DVLA Medical FAQs

Before your appointment

I’ve been sent a letter to see a different DVLA doctor — can you still see me?

Yes, we can still see you — this happens commonly, as appointments with some providers can be difficult to get. Once you’ve booked your appointment with us, make sure you contact the DVLA promptly to tell them your appointment details, so they can send the correct paperwork through to us.

Do I need to do anything with the DVLA before I book with you?

Yes — The DVLA needs to have written to you naming an approved doctor, it doesn’t have to be our doctor but you need to be at this stage in process to book.

What’s my “DVLA reference number” (“M” number) and where do I find it?

It’s the reference on the correspondence the DVLA has sent you about this medical (sometimes called a medical reference). It starts with the letter M. You’ll need this, along with your date of birth, to book online — we use it to match your appointment to the right paperwork when we’re liaising with the DVLA on your behalf.

How far in advance should I book?

As early as you can once you have your DVLA letter requesting you see a named doctor — we need at least 5 days’ notice to have a realistic chance of getting your paperwork sorted with the DVLA in time, and appointments run to a fixed clinic-day timetable rather than being available every day, so early booking also just gets you a better choice of time.

Will you chase the DVLA for my paperwork if it hasn’t arrived at the clinic?

Yes. If your paperwork still hasn’t come through in the days before your appointment, we contact the DVLA to chase it on your behalf so you don’t have to. You don’t need to do anything for this — just make sure the reference number and date of birth you gave us at booking are correct, since that’s what we quote to the DVLA.

What should I bring on the day?

Photo ID (or follow the instructions in your letter from the DVLA if you don’t have any), and any DVLA correspondence you’ve received about the medical (your D27, D1 acknowledgement, or the doctor-nomination letter), even if you’ve already given us the reference number when booking.

The alcohol medical (CDT blood test)

Why do I need to see a doctor before I can drive again?

If you were disqualified from driving because of a drink-driving offence and you were significantly over the limit, refused to give a specimen, or you’ve been disqualified twice for drink-driving within 10 years, the DVLA classes you as a “high risk offender.” Before it will give you a new licence, it needs independent medical evidence that you don’t have an alcohol problem that would make you unsafe to drive. That’s what this appointment is for — the DVLA doesn’t accept a letter from your own GP for this; it has to be an independent medical examination by a doctor it recognises for the purpose.

How do I know if I’m classed as a high risk offender?

Broadly, you’re a high risk offender if you were disqualified for driving (or being in charge of a vehicle) with a reading at or above 2.5 times the legal limit (87.5mcg/100ml breath, 200mg/100ml blood, or 267.5mg/100ml urine), for refusing to provide a specimen, or for a second drink-driving-type disqualification within 10 years. Courts don’t automatically tell you this applies to you — the DVLA writes to confirm it, usually with form D27 sent roughly 90 days before your ban ends. If you’re not sure, check your paperwork or ask the DVLA directly.

What does the appointment actually involve?

A short interview covering your drinking history and current habits, a brief physical examination, and a blood sample for the CDT test.

What is a CDT blood test actually measuring?

CDT stands for Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin, a biomarker in blood that rises with sustained heavy drinking and falls again during a period of abstinence or genuinely low consumption. The DVLA moved to CDT some years ago because it produces fewer false positives than the older liver-function markers (GGT, MCV, ALT/AST). Results are banded green/amber/red against published cut-offs, with the exact thresholds depending on whether you have a documented history of alcohol misuse or dependence rather than misuse alone.

Do I need to stop drinking before the appointment?

We can’t give you medical advice on this in the abstract since it depends on your own history and what the DVLA’s decision letter (if you’ve had one before) says you need to demonstrate — but as a general rule, CDT reflects drinking over the past few weeks, so recent heavy drinking close to the appointment is very likely to show up in the result. If you’ve been told you need a period of abstinence or controlled drinking, that period needs to have genuinely happened before you book the test, not just before you get the result.

The drugs medical (urine test)

Why has the DVLA asked about drug use as well as, or instead of, alcohol?

Unlike alcohol, there isn’t a separate formal “high risk offender” scheme for drug driving. Instead, where the DVLA’s own enquiries suggest drug misuse or dependence is or has been part of your history, it can ask for an independent medical assessment and a urine sample as part of deciding whether to restore your licence — this is decided case by case rather than automatically. Your letter will tell you whether this applies to you and which sample (blood, urine, or both) the DVLA needs; if it isn’t clear, contact the DVLA on 0300 790 6806 before booking, so you book the right appointment with us.

