How to make a complaint about the DVLA medical assessment process

DVLA Medical High Risk Offender Licence Application Timescale

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Luna2000 said:
It's like Catch 22 only bloody worse. The best thing to do is write to the DVLA telling them that whilst you have the date of your last drink recorded by your GP, the same GP will not give you 3 quarterly blood tests to confirm that your bloods are normal. I would then write every quarter of the one year abstinence to you GP telling them you want it recorded in your medical files that you have not had anything to drink between the 2 dates. I would also send this to the DVLA who will in any case write to your GP when you apply for your licence. If your GP refuses to do blood tests then this is the best you can do. If you truthfully don't drink anything for that year, then your CDT levels when they are taken will be in the 0.3 - 0.5 range.
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I had LFT’s done but I don’t really understand why, there was no question about them on the DVLA medical or the form that my GP completed so what is the point? No one is going to ask about them, just record your last drink date and apply when it’s time.
 
Liverpool25 said:
I had LFT’s done but I don’t really understand why, there was no question about them on the DVLA medical or the form that my GP completed so what is the point? No one is going to ask about them, just record your last drink date and apply when it’s time.
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Morning I wonder it may be because you abstained from drinking after your conviction so when it came to applying for your licence to be issued on completion of your ban you had already been 12 months sober? Whereas if someone fails a hro medical or has a history of alcohol dependence and does not have a date recorded in their medical notes and therefore their own GP can not confirm they have abstained for 12 months. The DVLA won’t issue the licence and they have to then prove the 12 months abstinence before they can re apply again for their licence on top of their completed ban?
 
Luna2000 said:
It's like Catch 22 only bloody worse. The best thing to do is write to the DVLA telling them that whilst you have the date of your last drink recorded by your GP, the same GP will not give you 3 quarterly blood tests to confirm that your bloods are normal. I would then write every quarter of the one year abstinence to you GP telling them you want it recorded in your medical files that you have not had anything to drink between the 2 dates. I would also send this to the DVLA who will in any case write to your GP when you apply for your licence. If your GP refuses to do blood tests then this is the best you can do. If you truthfully don't drink anything for that year, then your CDT levels when they are taken will be in the 0.3 - 0.5 range.
Click to expand...
My GP has written to DVLA stating that blood tests are not an option for me. He has now left the practice to live in another country.

Today I received form D1 from DVLA. Back in June I completed D27. In a separate envelope a refund cheque for the £90 application fee.

DVLA seem to live in 1902 when everything was done with paper. They probably get to work in a horse and carriage too!
 
lauraashton said:
My GP has written to DVLA stating that blood tests are not an option for me. He has now left the practice to live in another country.

Today I received form D1 from DVLA. Back in June I completed D27. In a separate envelope a refund cheque for the £90 application fee.

DVLA seem to live in 1902 when everything was done with paper. They probably get to work in a horse and carriage too!
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And just to muddy the waters further a different GP at the same practice seems to think the DVLA are refusing a licence because of my EYESIGHT! This is madness! I can read the numberplate at 20 metres and have an optician's prescription for my contact lenses showing i meet the required standard. I can actually read the smaller line below on the chart. There's never been any question that I reach the standard.

Bizarrely DVLA defines 20 metres as "five car lengths" without any clarification. A Smart car is 106 inches and a long-wheelbase Range Rover is nearly TWICE that at 206 inches. How long is a piece of string?
 
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Liverpool25 said:
I had LFT’s done but I don’t really understand why, there was no question about them on the DVLA medical or the form that my GP completed so what is the point? No one is going to ask about them, just record your last drink date and apply when it’s time.
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I think the big issue with the liver panel tests is that:

  1. Somebody abusing alcohol can have bloods come back in the normal range, even for years of continuous abuse. Even some patients with liver cirrhosis can have normal blood results, just suggesting the liver is compensated and coping with the damage.
  2. Somebody who has previously abused alcohol, or has hepatitis, or some other liver disease, may have abnormal liver blood test results even though they've been sober from drugs and alcohol for a long time. DVLA aren't too interested in whether somebody has liver damage, as long as it doesn't affect their driving (either still drinking heavily, or have hepatic encephalopathy, etc).
Basically none of the tests in the standard liver panel are a highly reliable indicator of current alcohol use.

