The DVLA is prioritising driving licence applications made on employment grounds, minister Justin Madders has confirmed, as waiting times for medical cases remain high.
There has been a significant surge in driving licence renewals across the UK, with delays leaving some people at risk of being unable to get behind the wheel while their application is being processed.
Measures to Speed Up Applications
The Department for Transport - which represents the DVLA in parliament - has announced four measures it has introduced to speed up the process. These include rolling out text notifications for drivers, establishing a new casework system, launching a digital portal and taking on additional staff.
The main issue causing hold-ups relates to driving licence applications that involve medical conditions. These need more thorough checks than a standard application, and large numbers of people are required to submit them.
The RAC reports that more than two million people with a medical condition are registered with the DVLA.
Group 2 Licence Renewal Rules
A group 2 licence for a lorry or bus driver is only valid for five years or until the age of 45 - whichever comes first. After the age of 65, they must be renewed on an annual basis.
A medical expert at the DVLA has confirmed that the majority of applications are approved. You may be issued with a short-term licence if you have a condition that officials consider 'progressive' because it deteriorates over time – such as epilepsy, dementia and diabetes.
Dr Nick Jenkins, who has worked with the DVLA on such assessments, has said: "We may issue a short-term licence (1 to 5 years) if you've got a medical condition considered to be progressive. This is because we'll need to assess the ongoing stability of the condition or consider the risk of recurrence of an episode being below a certain threshold."
Parliamentary Question and Response
Reform's Ashfield MP Lee Anderson put a parliamentary question to the government to ask about "recent correspondence it has had with the DVLA regarding waiting times for driving licence applications involving medical conditions." The Department for Transport has now issued its response.
Speaking on Friday, November 6, minister Justin Madders confirmed that officials were working to prioritise applications made on employment grounds. Official documents reveal that there are 280,000 lorry drivers across the UK whose roles are vital in keeping shops and businesses supplied - yet they require swift licence renewals to prevent costly delays, with the medical standards for this particular group being considerably tougher.
Mr Madders said: "Ministers receive regular updates from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on the timescales for driving licence applications involving medical conditions. There has been sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical driving licence applications which has increased waiting times for some customers. The Government recognises that further improvement is needed and plans are in place to address this.
"To improve its services, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and launched a new medical services portal which means that most customers can now apply online through the DVLA's driver and vehicles account. These enhancements alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with these applications and answer telephone calls will deliver real improvements for customers."
Waiting Times and Next Steps
In September 2026, the average time to make a licensing decision for Group 2 vocational licences where a medical investigation was involved was 55.8 working days. When the DVLA is made aware that an application is required for employment purposes, the application will be prioritised where possible.
The average waiting time to reach a licensing decision in medical cases stood at 62.3 working days so far this year. Yet the 55.8 day figure — equivalent to nearly two months — remains higher than all but one month throughout 2025, making it the third longest monthly figure recorded so far this year.
Drivers under the age of 70 are required to renew their licence every decade. Beyond that age, the renewal period drops to every three years.
To notify the DVLA about a medical condition, visit the government website. Certain conditions can impact your ability to drive safely, including heart conditions (such as atrial fibrillation and pacemakers), glaucoma, syncope (fainting), diabetes or taking insulin, epilepsy, strokes, and sleep apnoea.
