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🚗 Driving Licence Guide

Can I Appeal a DVLA Decision in England or Wales?

Medical revocations and refusals, asking DVLA to look again, the 6-month court appeal, new drivers and high risk offenders.

✅ Last verified: 24 September 2026 📚 Sources: listed at the end, each checked on the date shown 🇬🇧 England and Wales

💬 Check your own situation

Describe what has happened. The checker answers only from this guide, plus what you tell it, and says so if something is not covered.

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Who this guide is for

People in England or Wales whose driving licence has been taken away (revoked) or refused by DVLA, or who are worried it will be: because of a health condition, because they got 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing their test, or because they are a high risk drink-drive offender waiting to get their licence back. It also covers appealing a driving test result.

What this guide does not cover

Scotland or Northern Ireland: see the Scotland guide or the Northern Ireland guide.
Court bans (disqualification), penalty points, fines and criminal charges, including speeding and drink or drug driving: ask a solicitor.
Vehicle tax, SORN, MOT and vehicle registration: ask DVLA. Parking tickets: see the parking fines checker.
Which health conditions meet the medical standards for driving: ask your doctor, and check the condition on GOV.UK.
Complaints about DVLA's service or delays.

⚖ At a glance

DVLA can take away or refuse a licence when a health condition means you do not meet the medical standards for driving. It writes to you with its decision, and the letter says if there is a period you must wait before getting a new licence.
You can send new medical evidence and ask DVLA to look again, or appeal to the court.
Court appeal against a medical decision: contact your local magistrates' court within 6 months, and tell DVLA in writing that you are appealing.
New drivers: your licence will be cancelled if you get 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your test. You then need a new provisional licence and must pass the theory and practical tests again.
High risk drink-drive offenders do not get their licence back until they pass a medical with a DVLA doctor.
You must tell DVLA about a notifiable health condition. You could be fined up to £1,000 if you do not.

The questions that decide the answer

What was the decision? A licence taken away or refused for a health reason, a new-driver licence cancelled for points, a high risk offender waiting for a licence after a ban, or a driving test result. A court ban is not a DVLA decision and is not covered here.
What date is on the decision letter? The time limit for a court appeal runs from the decision.
Do you have medical evidence DVLA did not see? If so, you can ask DVLA to look at the decision again.
Car or motorcycle, or bus, coach or lorry? Different application forms apply when you reapply.

Health conditions and your licence

You must tell DVLA if you develop a notifiable medical condition or disability, or one gets worse since you got your licence. Notifiable conditions are anything that could affect your ability to drive safely, for example diabetes or taking insulin, fainting, heart conditions, sleep apnoea, epilepsy, strokes and glaucoma.
You could be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a condition that might affect your ability to drive safely, and you could be prosecuted if you have an accident.
You must surrender your licence if your doctor tells you to stop driving for 3 months or more, if your condition affects your ability to drive safely and lasts 3 months or more, or if you do not meet the medical standards for driving. You can apply to get it back when you meet the standards again. There are different rules for when you can drive again after surrendering it yourself.

Challenging a medical decision

Ask DVLA to look again: send relevant medical information that was not in the original assessment, proof that you meet the standards for driving (the decision letter explains them) and the reference number from your decision letter, to DM Further Evidence, DMI Support, D5, DVLA, SA99 1DL. Check with a doctor what to send.
Appeal to the court: In England and Wales, appeal to your local magistrates' court within 6 months. You must tell DVLA in writing if you choose to appeal. DVLA describes the appeal as a complaint to the magistrates' court within six months of the licence being revoked or refused.
DVLA says the right of appeal is under section 100 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and that its letter taking the licence away explains it.
GOV.UK suggests getting legal advice before you appeal, and says you might be able to get legal aid to pay for it.

Reapplying after a health decision

DVLA's letter tells you if there is a period you must wait. You can reapply up to 8 weeks before the end of it. Check with your doctor that you meet the medical standards first.
Car or motorcycle: reapply online, or by post with a D1 application form and the form for your condition. If the letter says you must send medical evidence, you must apply by post.
Bus, coach or lorry: send a D2 application form and the form for your condition.
GOV.UK says you may be able to keep driving while DVLA considers an application, but only if you meet the criteria in DVLA's guidance "Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?". You must always meet the medical standards when you drive.

New drivers: 6 points in 2 years

Your licence will be cancelled (revoked) if you get 6 or more penalty points within 2 years of passing your test.
Points on your provisional licence that have not expired are carried over when you pass. Your licence is cancelled if further points take you to 6 or more within 2 years of passing.
To drive again you must apply and pay for a new provisional licence and pass both the theory and practical tests again. If you passed but had not yet sent off for your full licence, you retake both tests using your current provisional licence.
This guide does not cover challenging the offence or the points behind the cancellation: ask a solicitor.

After a drink-drive ban: high risk offenders

You are a high risk offender if you were convicted of 2 drink driving offences within 10 years, were driving with an alcohol reading of at least 87.5 microgrammes per 100 ml of breath, 200 mg per 100 ml of blood or 267.5 mg per 100 ml of urine, refused to give the police a sample of breath, blood or urine, or refused to allow a blood sample to be tested for alcohol.
You will not get your new licence until you prove you are fit to drive again. DVLA sends a D27PH renewal form 90 days before the ban ends. When DVLA gets your application it sends a DVLA-appointed doctor's details; you pay for the examination, which includes a questionnaire about your medical history and alcohol use, a physical examination and blood tests.
Other drivers banned for 56 days or more get a D27 reminder form 56 days before the ban ends and must apply for a new licence. After a ban of less than 56 days you do not need to apply for a new licence.
If DVLA refuses a licence after the medical, its letter explains how to challenge the decision.

