Driving and the DVLA

[Tigers Fan]

Diagnosed or not?

Hi Cardoctor

As I understand it, the central question is whether or not you have been diagnosed (and informed) as having OSA. If you have, you are required to inform the DVLA. If you haven't, you've nothing to do.

There are posts earlier in this thread about getting the timing right.

Tigers Fan

[James @ Intus]

Hi all
this has got me a little worried, I live in a very rural place & have to travel 20 miles to work, if you are having treatment and are compliant with no signs of tiredness day or night do i have to inform the dvla, nothing has been said at my clinic. I was a borderline case for starting on the cpap treatment they said it would do me good in the future.
regards Jim

Depends on the official diagnosis. If you were borderline, they may not have actually called it officially OSA. You can check with your consultant. You have nothing to worry about though as you say you are doing well so the DVAL won't be bugging you.

[Wiggles]

Car Insurance

I have been reading all the posts regarding DVLA etc., it made me think about car insurance. I assume you have to declare your Apnea to your insurance provider. Has anyone experienced this and has it affected your premiums?

[Tigers Fan]

Good point!

Hey Wiggles!

Same old same old - as long as you can tell your insurer that you are responding to therapy and are not sleepy through the day, I think you'll not have a problem.

I have it in mind that I was told that I was required to inform DVLA and my insurer - else it would not have occured to me - but can't remember who said so. My insurer made a note but was less than interested - I had to explain OSA and CPAP - thanked me for telling them and informed me that my premium would not be affected as I was responding to treatment. They did not require evidence, accepted my word - as when one applies for insurance (invalid if you tell porkies).

Tigers Fan

[Liz hutton]

Dvla

Hi Everyone,
I've been using cpap, for about 12wks or so.
I informed DVLA, they sent me a medical form, and then requested, via hosp, some data on my progress. So had to send in my micro chip to be accesed. I was then given the all clear to drive.As the data showed, that the cpap was working and keeping the condition, under control.
So as far as I can see, so long as your sleep apnea is being controlled, you keep your licence.
Liz