Driving

Most people who have a heart condition are able to continue to drive.  However this depends on what sort of heart condition you have and whether you have any symptoms.  It also depends on the type of treatment you may have had.

The Driver and Licensing Authority (DVLA) provide national medical guidelines of fitness to drive.  The information is intended to assist doctors in advising patients.  The guidelines are publicly available on the DVLA website www.dvla.gov.uk. The information below is only a guide.  Please contact your doctor or the DVLA to discuss your individual situation.

In the interests of road safety, those who suffer from a medical condition likely to cause a sudden disabling event at the wheel or who are unable to safely control their vehicle from any other cause, should not drive.

If you ever experience episodes of dizziness or fainting or black outs you should not drive and should see your doctor.

If you hold an ordinary driving licence:

• If you have angina and it is well controlled, you can drive. If you ever have an attack of angina while you are driving, you should refrain from driving and discuss the attack with your doctor.  Once your symptoms are controlled you should be able to start driving again. 
• If you have had a coronary angioplasty, you should not drive for at least one week after having the angioplasty.
• If you have had a heart attack and have made an uncomplicated recovery most people are able to start driving again after four weeks.
• If you have had coronary bypass surgery, you will have to wait at least four weeks before you can start driving again.  However, many doctors prefer you to wait for at least six weeks to make sure your breastbone is healing properly.
• If you have heart failure, you can continue to drive provided there are no symptoms  that may distract your attention.
• If you have a heart valve problem or congenital heart disease, you can continue to drive.  If you have had surgery for either of these conditions, it is likely that you will be advised to wait for a few weeks until you have fully recovered.
• If you have cardiomyopathy driving may continue to drive if there are no symptoms.  Driving must stop if symptoms or a heart rhythm problem (see below) have caused or are likely to cause incapacity (unable/inability to drive).  Driving may continue once the symptoms/arrthymia are controlled.
• If you have a heart rhythm problem, driving will depend on the type of problem.  For most people as long as their rhythm problem is well controlled, driving may continue.  However you will need to stop driving if the abnormal heart rhythm has caused or is likely to cause incapacity (unable/inability to drive). You will be able to continue driving again once the underlying cause has been identified and symptoms controlled for at least once month.
• If you have had a heart transplant you will be advised to wait for a few weeks until you have recovered from your surgery.  Afterwards you may continue to drive.
• If you have had a pacemaker implanted or a successful ablation, you should not drive for at least a week after the procedure.
• There are special guidelines for driving if you have had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implanted.  Please see our booklet on ICDs or contact the DVLA for more information - you can order it through our Publications section.

If you have a licence to drive a large goods vehicle (LGV) or a passenger-carrying vehicle (PCV):

• If you have one of these licences you must let the Driver and Licensing Authority (DVLA) know that you have a heart problem.  This is because special regulations will apply.  Depending on your condition, the DVLA will ask your local hospital to carry out various tests.  The result of these tests will help the DVLA decide whether you can keep your licence.

You should always let your car insurance company know about your heart problem to make sure that your car insurance is still valid.

For further information on medical standards for driving:
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1TU
Telephone: 0870 600 0301
Website: www.dvla.gov.uk