Meds and driving

Jibbajabba

Depression is only a notifiable condition if it affects concentration/agitation/suicidal thought etc. so just taking anti-d’s isn’t cause necessarily. The following shows the details of notifiable conditions.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/media/pdf/medical/aagv1.pdf

Chapter 4, pages 34/35 deals with psychiatric disorders.

The OP has a notifiable condition due to the anti-psychotics as at least, at times, their medication affects their ability to drive. The advantage of notifying DVLA is once they have cleared you to drive for your condition and medication then there is no problem with insurance as you just say you have a notify-able condition but DVLA know and they are fine with it (usually).

Failure to notify DVLA can result in a £1000 fine and a lot of trouble including court if you are involved in an accident. Someone recently was convicted for death by dangerous driving because they failed to notify for a deteriorating eye condition even though it was a genuine ‘accident’ (though due to their condition).

Results of review by the DVLA Medical Division can result in a time restricted license (1-3 years), no change or, unfortunately, revocation if appropriate. The process for notifying and filling out a simple form are straight forward. Unless you have been told by a doctor to not drive, you are allowed to drive until DVLA professionals make a decision otherwise.

How to notify information and what follows can be found here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/DG_4022415

Cover yourself OP, notify DVLA, it won’t stop you driving unless they notify you differently (3 months down the line). Your insurance is covered after that as stated above.

You pay your insurance until you have an accident, then suddenly you are not covered...

dmg24

lilac_lady wrote: »

There must be literally millions of drivers who take antidepressants so are they invalidating their insurance by not telling the company?

Also does everyone with a heart attack, diabetis, stroke etc tell their insurance company? Are they all uninsured too?

It depends on what drugs are being taken. The modern ADs have relatively few side effects, but some of the older ones have some quite significant side effects. Anti psychotics and mood stabilisers are even worse.

Having said that, I would take advice from my GP or specialist as to whether I need to advise insurers/ DVLA etc. I would not assume either way.

slh4283

Generally, as long as the dvla and your doctor say you are ok to drive the insurers are unlikely to need to know.

Oldernotwiser

slh4283 wrote: »

Generally, as long as the dvla and your doctor say you are ok to drive the insurers are unlikely to need to know.

If you have to make a claim the insurers will try any trick in the book not to pay it. Not having informed them of a relevant medical condition would be just the sort of thing they'd love.