Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available to people facing financial hardship as a result of delays in the processing of medical driving licence renewals by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has seen sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical licence applications which has led to increased waiting times for some customers. In the interests of road safety, the DVLA must be satisfied that the required medical standards are met before a driving licence is issued.

To improve its services to customers, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and launched a new medical services portal, so the majority of customers can now apply online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account. This was launched on 31 March 2026. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with these applications and answer telephone calls, are delivering real improvements in services and turnaround times for customers.

The DVLA encourages drivers with a medical condition to apply for their driving licence renewal as early as possible and sends reminders 90 days before the driving licence is due to expire. Where an applicant tells the DVLA that they need their licence for employment and other urgent purposes, these applications are prioritised where possible.

The DVLA will also consider claims for financial compensation on a case by case basis and will make payments to cover reasonable and necessary actual financial losses incurred depending on the evidence submitted to support the claim.