Dementia and Driving UK: When to Stop and What Families Can Do

The legal position: what the law requires

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Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) medical conditions guidance, anyone diagnosed with dementia in England, Scotland or Wales has a legal duty to inform the DVLA immediately after diagnosis. In Northern Ireland, the equivalent body is the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA).

This is not optional. It applies even if:

1. The person believes their driving is unaffected
2. The dementia is at an early stage
3. No symptoms affecting driving are yet apparent
4. The person intends to stop driving voluntarily in the near future

Failure to notify the DVLA can result in a fine of up to £1,000. It also invalidates car insurance, which means driving without valid insurance, itself a criminal offence. If an accident occurs while the person is uninsured and has failed to disclose their diagnosis, the consequences are significantly more serious.

The person must also notify their car insurer immediately after diagnosis. Insurers who are not informed may void the policy entirely, even for incidents unrelated to the dementia diagnosis.

What happens after notifying the DVLA

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Once the DVLA receives notification of a dementia diagnosis, it follows a standard process:

During the DVLA review period, the person can usually continue driving unless their doctor has advised otherwise. If a doctor advises stopping immediately, that advice must be followed even before the DVLA makes its decision.

Warning signs that dementia is affecting driving

Families often notice the signs before the person with dementia does. The following are indicators that driving ability may have become unsafe, regardless of what stage of the diagnosis process has been reached:

How to raise the conversation about stopping driving

This is where many families get stuck. The person with dementia may have no insight into how their driving has changed, may become angry or distressed when the subject is raised, and may interpret the conversation as an attack on their independence rather than a concern for their safety.

Approaches that work

1. Raise it early, not in crisis. The best time to discuss driving and dementia is shortly after diagnosis, framed as planning for the future rather than as a response to a specific incident. A conversation about "what we will do when driving becomes harder" is less threatening than "your driving is dangerous and you need to stop."
2. Use a third party. Many families find it significantly less damaging to the relationship if the conversation is led by the GP, a memory clinic nurse, or a dementia specialist. Asking the doctor to raise driving at the next appointment removes the family from the position of being the person taking something away.
3. Suggest a Driving Mobility assessment as a neutral solution. Frame the assessment not as "we think you are dangerous" but as "this will give us an independent, expert view of how you are doing, which is better than us guessing." Many families find this approach defuses the conflict because the decision is made by professionals, not by the family.
4. Focus on safety for others, not just for them. People who resist accepting their own limitations sometimes respond more strongly to the possibility of harming a pedestrian, a cyclist, or another driver. Framing the concern in terms of protecting others can reach people who dismiss concerns about their own safety.
5. Acknowledge what driving means to them. Before talking about stopping, acknowledge what driving represents. Freedom, independence, the ability to see friends, to shop, to feel in control. Acknowledging the loss before discussing it helps the person feel heard rather than simply overridden.

Practical steps alongside the conversation

- Research alternative transport options before raising the subject, so you can offer concrete solutions alongside the concern
- Identify which journeys matter most and how each one could be covered by another means
- Consider whether a Motability vehicle (driven by a family member) might bridge some of the gap in independence

What to do if a parent refuses to stop driving

This is one of the most distressing situations in dementia care. If a person continues to drive despite being unsafe and refuses to notify the DVLA or stop, families have specific routes available.

Step 1: Contact the GP

The GP has a duty of confidentiality but also a duty to protect public safety. Under General Medical Council guidance, a GP who believes a patient is driving unsafely and refuses to notify the DVLA can disclose relevant medical information to the DVLA themselves, without the patient's consent. The doctor must tell the patient afterwards that they have done this. This is uncomfortable for all involved, but it exists precisely for situations like this.

Step 2: Write to the DVLA directly

Family members can also write directly and confidentially to the DVLA expressing concern about a specific driver. The DVLA will then initiate its own investigation. The letter should include:

- The driver's full name and date of birth
- The vehicle registration if known
- Specific examples of dangerous driving you have witnessed, with dates where possible
- Confirmation that the person has been diagnosed with dementia

Write to: Drivers' Medical Enquiries, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1TU.

Step 3: Practical measures where necessary

In some cases, families take practical steps to make driving impossible while trying to resolve the situation through the official channels above. This includes asking the garage to report a fault and retain the vehicle for inspection, removing car keys, or disabling the vehicle. These approaches are distressing and can damage relationships. They should only be considered where the risk to safety is immediate and other routes have failed or are too slow.