CDT (or PEth, which we may get in the future!) is a strong marker for most people, including in its specificity. There's some exceptions (like for any blood test) where it may give false positives but these can be investigated and justified.
 
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sighingforlife said:
I think the big issue with the liver panel tests is that:

  1. Somebody abusing alcohol can have bloods come back in the normal range, even for years of continuous abuse. Even some patients with liver cirrhosis can have normal blood results, just suggesting the liver is compensated and coping with the damage.
  2. Somebody who has previously abused alcohol, or has hepatitis, or some other liver disease, may have abnormal liver blood test results even though they've been sober from drugs and alcohol for a long time. DVLA aren't too interested in whether somebody has liver damage, as long as it doesn't affect their driving (either still drinking heavily, or have hepatic encephalopathy, etc).
Basically none of the tests in the standard liver panel are a highly reliable indicator of current alcohol use.

CDT (or PEth, which we may get in the future!) is a strong marker for most people, including in its specificity. There's some exceptions (like for any blood test) where it may give false positives but these can be investigated and justified.
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Definitely 💯. But those people having to prove abstinence for a year with a history of medical abuse they back that up with LFTs from their GP - as we see here if the GP will actually do them.. the CDT test is more accurate hence why it’s now used at our medicals but you aren’t getting a CDT test done through your GP so they back up their years abstinence when the DVLA have asked them to prove it with regular LFTs.

This is more about abstaining proof / evidence as opposed to which is more accurate.. so many people don’t realise the need for recording proof prior to getting your licence back if you’ve had anything recorded in your MH about the dependency. They are classed as HRO do the DDRS course and when it comes to reapply you hit this problem
This forum is great because people research it and it gives the advice. I see it time and time again on another platform where they are waiting another year to show their documented sobriety due to not realising the issue with this and have to start again from scratch. I learn so much from this forum which is great.
I’m interested to know about this PEth
 
So the LFT’s are just really for your GP to check your liver status to see if you have been drinking? My point was more that I had them and gave a last date but my GP never once mentioned my LFT’s nor was there a question on the form. Since I’ve got my licence back my GP has said I don’t need LFT’s just to keep in touch if I need him which is all noted on my records. Just seems like they want you to prove it but don’t ask for this when applying for your licence.
 
Daisybeau said:
Definitely 💯. But those people having to prove abstinence for a year with a history of medical abuse they back that up with LFTs from their GP - as we see here if the GP will actually do them.. the CDT test is more accurate hence why it’s now used at our medicals but you aren’t getting a CDT test done through your GP so they back up their years abstinence when the DVLA have asked them to prove it with regular LFTs.
Click to expand...
Oh I agree. I think if you can get normal range LFTs recorded, or show improving LFTs from the recorded date of last drink, then it can help in case the CDT result comes up a little high for some reason.

I'd be interested to know from DVLA what their actual process is for satisfying themselves of the actual last drink date of an applicant based on last drink date in GP records, NHS or private LFTs, private CDTs, etc which all get sent in as evidence by some applicants.

Reading these forums it seems to me like DVLA don't have much consistency in their approach to this, especially for applicants who on their medical records have alcohol misuse, dependency, or mental health problems. I read one case on here of someone who had been sober for years, DVLA had given them their licence back a few years back, and then one 'tip off' from a disgruntled friend or family member and they had their licence revoked on medical grounds and had to start proving abstinence again and it took months to sort. Imagine you've been sober for years and you think you've got your life on the right track, but then learn that any random member of the public can get your licence taken away, which might mean losing your job or access to your children who live further away etc, basically for the rest of your life.
Daisybeau said:
This is more about abstaining proof / evidence as opposed to which is more accurate.. so many people don’t realise the need for recording proof prior to getting your licence back if you’ve had anything recorded in your MH about the dependency. They are classed as HRO do the DDRS course and when it comes to reapply you hit this problem
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Yeah on my DDRS course they gave lots of tips about the medical and drinking. The provider was actually really good and said even after the course, if you need any advice etc just give them a call. But I think some providers are better than others at this.
Daisybeau said:
I’m interested to know about this PEth
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Quite a few studies show it's more accurate, less intrusive (only requires a finger prick instead of a veinous blood draw), and goes back slightly further in time at around 28 days. I believe DVLA have signed a CDT testing contract though so not sure we'll move to PEth before that expires? Who knows though!
 
