Learning to Drive with AF

[Peakoverload]

I am currently waiting an ablation but my AF doesn’t cause me to faint or anything. I mainly just get a bit out of breath on physical activity. I’ve never learned to drive as I lived in London most of my life where there just wasnt a need, but we are about to move to a area where it would be very useful if I could. I’ve read that you can’t drive if AF is likely to incapacitate and hasn’t been controlled for at least 4 weeks. My GP and Cardiologist have not asked me if I drive or told me to stop.

I don’t believe my AF is likely to incapacitate but I don’t know what they mean by ‘controlled’. Does that mean being in NSR or simply that your heart rate is controlled by drugs like beta blockers?

I also understand that you don’t need to inform the DVLA unless there are distracting/disabling symptoms which I also don’t believe I have.

So, would I be allowed to learn to drive?

Also, I know insurance premiums would be high as a new driver but does AF significantly increase the premiums as well?

[BobD Volunteer]

Best speak to insurance people about likely loading and make sure that you advise both they and DVLA . If you are not distracted or incapacitated there will be no problems. Organisations love finding reasons to throw out claims so withold nothing is my advice.

[Buzby62]

My insurance clearly states that I only have to notify them of medical conditions that the DVLA requires me to declare. I interpreted the DVLA information as you did as it has never affected my driving or ability to stop a car, so I have not notified either.

This is my take on it and fully respect many will advise you to notify everything even if you think you might not need to. Actually you can’t notify AF to the DVLA online and it directs you to fill in a form. I believe the form is just to ask if a declaration is required and most come back with the answer to just carry on unless you answer yes to it affecting your ability to drive or stop the car obviously.

Best wishes

PS, DVLA say must not to drive for 48hrs following ablation but the advice from arrhythmia team was to give it a week.

[Omniscient1]

You'll be fine. Insurance companies will be ok if the symptoms are managed (ie you're under a GP) and the DVLA have a confusing web site (no, really?) which either requires you to declare, or dismisses it, depending on how you browse through it.If you declare It your GP will tell them you're ok (assuming you are).

[Omniscient1]

And best of luck learning to drive

[opal11uk]

Totally agree with Bob, declare everything. I have always driven with no problems whatsoever so good luck.

[Peakoverload]

Thank you all for your replies, very much appreciated. I shall be speaking to an insurer to get an idea of the premiums. I just hope the shock of that doesn't make my AF worse

[Jetcat]

iv never had any problems regarding insurance, vehicles or holiday insurance.👍

[Sue6666]

I have heart failure and I contacted the DVLA just to be sure I coukd continue safely. I'd not been asked or told not to drive but didn't want to chance my insurance being void (I told them too) just in case anything happened. I love driving and when I informed DVLA I was really concerned they might say no to me but all is OK and I just have to inform them of changes etc in the future. I also did both the IAM and RoSPA Advanced driving tests a few years ago which helped me learn new driving techniques that have been beneficial to me.