Psychiatric disorders: assessing fitness to drive
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-07)

Advice for medical professionals to follow when assessing drivers with psychiatric disorders.

Anxiety or depression – mild to moderate

If there’s persistent alcohol or drug misuse or dependence, see this guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/drug-or-alcohol-misuse-or-dependence-assessing-fitness-to-drive).

If psychiatric illness has been associated with substance misuse, continued misuse contraindicates driving or licensing.

Severe anxiety or depression

Effects of severe illness are of greater importance for their relevance to driving than medication – see Appendix F (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/appendices-assessing-fitness-to-drive#appendix-f-important-notes-concerning-psychiatric-disorders) for the additional considerations on medication.

Psychotic disorder – including acute episode

If there’s persistent alcohol or drug misuse or dependence, see this guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/drug-or-alcohol-misuse-or-dependence-assessing-fitness-to-drive).

If psychiatric illness has been associated with substance misuse, continued misuse contraindicates driving or licensing.

Hypomania or mania

If there’s persistent alcohol or drug misuse or dependence, see this guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/drug-or-alcohol-misuse-or-dependence-assessing-fitness-to-drive).

If psychiatric illness has been associated with substance misuse, continued misuse contraindicates driving or licensing.

For Group 2 bus and lorry driving, in both stable and unstable conditions:
- the minimum effective dosage of any antipsychotic medication should be sought, in line with good practice - drug tolerability should be optimal and not associated with any deficits that might impair driving, such as to alertness, concentration or motor performance
- established illness with a history to suggest a likelihood of relapse: the risk of this must be considered low
Schizophrenia – and other chronic relapsing/remitting disorders

If there’s persistent alcohol or drug misuse or dependence, see this guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/drug-or-alcohol-misuse-or-dependence-assessing-fitness-to-drive).

If psychiatric illness has been associated with substance misuse, continued misuse contraindicates driving or licensing.

Neurological developmental conditions

Cognitive impairment (not mild dementia)

If there’s persistent alcohol or drug misuse or dependence, see this guidance (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/drug-or-alcohol-misuse-or-dependence-assessing-fitness-to-drive).

If psychiatric illness has been associated with substance misuse, continued misuse contraindicates driving or licensing.

Dementia – and/or any organic syndrome affecting cognitive functioning

Learning disability

Definition of severe learning disability followed by DVLA

Significantly below average general intellectual functioning, accompanied by severe limitations in adaptive functioning in at least 2 of these areas:
- communication
- functional academic skills
- self-care
- work
- home-living
- leisure
- social/interpersonal skills
- health and safety
- self-direction
Behavioural disorders – including post-head injury

Personality disorders