your neurologist or epilepsy nurse can advise, and charities such as Epilepsy Action and the Epilepsy Society have driving guides and helplines.
Book your HGV / D4 medical with Dr Steve Walton, Sheffield S12: £80, 30-minute GP examination
Frequently asked questions
How long after a first seizure can I drive a car?
Usually 6 months seizure-free, if DVLA's medical advisers decide there's no high risk of another seizure. If tests suggest a higher risk, it's 12 months.
How long do I have to be seizure-free to drive with epilepsy?
For a car licence, 12 months from your most recent seizure, including minor seizures and auras.
Do I need to tell the DVLA about a seizure?
Yes. You must stop driving immediately and tell DVLA, online or with form FEP1 for a car licence, or FEP1V for a lorry or bus licence.
Can I drive if my seizures only happen in my sleep?
Possibly. If all seizures have been asleep for 12 months from the first, or the only seizures in the past 3 years were asleep, DVLA may issue a licence.
Can I drive an HGV with epilepsy?
Only after 10 years seizure-free without epilepsy medication, and a risk of further seizures assessed as below 2% a year.
Sources (GOV.UK / DVLA)
Medical standards checked against DVLA's Assessing fitness to drive (November 2025 edition) and GOV.UK guidance, October 2026. Always check GOV.UK for the latest rules.