Driving with Diabetes
Being a diabetic does not mean you cannot drive a car or a motorbike. Given that your diabetes is well controlled, and you doctor states that you are safe to drive, there is no reason why you cannot have or hang on to a driving licence.
Nonetheless, you do need to let your insurance company and the Driving and Vehicle licence Agency (DVLA).
Who do I need to inform?
- No matter how your diabetes is treated, you must by law inform your
insurance company that you have diabetes.
- If your diabetes is treated with insulin or tablets, you must inform
the DVLA.
- If your diabetes is treated with tablets or insulin and you are applying
for a driving licence for the first time, you also must inform the DVLA.
- You must inform the DVLA if any diabetes complications develop that
may affect your ability to drive safely.
- If you fail to inform the DVLA or your insurance company then your driving
insurance will be invalid.
- You do not need to tell the DVLA if you are treated by diet alone. However, if you start to take tablets, or change from tablets to insulin treatment, then they must be informed.
Informing the DVLA
- If you are applying for licence, answer “YES” to the
question if you have diabetes.
- If you have a driving licence, write a letter to the DVLA telling
them about your diabetes and how it is treated. If you are treated with
insulin, you will be sent another form (Diabetic 1) asking for more information.
This includes the name and address of your General Practitioner or hospital
doctor. They will also ask for your permission to approach these people
directly, if necessary, to obtain information on your fitness to drive.
This does not mean, however, that you will be refused a licence.
- If your diabetes is treated with insulin, a driving licence will
be issued for one, two or three years, and will you allow you to drive
a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes. When this licence expires you will receive
a reminder to renew the licence and you may also be sent another Diabetic
1 form to complete with more up-to-date information. Renewals are free
of charge.
- If your diabetes is treated with tablets, you are not always sent the Diabetic 1 form. In general, you will be issued with a full driving licence, providing that you do not have any other medical condition that might prevent this. There is a charge for renewing this licence after the age of 70. This is the same as for anyone else in the UK who does not have diabetes.
Driving safely
You should not drive if you;
- Have difficulty recognising the early signs of hypoglycaemia.
- Have problems with your eyesight, which are not corrected with glasses.
- Have numbness or weakness in your limbs.
- Have been drinking alcohol.
If you are unsure about any of these you can talk to your diabetes team for more advice.
Try to avoid low blood sugars while driving by:
- Always carry carbohydrate (sugary) food in your car.
- Not driving for more than 2 hours without eating a snack.
- Not missing, or delaying, a meal or snack.
- Checking your blood sugar levels before and during your car journey.
- Carrying identification both on yourself and in your car - you should identify that you have diabetes
If you feel a hypo while driving
- STOP driving as soon as it is safe to do so
- Remove the ignition key and move into the passenger seat. This is to avoid any suggestion that you may be "under the influence of drugs" whilst in charge of a car.
- IMMEDIATELY take glucose tablets, a sugary drink or sweets.
- Follow this by taking a longer acting carbohydrate e.g. biscuits or crisps.
- Check your blood sugar.
Do not resume driving for 40 minutes after blood sugar is above 4mmols
If you have an accident whilst you are hypoglycaemic, you should get legal advice and the support of your diabetes care team.
Driving for your work
Local councils issue licences for taxis and minicabs. Their policies may vary throughout the UK and it is best to check with individual councils for further information.
If your diabetes is treated with diet or diet and tablets, you may hold a licence to drive either a large good vehicle (LGV) or a passenger-carrying vehicle (PCV). If your diabetes is treated with insulin, you will be unable to hold either and LGV or a PCV licence. If your diabetes is treated with insulin, you will automatically lose the entitlement to drive vehicles within the C1/C1+E class. This includes vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes with a trailer, up to a combined weight of 8.25 tonnes. However, you may apply to be assessed individually for fitness to drive these vehicles.
If you are new to insulin you will not be able to make this application until your diabetes has been stabilised for one month. The Government has committed to undertaking a research programme that will examine the risks of driving and diabetes.
This will take 2-3 years to complete and may result in changes to the current legislation.
Applying for a C1/C1+E Licence
In order to apply for this licence, you must ensure that you meet the following qualifying conditions:
- No episodes of hypoglycaemia which have required assistance whilst
driving within the last 12 months. You must undertake to regularly
monitor your blood sugar levels at least twice a day and at times
relevant to your driving. If your application is successful, then
you will need to continue to monitor in this way, particularly at
times relevant to driving C1/C1+E vehicles.
- Every 12 months, you will need to arrange to be examined by a
hospital consultant who specialises in diabetes. At the time of
this examination, the consultant will need to review your blood
glucose records for the previous 3-month period.
- You must have no other medical condition which would bar you from driving these vehicles
If you are unsure whether or not you are able to apply for this licence, contact the DVLA directly (tel: 0870 60000301)
Application Pack for a C1/C1 + E Licence
The pack contains:
- Forms D1, D750 and DIABC1, which you will need to complete.
- Form D4. You will need to ask a doctor to complete this.
This is needed at the first application for the licence and at 5-yearly
intervals from the age of 45 until the age of 65, but thereafter
it is required annually.
- Once the DVLA is satisfied with the application, a medical questionnaire
(C1 exam) will be sent, and this must be completed by a consultant
specialising in diabetes. You will have to pay any consultation
fee charged for this examination. If this report is not satisfactory,
your ordinary (category B) driving licence will be re-issued for
a 1-year period with C1 entitlement.
- You will also be asked to arrange, and pay for, the completion of a medical questionnaire by a consultant specialising in diabetes, with each licence renewal.
Driving Insurance
For your car insurance to be valid, you must inform your insurance company as soon as you develop diabetes. This is required whether your diabetes is controlled by diet, tablets or insulin.
Some companies may refuse cover, impose special terms or charge an increased premium if their statistics show that drivers with diabetes are at higher risk. If this happens, it is worth challenging your insurer, especially if your diabetes is stable and well controlled. It is always worth shopping around for quotes from a number of insurers, as there can be a big difference in premiums.
Although these insurers are very sympathetic to people with diabetes, they cannot be guaranteed to be the cheapest in every case.
More Information
- Insurances
- Car Insurance
- DVLA.gov.uk
- DVLA: 0870 240 0009
- DVLA Medical Enquiries: 0870 600 0301
