Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help (a) reduce the time taken to process medical driving licence applications and (b) ensure applicants receive timely updates on the status of their applications.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer to process as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is often reliant on receiving information from third parties, including medical professionals. The DVLA is currently experiencing an increase in the volume and complexity of driving licence applications. This has unfortunately led to longer waiting times for some customers.

The DVLA keeps applicants informed of key updates on their case, including when medical information is requested or chased.

To improve performance, the DVLA is updating its online service, and launching a new casework system. A new digital medical services portal will also launch in April. These enhancements, alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with medical applications and answer telephone calls, will deliver real improvements for customers.

In 2024/25 the DVLA achieved 85 per cent against its customer service measure to make a licensing decision in 90 days in 90 per cent of medical driving licence cases.