Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment she has made regarding waiting times for HGV license renewals.

Ministers receive regular updates from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on the timescales for driving licence applications involving medical conditions.

There has been sustained growth in the volume and complexity of medical driving licence applications which has increased waiting times for some customers. The Government recognises that further improvement is needed and plans are in place to address this. To improve its services, the DVLA has introduced a new casework system and launched a new medical services portal which means that most customers can now apply online through the DVLA’s driver and vehicles account.

These enhancements alongside the recruitment of additional staff to deal with these applications and answer telephone calls will deliver real improvements for customers.

In September 2026, the average time to make a licensing decision for Group 2 vocational licences where a medical investigation was involved was 55.8 working days. When the DVLA is made aware that an application is required for employment purposes, the application will be prioritised where possible.