Why has DVLA sent me a D4 form?

DVLA has probably sent you a D4 because you are renewing a lorry or bus licence and are 45 or over. The D4 is the medical examination report for Group 2 entitlements, which include HGV, LGV and PCV driving. For most drivers, DVLA sends it with renewal paperwork so a doctor can assess medical fitness and vision. The timing depends on your age and licence history, so receiving a form does not by itself mean there is a problem with your health or application.

Why DVLA sends the D4

The D4 is used to provide medical and vision information for a Group 2 licence application. DVLA guidance says you need one for a first Group 2 lorry or bus application and, generally, when renewing Group 2 entitlement from age 45. The current INF4D notes describe the age and frequency rules, as well as some exceptions. You can check the current form and booklet on the DVLA D4 guidance page.

If you are 45 or over, DVLA normally sends a D4 and a D47P renewal application 56 days before your licence expires. The D4 lets DVLA consider your medical fitness as part of that renewal. It is a routine licensing requirement and does not, on its own, indicate that DVLA has identified a particular medical condition.

How often do HGV drivers need a medical?

It helps to separate how often you renew your vocational entitlement from how often you need a D4 report. For most Group 2 drivers, a D4 is needed at age 45 and every five years after that until age 65. From age 65, the D4 is generally required annually. The DVLA INF4D information booklet sets out these frequencies and relevant exceptions.

Your entitlement renewal and the D4 requirement are related, but they are not interchangeable terms. Check the expiry date and category shown on your licence, and follow the forms DVLA sends for your own renewal. If your licence is medically restricted, the rules can differ. The INF4D booklet says that a medically restricted licence does not require a D4 at every renewal before age 45; after 45, a D4 is required every five years. For specific circumstances, use the full current booklet or contact DVLA rather than relying on a general summary.

The broad age milestones are:

• Under 45: An ordinary Group 2 renewal usually does not need a D4, subject to the exceptions described below.
• At age 45: A D4 is needed when renewing Group 2 entitlement.
• Age 45 to 64: A D4 is generally needed every five years.
• Age 65 and over: A D4 is generally needed annually.

These are general rules, not a decision about your individual entitlement. DVLA’s current forms and INF4D notes take precedence if your history or licence category is unusual.

What if you are under 45?

For an ordinary Group 2 renewal before age 45, a D4 is generally not required. The D4 can still be needed if you are applying for your first Group 2 entitlement, applying for a new provisional entitlement and have not submitted a D4 in the previous 12 months, or making one of the specific applications set out in INF4D. If your licence expires within 56 days of your 45th birthday, DVLA says to follow the process for drivers aged 45 or over.

There is also a particular C1 and D1 rule for some drivers under 70 who hold a medically restricted car or motorcycle licence granted before 1 January 1997 and want to apply for C1 or C1/D1 entitlement. The INF4D booklet also says that drivers aged 70 who still need C1 and D1 entitlement need a D4 every three years. Because C1 and D1 situations can depend on the exact entitlement and licence history, check the booklet rather than assuming that every C1 licence has the same medical requirement.

Does a C1 licence need a medical?

Sometimes. C1 is a small or medium lorry category, and the D4 booklet describes medical-report requirements for certain C1 applications and renewals. These include specified applications involving medically restricted licences and some C1 or D1 entitlements associated with a car test passed before 1 January 1997. The rules are not identical for every driver or every C1 entitlement.

If you are unsure whether your C1 category needs a D4, look at the relevant category and restriction on your licence, then compare your circumstances with the current INF4D notes. You can also ask DVLA to clarify which application route applies. This guide cannot determine your personal eligibility.

What happens at a D4 appointment?

A doctor completes the medical assessment and the vision section if able to answer all its questions accurately. Some doctors can complete both sections. If the doctor cannot fully complete the vision assessment, you must arrange for an optician or optometrist to complete that part. A separate optician visit is therefore not automatically required.

Take suitable identification, any glasses you wear for driving, and your current glasses prescription if relevant. The INF4D booklet also advises taking a copy of your prescription if a doctor other than your own GP is completing the medical. Check with the clinic when booking about the documents it needs and whether it can complete the vision assessment.

The report must be complete. The booklet says an incomplete report may be returned, delaying the application. Once signed and dated, the D4 is valid for four months. This is the period in which the report can be used for the application; it is separate from the length of time your licence is valid. DVLA is not responsible for fees you have paid if your application is refused or you do not meet the required standard.

What happens when your HGV licence expires?

If your licence expires while DVLA is processing a renewal, you may be able to continue driving while the application is with DVLA. It is not an automatic permission for every driver. DVLA sets conditions, which include having held a valid licence, driving only under the conditions of the previous licence, having an application less than a year old, and not being disqualified. For drivers aged 45 or over, the guidance also says you must not have been told by your doctor or optician that you should not drive. Other conditions apply.

Read the current DVLA guidance on driving while your application is being processed and the relevant licence renewal guidance before driving. If you do not meet every condition that applies to you, do not assume you can continue driving on the expired entitlement. Ask DVLA for advice about your case.

Is a D4 the same as a taxi medical?

No. The D4 is the medical examination report used for Group 2 lorry or bus licensing. Taxi licensing is a separate process, and requirements can depend on the local licensing authority. If you are researching taxi licence medical requirements in the UK, check the rules of the council or authority issuing your taxi licence. SWDM also offers taxi medical appointments, but the relevant authority determines what evidence it accepts.

A careful assessment, with clear next steps

A D4 appointment is an opportunity to complete the required report carefully and raise any questions about what the form asks. If you have a health concern that may affect driving, speak with your GP and follow DVLA’s advice. DVLA’s fitness to drive guidance explains that fitness decisions depend on the relevant condition and its effect on driving. This guide is for information only. It is not medical advice. Speak to your GP if you have concerns.

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.

Sources

1. gov.ukMedical examination report for a lorry or bus driving licence (D4), including INF4D notes(accessed 2026-10-05)
2. gov.ukRenew or change a lorry or bus licence(accessed 2026-10-05)
3. gov.ukRenew or change a lorry or bus licence: if you’re 45 or over(accessed 2026-10-05)
4. gov.ukCan I drive while my application is with DVLA? (INF188/6)(accessed 2026-10-05)
5. gov.ukAssessing fitness to drive: miscellaneous conditions(accessed 2026-10-05)