Has anyone had a medical done this year and received their licence back?

Banned for 40 months unbanned 31st December, Medical was booked for 5th Janurary and called 6th Jan DVLA confirmed all my paperwork was scanned in and had everything they need. Have called daily and I'm met with the same response that it is in the que for review by the medical team feel like I'm getting nowhere.
 
chapel said:
Has anyone had a medical done this year and received their licence back?

Banned for 40 months unbanned 31st December, Medical was booked for 5th Janurary and called 6th Jan DVLA confirmed all my paperwork was scanned in and had everything they need. Have called daily and I'm met with the same response that it is in the que for review by the medical team feel like I'm getting nowhere.
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Hello mate. Had my medical 11/1. Phoned Saturday, they have my blood result on file, but still haven't uploaded the paperwork, so you're ahead of me!
 
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Good luck mate. I received a form in March 2025 inviting me to tick a few boxes and a licence would be issued. Then I was invited to a private medical costing £105 which took place in August. Here I am now in January 2026 after letters from FOUR doctors stating I have abstained since June last year and still no licence.

Get this... one of my subsequent applications was returned because I supposedly have changed my name. WHAT? I changed my name in 1997 when I married and have not changed it since. I sent DVLA the slip they used to return my marriage certificate back in 1997.

DVLA are completely incompetent.

They are now completely ignoring all my messages.
 
sighingforlife said:
Oh I agree. I think if you can get normal range LFTs recorded, or show improving LFTs from the recorded date of last drink, then it can help in case the CDT result comes up a little high for some reason.

I'd be interested to know from DVLA what their actual process is for satisfying themselves of the actual last drink date of an applicant based on last drink date in GP records, NHS or private LFTs, private CDTs, etc which all get sent in as evidence by some applicants.

Reading these forums it seems to me like DVLA don't have much consistency in their approach to this, especially for applicants who on their medical records have alcohol misuse, dependency, or mental health problems. I read one case on here of someone who had been sober for years, DVLA had given them their licence back a few years back, and then one 'tip off' from a disgruntled friend or family member and they had their licence revoked on medical grounds and had to start proving abstinence again and it took months to sort. Imagine you've been sober for years and you think you've got your life on the right track, but then learn that any random member of the public can get your licence taken away, which might mean losing your job or access to your children who live further away etc, basically for the rest of your life.

Yeah on my DDRS course they gave lots of tips about the medical and drinking. The provider was actually really good and said even after the course, if you need any advice etc just give them a call. But I think some providers are better than others at this.

Quite a few studies show it's more accurate, less intrusive (only requires a finger prick instead of a veinous blood draw), and goes back slightly further in time at around 28 days. I believe DVLA have signed a CDT testing contract though so not sure we'll move to PEth before that expires? Who knows though!
Click to expand...
What is PEth? Please clarify.
 
chapel said:
Has anyone had a medical done this year and received their licence back?

Banned for 40 months unbanned 31st December, Medical was booked for 5th Janurary and called 6th Jan DVLA confirmed all my paperwork was scanned in and had everything they need. Have called daily and I'm met with the same response that it is in the que for review by the medical team feel like I'm getting nowhere.
Click to expand...
I had my medical 5th of January also. Checked licence checker daily, eventually started emailing them and the next day (26th Jan) my licence was issued
 
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chapel said:
Has anyone had a medical done this year and received their licence back?

Banned for 40 months unbanned 31st December, Medical was booked for 5th Janurary and called 6th Jan DVLA confirmed all my paperwork was scanned in and had everything they need. Have called daily and I'm met with the same response that it is in the que for review by the medical team feel like I'm getting nowhere.
Click to expand...
Hi I had mine on 5th too and rang every other day and got the same response as you. Checked today online and licence has been issued so hopefully not much longer for you!
 
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