Do I need a dvla medical after drink driving ban?

Do I need to have a DVLA medical in order to get my driving licence after being disqualified for drink driving?

Only those classed as ‘high risk offenders’ will need to take and pass a DVLA medical before a driving licence will be issued to them after their disqualification has ended.

You will be classed as a high risk offender if:

  1. You have been disqualified by order of a court for having a proportion of alcohol in your body that equalled or exceeded:
    • 87.5 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, or
    • 200 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood, or
    • 267.5 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine; or
  2. You have been disqualified by order of a court for failing, without reasonable excuse, to provide a breath, blood or urine sample when required to do so; or
  3. You have been disqualified by order of a court for failing, without reasonable excuse, to give permission for a laboratory test to be carried out on a sample of blood that was taken when your were incapable of consenting; or
  4. You have been disqualified by order of a court on two or more occasions within a 10 year period under section 4 (driving or being in charge when under the influence of drink or drugs) or section 5 (driving or being in charge with alcohol concentration above the legal limit) of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

DVLA Medical Examination

Sentencing courts do not automatically inform someone that they are a high risk offender. The DVLA should notify you in writing, after your court case, that you are classed as a high risk offender.

Those classed as high risk offenders can submit their application for a new driving licence up to 90 days before their disqualification is due to end.

You can find out the date your disqualification ends by viewing your driving record online.

It is recommended that driving licence applications are submitted as soon as possible due to the length of time the DVLA medical process can take.

CDT Test