Driving Licence

         The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) control the issue of driving licenses and have particular rules for those who have an ICD fitted.

          In summary, the rules for Group 1 entitlement (car and motorcycle users) are that if you have had an ICD fitted because you have had an arrhythmia, you must surrender your driving licence. You may resume driving after six months as long as you have reapplied for your licence, your ICD has not activated in that period and you are not prone to fainting. If in the subsequent period your ICD fired, and it has been confirmed by the hospital that it has given an appropriate shock, a patient will not be allowed to drive for a further period of 6 months.

           You will have to stop driving for one month following any revision of the ICD electrodes or alteration of anti-arrhythmic drug treatment. If you have had an ICD fitted for prophylactic reasons, you can return to driving within one month (you do not need to inform the DVLA). Should the ICD subsequently deliver shock therapy (except during normal clinical testing) then the usual criteria apply and the DVLA should be notified.

          It is recommended that at the earliest opportunity following implantation of an ICD, or after an ICD has given an appropriate shock that people should telephone the DVLA Drivers Medical Group (0870 600 0301) so that the correct procedure can be explained to them. Recent experiences have shown that this group can be very understanding and accommodating. This is better than the patient doing nothing as it may well be some time before the cardiologist has reported the incident back to the DVLA, (who would in any case then write to the patient and ask for the licence to be returned). If you make phone contact with the DVLA soon after the event, the patient will be asked to return their licence (or both parts, the paper and the plastic, if you have the later photocard version) to the DVLA for safe keeping, and you will be instructed not to drive for 6 months. This should be accompanied by a "Declaration of Surrender for Medical Reasons" form which may be downloaded from the DVLA web site.

           To reapply for your driving licence you will need to complete an Application for a Driving Licence form D1 obtainable from a Post Office or the DVLA, and a medical fitness to drive form DEFIB1. Click here to download that form. This may be started no more than 2 months before the period of no driving has expired. The re-application does not cost anything, but it can take some time. Unless the patient does this personally, they will not automatically get their licence returned.

            When the 6 months embargo is nearly up, it is well worth the patient ringing the DVLA again to check the progress of their licence application. The DVLA will be able say whether they have already sent a form to the Cardiologist or GP for signature of fitness to drive. Sometimes the DVLA may not have done this, but they will then commence the procedure. They may say that provided the cardiologist/GP is happy etc., patients can recommence driving once the 6 months is up, even though their licence has not actually been returned. It behoves the patient, however, to obtain this assurance from their medical advisor. The licence that has been handed in to them will only be returned after the form duly signed has been returned by the medical expert and this can take 3-4 weeks. On some occasions a medical expert may not immediately return such signed forms for a variety of reasons. Often the DVLA may have to resubmit such forms to the hospital if they have been mislaid by the medical staff and faxing is used to save time.  It is useful for patients to have such fax information to advise the DVLA.  Also, within the DVLA, it can take a week or so after receipt of any letter before it is actioned. No temporary licence is issued, but the DVLA will have it on file a record that they have told a patient that he/she is allowed to drive again. The DVLA may issue you a letter confirming you have made an application for a driving licence and confirming that the law allows you to drive whilst your application is being dealt with provided that:

• You drive in accordance with your previous licence (the onus is on you to ensure that you have the correct entitlement)
• Your application is valid (and was made less than a year ago)
• You have held a driving licence before
• You are not disqualified by a court.
• You are not barred from holding a licence for medical reasons. (If you are in doubt, you should consult your Doctor and if still in doubt contact the DVLA)
• You drive under the conditions of the licence applied for such as those applicable to provisional licence's.

           Should a patient who has commenced driving again, but is still waiting for the DVLA to return their licence, and is then required to produce their licence (such as by the police), they will have to ring the DVLA for confirmation that they are, indeed, permitted to drive. All records of correspondence and calls are on file at the DVLA. If you have a letter from the DVLA explaining the law, it is advised you keep this in your car. The key to this process is the personal contact by telephoning. Often you have to wait to be connected, but experience shows that the advice and service has always been accurate and sympathetic.  When a licence has been returned, there is an accompanying letter from the DVLA that sets out the conditions that need to be followed by the patient in order to recommence driving. The whole process of getting a licence returned can therefore take several weeks.

           For further information, including other group entitlements, please refer to the DVLA publication "At a glance guide to the medical standards of fitness to drive"

           It is also advisable to contact your Motor Insurance Company notifying them of your ICD.

Seat belts.

          Some patients with an ICD may question whether an exemption can be obtained for  wearing a seat belt as the diagonal strap could be resting on the ICD placement site. The DVLA make it clear that such a decision is purely up to the patients Medical Practitioner. For further information, see the DVLA web site and a Guidance for Medical Practioners booklet advising medical practitioners. The latter does emphasise the point that it is possible to obtain seat belt adjusters that will move the belt away from the area of the ICD implant rather than not wear a seat belt. This enables you to still receive the obvious benefits of wearing a seat belt rather than not wearing one.

          One of our members, Chris, has researched the availability of seat belt adjusters and advises that the Clunk Clip product is no longer available. However another manufacturer (Carpoint) do make a “Belt Clips” and you may be able to find some in car accessory shops. If you do have difficulty in sourcing them, Chris has kindly offered to get them from a local shop that has some in stock. Please e-mail Chris for details.

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