Appealing a driving test result

You can only appeal if the test was not carried out in line with the law. Contact your local magistrates' court within 6 months of your test and say the appeal is under section 90 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
DVSA cannot change a test result. You cannot appeal because you disagree with the examiner's marking, did not like the examiner, felt unwell, or your car broke down. A complaint about the examiner's behaviour is a separate process.

Deadlines

Court appeal against a medical decision: contact your local magistrates' court within 6 months, and tell DVLA in writing that you are appealing.
Reapplying after a health decision: up to 8 weeks before the end of any waiting period in DVLA's letter.
High risk offenders: D27PH form 90 days before the ban ends. Other bans of 56 days or more: D27 form 56 days before.
Driving test appeal: magistrates' court within 6 months of the test.

Money figures

Not telling DVLA about a condition that might affect your ability to drive safely: a fine of up to £1,000.

Where to go for help

DVLA Drivers Medical Group, for medical decisions and reapplying (the address is on your letter and forms).
A solicitor who deals with driving licence appeals.
Our free DVLA decision appeal letter.

Citizens Advice (England): 0800 144 8848

Citizens Advice (Wales): 0800 702 2020

Traps

Revocation by DVLA is not a court ban. A cancelled new-driver licence does not come back when a period ends: you have to pass both tests again.
Points on a provisional licence count towards the 6 once you pass.
If you appeal a medical decision to the court, you must tell DVLA too.
Northern Ireland licences are dealt with by the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), not DVLA.

📜 Sources (checked 24 September 2026)

GOV.UK: Medical conditions, disabilities and driving (tell DVLA about a notifiable condition or one that has got worse; examples; fine up to £1,000; prosecution after an accident; surrendering your licence; Northern Ireland = DVA). Checked 24 Sep 2026.
GOV.UK: Medical conditions, disabilities and driving - What DVLA will decide (send more medical evidence to DM Further Evidence, DMI Support, D5, DVLA, SA99 1DL; reapply 8 weeks before the end of a waiting period; England and Wales: magistrates' court within 6 months, tell DVLA in writing; legal advice and possible legal aid). Checked 24 Sep 2026.
Contracts Finder / Find a Tender (DVLA notices, 2021-22): medical revocations appealable under section 100 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, explained in DVLA's letter; in England and Wales by complaint to a magistrates' court within six months. Checked 24 Sep 2026.
GOV.UK: Reapply for a driving licence following a health condition (letter gives any waiting period; reapply up to 8 weeks before; online or by post with D1; by post if medical evidence is needed; D2 for bus, coach or lorry). Checked 24 Sep 2026. GOV.UK publication INF188/6 Can I drive while my application is with DVLA (last updated 29 August 2023: you may be able to keep driving while DVLA deals with your application if you meet its conditions). Checked 26 Sep 2026.
GOV.UK: Penalty points (endorsements) - New drivers (licence cancelled at 6 or more points within 2 years of passing; provisional points carried over; new provisional licence, theory and practical tests; not yet sent off for the full licence). Checked 24 Sep 2026.
GOV.UK: Driving disqualifications (high risk offender criteria; D27PH 90 days before; DVLA-appointed doctor, paid by you; questionnaire, physical examination, blood tests; D27 56 days before; bans of less than 56 days). Checked 24 Sep 2026.
GOV.UK: Appeal your driving test (only if the test was not conducted according to the law; DVSA cannot change the result; examples that are not grounds; section 90 of the Road Traffic Act 1988; magistrates' court 6 months, sheriff court 21 days). Checked 24 Sep 2026.

⚠ Important disclaimer: This guide covers DVLA driving licence decisions in England and Wales as at 24 September 2026. General legal information only, not legal advice. ukworkrights.co.uk — Not a law firm.

Can I Appeal a DVLA Decision in England or Wales?

💬 Check your own situation

Who this guide is for

What this guide does not cover

⚖ At a glance

The questions that decide the answer

Health conditions and your licence

Challenging a medical decision

Reapplying after a health decision

New drivers: 6 points in 2 years

After a drink-drive ban: high risk offenders

Appealing a driving test result

Deadlines

Money figures

Where to go for help

Traps

📜 Sources (checked 24 September 2026)

Comments

Found this helpful?

⚖ Important — Please Read Before Continuing

1. This is guidance — and only ever guidance

2. AI can make mistakes

3. Verified figures and guidance sources

4. What happens to what you type

5. Your responsibility

6. Useful Official Resources

7. Scope of this service

Report an Issue

Share Your Feedback

Can I Appeal a DVLA Decision in England or Wales?

💬 Check your own situation

Who this guide is for

What this guide does not cover

⚖ At a glance

The questions that decide the answer

Health conditions and your licence

Challenging a medical decision

Reapplying after a health decision

New drivers: 6 points in 2 years

After a drink-drive ban: high risk offenders

Appealing a driving test result

Deadlines

Money figures

Where to go for help

Traps

📜 Sources (checked 24 September 2026)

Comments

Found this helpful?

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