Guidance

Renal and respiratory disorders: assessing fitness to drive

Advice for medical professionals to follow when assessing drivers with renal and respiratory disorders.

✘- Must not drive ! - May continue to drive subject to medical advice and/or notifying DVLA ✓- May continue to drive and need not notify DVLA

Chronic renal failure

Group 1 Car and motorcycle Group 2 Bus and lorry
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or haemodialysis ! - May drive and need not notify DVLA unless the condition is associated with a disability likely to affect driving and/or significant electrolyte disturbance (likely to result in clinical symptoms). ! - May drive and need not notify DVLA unless the condition is associated with a disability likely to affect driving and/or significant electrolyte disturbance (likely to result in clinical symptoms).

Individual assessment is required for relicensing.

All other renal disorders

Group 1 Car and motorcycle Group 2 Bus and lorry
  ! - May drive and need not notify DVLA unless the condition is associated with a disability likely to affect driving. ! - May drive and need not notify DVLA unless the condition is associated with a disability or any significant symptoms likely to affect driving.

Disorders of respiratory function - including asthma and COPD

Group 1 Car and motorcycle Group 2 Bus and lorry
  ! - May drive and need not notify DVLA unless any complications are associated with:

■ cough syncope
■ disabling dizziness
■ fainting
or
■ loss of consciousness

Such sequelae need reference to requirements under ‘Transient loss of consciousness’ (see Chapter 1, neurological disorders). See also cough syncope in Chapter 1.
! - May drive and need not notify DVLA unless any complications are associated with:

■ cough syncope
■ disabling dizziness
■ fainting
or
■ loss of consciousness

Such sequelae need reference to requirements under ‘Transient loss of consciousness’ (see Chapter 1, neurological disorders). See also cough syncope in Chapter 1.

Obstructive sleep apnoea

Refer to guidance concerning this condition under excessive sleepiness Chapter 8, miscellaneous conditions.

Updates to this page

Published 11 March 2016
Last updated 26 September 2025 show all updates
  1. Removal of the section regarding Primary lung carcinoma

  2. Changes to the style of the text.

  3. Content updated.

  4. First published.

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