Blood pressure limits for an HGV medical

For an HGV, LGV or PCV licence, the DVLA Group 2 guidance says you must stop driving and notify DVLA if your resting blood pressure is consistently 180 mmHg or higher systolic, or 100 mmHg or higher diastolic. A diagnosis of malignant hypertension is also a separate reason to stop driving and notify DVLA. You may drive again when a doctor confirms your condition is well controlled. Licensing after blood pressure is controlled is subject to there being no treatment side effects that affect, or are likely to affect, safe driving.

The threshold is for Group 2 drivers, which includes bus and lorry licences. The rules for car and motorcycle drivers are different. If you hold more than one licence category, check the applicable DVLA guidance for each. This guide explains the Group 2 blood pressure limit, what malignant hypertension changes, how DVLA says to notify it, and what the D4 form asks the examiner to record.

The Group 2 blood pressure threshold

DVLA’s professional guidance sets out two readings for Group 2: 180 mmHg or higher systolic and 100 mmHg or more diastolic. The rule uses “and/or”, so either threshold is relevant. It also says the resting blood pressure must be consistently at or above the threshold. A diagnosis of malignant hypertension is listed separately, whether or not the numerical description above is being used to explain your situation.

The public DVLA page uses the phrase “consistently above 180/100mmHg” when describing the notification route for readings without malignant hypertension. The professional guidance gives the threshold as 180 mmHg or higher systolic and 100 mmHg or more diastolic. These are the source wordings. If you are unsure how your readings fit the rule, contact DVLA or discuss your circumstances with a clinician rather than trying to interpret a borderline result yourself.

Read the DVLA guidance on high blood pressure and drivingGOV.UK. You can also consult the DVLA cardiovascular disorders: assessing fitness to drive guidanceGOV.UK for the professional Group 1 and Group 2 rules.

Malignant hypertension is a separate condition in the rule

The Group 2 guidance includes malignant hypertension as an independent reason that you must not drive and must notify DVLA. Do not treat the numerical threshold as the only circumstance covered by the rule.

The professional guidance describes malignant hypertension as a systolic pressure of 180 mmHg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 110 mmHg or higher associated with evidence of progressive organ damage. The public DVLA page describes it as a sudden rise in blood pressure, also known as accelerated hypertension, and says that a doctor’s diagnosis means you must stop driving. If a doctor has diagnosed you with malignant hypertension, follow the DVLA instruction and the advice of your treating clinician.

DVLA says you can drive again when a doctor confirms that your condition is well controlled. The professional guidance also says that licensing may take place after blood pressure is controlled, provided there are no treatment side effects that affect or are likely to affect safe driving. A controlled number alone does not remove that stated qualification.

How to notify DVLA

The public DVLA page gives different forms for different circumstances:

• If your blood pressure is consistently above 180/100 mmHg and you do not have malignant hypertension, DVLA says to complete form BP1V.
• If a doctor says you have malignant hypertension, DVLA says to complete form VOCH1.

Send the relevant form to the address given on it. Check the current DVLA page and form instructions before sending anything, as those pages provide the public process and contact details. If your circumstances do not fit neatly into either description, ask DVLA which process applies.

For a Group 2 driver, the stated instruction is to stop driving and tell DVLA in either of the circumstances described: consistently high blood pressure at the threshold, or a diagnosis of malignant hypertension. Do not rely on a booking appointment or a reading at a medical clinic to replace that notification requirement.

What the D4 form records

The current D4 medical examination report asks the examiner to record “today’s best resting blood pressure reading”. This describes the information requested on the form. It does not set a different DVLA threshold, explain how an examiner must take the reading, or predict the result of your licence application.

You can find the current downloadable form through the GOV.UK D4 medical examiner report pageGOV.UK. The form illustration on this page is an image of a blank D4 form. It is included to show the type of document, and does not verify your personal fitness to drive or represent a completed examination.

Blood pressure treatment and safe driving

DVLA’s professional guidance says licensing may be possible after blood pressure is controlled if treatment has no side effects that affect, or are likely to affect, safe driving. The guidance does not say that taking blood pressure medicine automatically prevents you from holding a Group 2 licence. It also does not mean that every treatment or reading is suitable in every individual case.

If you have concerns about your reading, diagnosis or treatment, speak to your GP or treating clinician. They can discuss your health and any effects of treatment with you. For a decision about your licence and the notification process, use DVLA’s current instructions. Do not stop or change prescribed treatment on the basis of this guide.

Group 1 and Group 2 are not the same

DVLA lists separate hypertension rules for Group 1 car and motorcycle drivers and Group 2 bus and lorry drivers. For Group 1, the professional guidance says drivers may drive and need not notify DVLA, except that someone diagnosed with malignant hypertension must not drive until the condition has been effectively treated or controlled. The guidance says that person need not notify DVLA under the Group 1 rule.

Group 2 has the additional resting blood pressure thresholds and notification requirement described above. If you hold an HGV or other Group 2 licence, use the Group 2 rule rather than assuming that the Group 1 position applies to you. If you also drive a car or motorcycle, check the separate Group 1 wording for that category.

Getting help with your HGV medical

If you are preparing for a Group 2 medical, the D4 form is the document used for the examination report, and its blood pressure field asks for the best resting reading on the day. If you have concerns about blood pressure or treatment, arrange to discuss them with your GP or clinician. The SWDM team can provide information about its HGV medical appointments and what to bring, but your medical advice and DVLA licensing decision must come from the appropriate clinician and DVLA.

Our Medical Team

Driver medical appointments

South Wales Driver Medicals offers driver medical appointments for HGV, PCV, LGV and taxi drivers. Contact the clinic for information about the clinician conducting your appointment and the requirements for your form.

For appointment details, see the HGV medical service page. You can also contact SWDM with questions about the service.

Sources

1. dvlaCardiovascular disorders: assessing fitness to drive(accessed 2026-10-07)
2. gov.ukHigh blood pressure (hypertension) and driving(accessed 2026-10-07)
3. gov.ukD4 medical examination report for a Group 2 licence(accessed 2026-10-07)