Who needs an D4 Medical Form?

• If this is your first application for a Group 2 bus or lorry licence.
• If you are applying to renew your Group 2 entitlement at 45.
• From 45 on, a D4 will be needed every 5 years until you are 65 when you will need one annually.
• If you are under 70, hold a medically restricted car licence and held this licence before 1 January 1997 and wish to apply for C1 or C1/D1 entitlement (vehicles between 3500kg and 7500kg and/or a maximum of 16 passenger seats).
• If you are applying for a new Group 2 provisional licence and a D4 has not been submitted in the last 12 months.
• If you are an EU/EEA driving licence holder whose authority to drive Group 2 in Great Britain has run out.
• If you are 70 and still need C1 and D1 entitlement, you will need to have a D4 every 3 years.

To become an ambulance driver you will need a minimum of a C1 licence due to the weight of the vehicle you will be driving. When an ambulance is loaded with equipment and patients it often falls between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. All drivers of police, fire, coastguard, ambulance and health service vehicles require a DVLA D4 medical examination. Any responsibility for determining higher medical standards over and above these licensing requirements, rests with the individual force, service or other relevant body. LGV Category C1 (3.5 - 7.5 tonnes) From age 18 years category C1 is for light goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. Although LGV licences appear to be staged C1, C, you can go straight to cat C and get a better licence without having to do C1 first. Paramedic students will require this licence to drive ambulances. PCV Category D1 (Minibus Medical) You can drive minibuses with 9 to 16 passenger seats from age 21. The D1 driving licence is a legal requirement for those driving most types of minibus on medical and school business. If you passed your car test after January 1997 you are not entitled to drive a minibus without taking an additional D1 Test. If you hold an 'acquired rights' car licence issued before January 1997, and have category D1 you will still need to apply as a new applicant if you want to have the restriction code (101) removed.

 

LGV Category C1 (3.5 - 7.5 tonnes) From age 18 years category C1 is for light goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. Although LGV licences appear to be staged C1, C, you can go straight to cat C and get a better licence without having to do C1 first. Paramedic students will require this licence to drive ambulances.
PCV Category D1 (Minibus Medical) You can drive minibuses with 9 to 16 passenger seats from age 21. The D1 driving licence is a legal requirement for those driving most types of minibus on medical and school business. If you passed your car test after January 1997 you are not entitled to drive a minibus without taking an additional D1 Test. If you hold an 'acquired rights' car licence issued before January 1997, and have category D1 you will still need to apply as a new applicant if you want to have the restriction code (101) removed.

 Provisional Licence Application

You need to have a medical examination before you can apply for your provisional licence. Kent D4 Medical can perform the Medical Examination required for completion of the D4 Medical Form. DVLA D4 form must be completed and a medical examination must be passed when first applying for your LGV/PCV Licence at 18.

Licence Renewals

DVLA require existing lorry drivers to have a medical at the age of 45 and then every five years until the age of 65. After 65, the medical has to be done every year. DVLA will usually send out a reminder letter, together with the D4 Medical Form, a few weeks before your medical is due. You can usually work out when your next renewal/medical is due from the expiry date on the back of your licence, and if you think your renewal is nearly expired and you haven't heard from DVLA you should contact them.

Attending your D4 medical

• Please arrive 15 to 10 minutes in advance your appointment to be sure that you have completed your part in your form.
• Please come to your medical wearing comfortable clothes so you can move easily in, as you may be required to do a step test.
• Please remember to bring photographic ID (passport or driving license) and your glasses (do not wear contact lenses for your examination we will be asked to were them in the clinic).
• Avoid loud noise for 16 hours before your medical as this may affect your hearing for the examination.

A routine medical examination approximately takes about 15 minutes; however, it may take longer depending on your medical history. We advise that you allow at least 1 hour for the appointment.

On the day at the clinic the Doctor of Kent D4 Medical will:

• Check your identification.
• Take a blood pressure measurement.
• List on the D4 form any medication you're currently taking.
• List on the D4 form any hospital consultant you see regularly.
• Document your height, weight, smoking and alcohol history (To assist the Doctor it would be helpful to bring a note of your most recent weight and height with you).
• Ask questions about your medical history and document it on the D4 form.
• Bring all the letters and tests from hospital discharge, GP or specialist (cardiologist, neurologist, orthopaedics, medics, endocrinology and diabetes).

What you will need to bring:

• A original or print out of the D4 form documentation, having already completed your personal details. Fill in the grey section on page 1 (left hand side) 'Your details' and page 8 (consent and declaration) along with your name and date of birth at the foot of all other pages on the D4 when you are with the doctor carrying out the medical examination. Check all sections of the medical report have been fully filled in. If you send DVLA an incomplete report your application will be returned.
• Photo ID (passport, driving licence).
• GP's name, surgery address and contact details.
• Details of any medication you're taking (name and concentration).
• Your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them (though not colour correction lenses). You will need to remove contact lenses during examination if you wear them.
• Your previous medical certificate if you have one.
• Comfortable footwear and clothes to enable you to undertake exercise test if needed.
• List on the D4 Form any hospital consultant you see regularly.
• Document your height, weight, smoking and alcohol history (To assist the Doctor it would be helpful to bring a note of your most recent weight and height with you).

What does the medical involve?

• Measure your height and weight.
• Take your blood pressure.
• Test your eyesight.
• Physical examination.
• If you have any previous medical history then the doctor will discuss this with you too.
• Sometimes other tests are needed such as a step test, an ECG or spirometry (breathing test) and will be recommended to DVLA.

How long will it take?

The appointment usually lasts 15-30 minutes

How long is my D4 Form is valid for?

The interval between having your medical examination and applying for your licence (or licence renewal) must not exceed 4 months.

What happens after examination?

The completed D4 Medical Form must be posted to the relevant authority by yourself. The interval between having your medical examination and applying for your licence (or licence renewal) must not exceed 4 months. Our Doctors do not decide regarding your fitness to license. They are purely instructed to carry out these examinations only. The ultimate decision to grant or renew the licence is from the DVLA.

Once HGV/LGV license has been issued/renewed you must notify DVLA of any changes to your health at any time. This may result in a further medical examination being carried out depending upon individual circumstances. Please visit DVLA website www.dvla.co.uk if you need any more information.

What happens if my medical condition change after my D4 medical examination report?

You need to tell DVLA about some medical conditions as they can affect your driving. Check if a health condition affects your driving from: www.direct.gov.uk/driverhealth. Use the A to Z to check if you need to report your condition and find the relevant form or questionnaire.

Click! to download the D4 form now