Do I need to inform the DLA and my insurance????

[Rickster221]

I have recently been diagnosed with paroxysmal AF and am on 1.25 mg of bisoprolo. Im 43 and fairly healthy running three times a week for up to an hour a time and I cycle to work from time to time. I'd like to know if I need to notify the DLA and my insurance with this condition( or is it a disease?).

[Hidden]

Yes, form H1 for DVLA. Definitely inform your insurers. I informed mine and told them my EP said it was fine for me to drive so they said that's all they wanted to know.

The form H1 is interesting, see how you get on!!!!

Koll

[Hidden]

PS. Sorry, should have mentioned that it seems it's not a problem as everyone (on this forum) just gets a letter back saying you're OK to retain your licence. Mostly say they get a reply in 3 weeks or so.

[pip_pip]

It's a condition. Unless you have underlying illness triggering the AF like Cardiomyopathy or whatever...

[jeanjeannie50]

I think providing your AF doesn't cause you to pass out they just o.k. it. I informed them of my AF recently after hesitating for ages. As I said nothing to worry about unless you black out. When I informed my insurers they asked if the DVLA had said it was o.k. and I was able to say yes.

[R1100S1]

Can confirm what others say

(I had fun filling out thee form though)

[Hidden]

I filled out the form and they came back with a letter saying I was okay to drive, which is great because for your insurance, that's what you need. Don't give the insurance any chance to not pay out, I say!

Lis

[CDreamer]

I also confirm what the others say and did ring my insurers to say that I had AFib but they just said that's ok. I would also add that if you have certain symptoms, such as blackouts, DVLA may contact your doctors for medical information, which happened to my husband, he couldn't drive until he had a pacemaker fitted, he's fine now and started driving again a few weeks ago.

[Langara]

Also worth noting that failure to notify the D.V.L.A. can incur a fine of up to £1,000.

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi Rickster and welcome. yes you do need to tell DVLA about the condition (not a disease). It is a little confusing as under the DVLA guide to medical practitioners it says you do not need to inform but under guide to drivers it says you do This means that doctors do not need to shop you but you need to contact DVLA yourself... There is a £1000 penalty for not doing this. Provided that your AF does not cause blackouts or incapacity then you may continue driving. There is a simple form to complete which they can advise you of. Insurance company must also be informed as it is a material fact in your cover.

Bob

[Christo4 in reply to BobD]

Bob.

Where do I get this DVLA form from please.

Christo

[Offcut in reply to Christo4]

gov.uk/pacemakers-and-driving is the link for the form and the address is on there too.

[rjr681]

Thanks for all the info, something I never though of. Checked the link and downloaded H1. If you haven't been told to contact them by a Doctor or Consultant where do you fill in the details that you have AF. The form only mentions Pacemaker

[rickster21]

Thanks to everyone for your advice and comments I'll download one from their website.

I'm glad to know now it's a condition thanks again for all your support

[R1100S1]

Dear squady

If you don't bother and have an accident that involves an insurance claim which is a bit expensive - you insurance company will investigate you and if you have not informed them, they can an usually do void your insurance.

This also leads to police action as you would then be driving without insurance and as you know you should have reported its eight points and a band C fine.

Doctors don't have to report AF as usually safe to drive, but the individual has to report to the DVLA even if no place on form to do so

Not worth the risk in my opinion.

Eddie

[scotcitz]

It's interesting that in the US you don't need to report. While I take the point that there can be adverse consequences for not reporting in UK (where I lived for a long time and am a citizen), does it make anyone else angry that everyone with even one episode of afib is put in this 'at risk' category?

[CDreamer in reply to scotcitz]

No, it's just a formal screening process to distinguish those who would be able to continue to drive and those who may not be fit to drive and personally I think it sensible and I was glad my husband wasn't allowed to drive until his pacemaker was inserted because even though he was asymptomatic, he was a danger. He was very angry about it and was going to ignore it until I said that I would report him, if he didn't and that he was quite entitled to kill himself but not risk other people's in the process. AFib is a complex condition and whilst most of us are able to continue to drive, some people could be a danger.

[Hidden]

That's what I was told squaddy, my EP said I did not have to inform DVLA, but DVLA said that I did, so I did !!! Load on nonsense if you ask me but at least by notifying them you can't be in the wrong. K

[rjr681 in reply to Hidden]

I emailed them and they said yes and give me a link with the information. gov.uk/government/uploads/s...

Only when you read it you don't have to unless you are a coach or truck driver was the way I read it.

Typical gov speak

Ray

[Hidden in reply to rjr681]

Never seen that link before. The one most use tells you that you have to submit form H1 if you have an arrhythmia/AF.

[R1100S1]

gov.uk/arrhythmia-and-driving

[rjr681 in reply to R1100S1]

gov.uk/cardiac-problems-dri...

Confusing!

[Sweetsugar40]

I have just inform the DVLA and they are going to send me a form to fill in and look in to it. They did ask if the doctor had said I can not drive and I told then the doctor and cardiologist have said nothing. So the DVLA said that is fine I can carry on driving and when they get the form back from me they will put it on there system. I also told my insurance company and they have put it on their system and said all was ok if the doctor's and DVLA are ok about it. So it's as simple as that and a peace of mind if you ever have a accident. Thank you for asking this question as I did not know this and I have been diagnose with PAF (proximal AF) since last September. But all is fine with the meds I am taking not had another episode since and all scans and ECG's are fine and clear. So on the road to recovery.

[Hidden in reply to Sweetsugar40]

It does beg the question, why do they want you to advise them of a condition when the medical professionals say you're OK to drive? My EP said I was OK to drive and that I did not need to advise DVLA, but DVLA said that I did need to advise them, but I am OK to drive. Paying people for doing nothing if you ask me.

Koll

[millie123fairy]

Hi. I would say yes inform them as you will not be covered if you they find out you had a medical condition that you did not tell them about. I also have paroxysimal AF and am on 2.5mg of bisoprolol. I was diagnosed in September and before then suffered from lightheadness and dizzy spells when I had palpitations. I was never informed by my consultant or dr to inform the DVLA but when I was renewing my car insurance in February, one of the questions on insurance websites was if I had any medical problems. I looked at their list on the DVLA website and in fact arrhythmias is listed. I phoned DVLA and they sent me a form to fill in. To be honest, most of it related to having a pacemaker but I filled it in the best I could. 4 weeks later I got a reply to say I am okay to drive. My consultant then told me if the symptoms have been controlled by the medication, you should be okay to drive.

[CDreamer]

Thanks squash, it took a day or 2 to talk him down, he just turned 80 in Jan, now had the pacemaker fitted and firing on 8 cylinders instead of 4! Back driving again a week after the pacemaker fitted so back to marital bliss!

[Joanneb3]

Can you still drive whilst waiting for the dvla to get back to u

My mum had pacemaker fitted 8/12/14 and has sent the form off should she wait to get a reply or can she drive she feels fine