GuideLast checked 2 Oct 2026
Medical requirements for PHV drivers
The DVLA Group 2 standard, who is exempt from the medical form, when medicals are required by age, and what to tell TfL, from the TfL handbook.
To hold a London PHV driver licence you must be physically fit. The handbook covers this under licensing requirements and again in the licence section. This guide pulls it together: the standard, the exemptions, the age rules and what you must report between medicals.
The standard
The handbook says you must be medically fit and that the standards you must meet are the DVLA Group 2 medical standards. In most cases that means a medical examination with a doctor who has access to your full medical records. The handbook adds that the DVLA frequently updates its medical standards, so TfL recommends you check with the DVLA if you develop a new condition. The detail of the Group 2 standard is not in the handbook, so go to the DVLA for it.
Who may not need the form
You may be exempt from supplying a medical form if you:
- Have a full or provisional (issued after January 1997) DVLA Group 2 licence, or
- Have a current London taxi driver's licence, or
- Have a valid, current pilot's licence issued by the Joint Aviation Authorities.
The handbook says "may be exempt", so confirm with TfL that your situation counts before you skip it.
How the process works
TfL will remind you when a medical examination is due and send you the form you need. You are responsible for making sure a doctor completes the form with all the required information about your health, and for returning the form to TfL. If you do not send TfL everything it needs, you might not get your licence, or, for an existing driver, you might lose it. The handbook says this twice, so it matters.
The handbook does not say which doctors can complete the form, what the examination involves or how long it takes. Our licence cost calculator includes a line for the medical, because TfL's fee page says the doctor sets the fee. Treat any figure there as your own estimate.
Medicals by age
| Age | What the handbook says |
|---|---|
| Under 45 | The handbook does not state a regular schedule in this section. Follow what TfL tells you. |
| From 45 | A medical examination each time you apply to renew your licence. |
| From 65 | A medical assessment every year. |
| Existing medical condition | Extra medical examinations may be needed. |
Your licence may also carry conditions. The handbook gives an example: if you have a medical condition you may be required to have extra medical checks. Any conditions are explained in the letter that comes with your licence, so keep that letter, follow its conditions and respond if TfL writes to remind you of outstanding information. If you do not comply, your licence may be revoked.
Telling TfL about new conditions
Between medical examinations, tell TfL immediately if you develop a new medical condition that may affect your ability to drive. The handbook gives examples:
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Poor eyesight or other eye conditions affecting sight
- Heart conditions
- High blood pressure
- Neurological conditions (including strokes)
- Prescription medication that may affect your ability to drive
- Psychiatric illness
- Any condition which the DVLA requires you to report
If you are not sure whether to tell TfL, the handbook says to contact TfL for advice. That is the safest course. See also what you must tell TfL.
Prescription medicine and driving
Section 7 says if you take prescription medicine you must check with your doctor that it is safe for you to drive, and that you must never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Medical exemptions for specific duties
Separate from licence medicals, the handbook allows exemptions from carrying wheelchairs or assistance dogs for medical reasons only. See our guide to wheelchair passengers and assistance dogs.
Renewal timing
If you are 45 or over, your medical is part of renewal, so plan for it. See our renewing your licence guide for what the handbook says about the three-year cycle. TfL says it will remind you, but do not rely on that alone. The handbook does not say how far ahead to book, so ask TfL.
What the handbook does not say
It does not list which conditions disqualify someone, how TfL decides on conditions, or how long a medical stays valid. We do not guess. Check TfL and the DVLA.
General information, not medical or legal advice.