What does the drugs medical involve?

The same format as the alcohol medical — an interview covering your history and current use, a brief physical examination, and a sample, in this case urine rather than blood. The urine sample has to be witnessed.

Do I need to stop taking drugs before my medical?

As with the alcohol medical, we can’t give you medical advice , since it depends on your own history and what the DVLA’s letter says you need to show — DVLA guidance sets out minimum drug-free periods it expects to see before it will consider restoring a licence.

On the day

How long does the appointment take?

Appointments are usually 15 minutes, which covers the interview, brief examination and taking the sample.

Will it hurt / is a blood test difficult?

It’s a standard venous blood draw, the same as a routine blood test at a GP surgery — a small sample from a vein in your arm.

Can I bring in a urine sample rather than give a sample on the day?

The sample has to be independently witnessed so it is not possible to bring a sample with you. Follow the guidelines on the letter you received from the DVLA to avoid problems with the quality of the sample.

Is the medical examination itself the same for both test types?

The interview and physical examination are broadly the same regardless of whether you’re giving a blood or urine sample; only the sample collected differs.

Can someone come with me?

You’re welcome to bring someone with you to the venue, though the assessment itself — the interview and examination — is conducted with you alone, as it needs to reflect your own account.

After the appointment

When will I get the result, and who sees it?

The sample goes off to the DVLA appointed laboratory for analysis, which typically takes about a week. The result and the doctor’s report go to the DVLA, not to you directly — the DVLA is the one making the licensing decision, with the doctor providing the medical evidence rather than a pass/fail verdict themselves.

I contacted the DVLA and they said they haven’t received my paperwork yet — what should I do?

We send your report to the DVLA within 24 hours of your appointment. The DVLA can take some time to process incoming paperwork and attach it to your case once it arrives, so a short delay on their end doesn’t necessarily mean we haven’t sent it. If after 2 weeks the DVLA is still telling you they have not received it, get in touch with us and we’ll resend it.

How long does the DVLA take to decide after that?

This seems to vary a lot, the DVLA says aims to decide straightforward cases within about 15 working days of having everything it needs. If it needs to make further enquiries — for example, contacting your GP — it can take up to around 90 working days. If you are reapplying for your licence you usually cannot drive while you’re waiting for that decision, even once your disqualification period has technically ended, so it’s worth building this time into your plans rather than assuming your licence will be ready the day your ban finishes.

What happens if my result comes back outside the normal range?

That’s a decision for the DVLA, not for us — the doctor’s role is to report accurately, not to make the licensing decision. If the DVLA isn’t satisfied, it will write to you explaining what it needs to see (typically a further defined period of abstinence or controlled drinking, sometimes with supporting reports from your own GP) before you can reapply. You do have a right of appeal to a magistrates’ court (or sheriff court in Scotland) if your application is refused or your licence revoked.

Can I ask for a copy of my results?

Speak to the doctor about accessing your own records — but bear in mind the DVLA is the one who communicates the licensing outcome to you, so you’ll hear the actual decision from them, not from us.

Booking and cost

How much does the appointment cost, and who pays?

It depends what the DVLA have requested and your particular circumstances. Your DVLA letter will explain if a fee is due and the fee is set by the DVLA — if a fee is due, book a “self pay” appointment. Some DVLA medicals do not require you to pay a fee. Also note that although you may have already paid the DVLA’s own separate application fee (for form D1), that is a different, unrelated cost you pay them, not us. If you’re ever unsure which applies to you, check your DVLA letter.

What if I don’t attend, or need to cancel?

Please cancel or rebook with as much notice as you can — clinic slots are limited, and once your appointment is booked, we’ve reserved a doctor’s time and, for DVLA-billed appointments, become liable for a charge whether or not you attend. Missed appointments or cancellations with under 3 days’ notice are charged at 50% of the normal fee.

I’ve lost track of my DVLA paperwork — can you tell me my current status?

We can tell you what we can see on our side (whether we’ve received anything from the DVLA about your appointment), but we’re not able to see your wider DVLA case file or application status — for anything beyond your appointment with us, contact the DVLA directly on 0300 790 6806 (Mon–Fri 8am–5:30pm, Sat 8am–1pm) or via their online contact form.

Disclaimer: this page explains the process in general terms and isn’t medical or legal advice. The DVLA makes the actual licensing decision, and requirements can change — always check your own DVLA correspondence, or contact the DVLA (Drivers Medical Enquiries, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1TU; 0300 790 6806), for anything specific to your case.

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