DVLA Changes Could Affect Leasing Eligibility

DVLA Changes Could Affect Leasing Eligibility

The DVLA has issued a number of changes to its “assessing fitness to drive” guidelines, which could result in motorists losing their licence. In less extreme cases, fines and penalties for not disclosing sufficient information could be costly in terms of insurance premiums whether you own or lease your car.

Drivers have always been obliged to contact the DVLA if they develop a “notifiable” medical condition or disability after obtaining a licence to drive. This also applies if a pre-existing condition worsens, which is common with conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnoea, epilepsy and heart problems. However, the DVLA has now issued stricter criteria for what information needs to be disclosed, and has made changes to some definitions within the existing guidelines.

A failure to adhere to these new guidelines can result in a fine up to £1000, while any motorist involved in a serious accident which was caused by a medical condition the DVLA had not been notified of, could face prosecution. This could result in imprisonment, and also could result in a motorist losing their driving licence, which would impact on your ability to maintain a lease vehicle on the road, or take out a new lease.

New “assessing fitness to drive” changes

The changes introduced by the DVLA at the end of August 2024 include:

• A more precise explanation of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-related transient focal neurological episodes (brief disturbances in motor, somatosensory, visual, or language functions that can occur in patients with CAA).

• A more precise explanation of the group two standard for carotid artery stenosis.

• Updating the mandatory break from driving required following an isolated subdural haematoma without traumatic brain injury, to a minimum six-month hiatus.

• New definition and criteria for non-aneurysmal (including perimesencephalic) subarachnoid haemorrhage (bleeding into the fluid space surrounding the brain not caused by aneurysm, vascular malformation, or head injury).

• Individuals must not drive following a non-aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and are required to notify the DVLA for permissions regarding cars, motorcycles, buses, or lorries. Once clinically recovered car drivers can drive again, but bus and lorry drivers require a clear "comprehensive cerebrovascular (intercranial arterial) imaging" to be considered for relicensing after six months.

• Changes to the DVLA medical term "behaviour disorders - including post-head injury, dissociative seizures" to "behavioural disturbances including post-head injury".

• Changes to the definition of controlled drinking. This now means “when a clinician has confirmed that a patient's alcohol use disorder is being managed in such a way that it's unlikely to affect their day-to-day responsibilities”. Persistent alcohol misuse requires the DVLA to be informed and a licence may be revaluated after six months of managing their consumption or maintaining abstinence.

• Controlled drinking rules for bus and lorry operators have also changed. Driving privileges will be revoked for bus and lorry drivers for a minimum of 12 months until controlled drinking or abstinence is proven.

How these DVLA changes could affect your car leasing deal

Although eligibility for car leasing deals is mainly based on financial criteria and credit checks, of course a minimum requirement is to have a valid driving licence. If this is not the case, or you are facing possible prosecution which could result in the revoking of your licence in the future, we would expect this to be declared upon seeking a vehicle leasing deal. So contact our leasing team if you have any doubts about your possible eligibility for vehicle leasing deals.