After driving stops: supporting the person through the transition

Stopping driving is a significant loss. For many people with dementia it represents the end of independence, and the grief around it is real. The transition is easier when families plan for it in advance and actively work to replace what driving provided, not just the journeys but the sense of autonomy.

Practical alternatives to explore:

- Community transport schemes run by local councils or Age UK, offering door-to-door transport for medical appointments, shopping, and social visits
- Volunteer driver schemes organised through faith communities, charities, or local councils in many areas
- Motability scheme for people receiving PIP enhanced mobility component, where a family carer drives on their behalf
- Taxi accounts or apps set up by family members and controlled by them, so the person can still travel with some independence
- Blue Badge application, which may be available for people with dementia and significantly improves access to transport arranged by others

FAQ: dementia and driving UK

Does a dementia diagnosis mean you have to stop driving immediately?

No. A diagnosis creates a legal duty to inform the DVLA, but does not automatically revoke the licence. The DVLA reviews each case individually based on medical evidence and, where necessary, a driving assessment. Many people in the early stages of dementia continue to drive legally for a period after diagnosis, on a restricted licence that is reviewed annually. The person can usually continue driving during the review period unless their doctor advises otherwise.

How do you notify the DVLA about a dementia diagnosis?

Complete form CG1, available online at gov.uk/dementia-and-driving, or call the DVLA Drivers' Medical Enquiries line on 0300 790 6806 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm, Saturday 8am to 1pm). The DVLA will then write to the person and request consent to obtain medical information from their GP and any relevant specialists. The car insurer must also be informed separately and directly.

What is a Driving Mobility assessment and should I request one?

A Driving Mobility assessment is an independent evaluation conducted at one of 20 approved centres across the UK. It is run by an occupational therapist and an advanced driving instructor. It includes cognitive and vision screening, reaction time testing, and an on-road drive in a dual-control vehicle. It is not a test to pass or fail. Its purpose is to provide an objective picture of current driving ability. Families often find it useful precisely because it removes the family from the position of making the call: the decision comes from professionals, not from a son or daughter. The DVLA may request one, or the person or family can request one independently through drivingmobility.org.uk.

What if my parent refuses to notify the DVLA?

If the person with dementia refuses to notify the DVLA and continues driving, both the GP and family members can write directly to the DVLA in confidence. The GP can disclose medical information without the patient's consent where public safety is at risk, under General Medical Council guidance. Family members can write directly describing specific dangerous driving incidents they have witnessed. The DVLA will then conduct its own investigation. The process is confidential and the DVLA will contact the police if necessary.

Can driving continue if the licence is under annual review?

Yes. A restricted licence issued for one or three years with an annual medical review condition is a valid licence. The person is legally permitted to drive under that licence until it expires or is revoked. At each review point, the DVLA reassesses based on updated medical evidence. If at any point between reviews the doctor advises stopping, that advice must be followed immediately regardless of the licence validity date.

Does a GP have to inform the DVLA about a patient with dementia?

GPs do not routinely report to the DVLA without the patient's knowledge. Medical confidentiality applies. However, if a GP believes a patient is continuing to drive unsafely and is refusing to self-report, General Medical Council guidance permits disclosure to the DVLA in the public interest. The GP must inform the patient that they have done this. In practice, most GPs try to persuade the patient to self-report before taking this step, and involve the family in the conversation where the patient consents to this.

What happens if the person drives after the licence has been revoked?

Driving after licence revocation is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. There is no valid insurance, meaning any accident creates personal financial liability for all damage and injury caused. Police can stop and prosecute the driver. If a family member knows that their relative is driving without a valid licence and does not act to stop it, they may face difficult questions about their own role if an accident occurs. Contact the police non-emergency line (101) if you are aware that someone is driving without a valid licence due to dementia.

Can someone with dementia appeal a DVLA decision to revoke their licence?

Yes. A formal appeal against licence revocation must be submitted to the Magistrates' Court in England and Wales within six months of the revocation letter being sent. In Northern Ireland, the appeal goes to a Clerk of Petty Sessions within three months. The person must not drive while the appeal is being heard unless the court specifically grants permission to do so. Legal advice from a solicitor specialising in driving law is strongly recommended before lodging an appeal.

Related guides

• Dementia care in nursing homes What specialist dementia care involves and what to look for in a facility
• Am I legally responsible for my elderly parents? What adult children are and are not legally obliged to do under UK law
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards explained The legal framework that protects people with dementia in care settings
• Attendance Allowance for dementia Financial support available once State Pension age is reached and how to claim
• PIP for people with dementia under 65 Why younger people with dementia must claim PIP rather than Attendance Allowance

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