Important info for autistic drivers!

November 10, 2015

Important info for autistic drivers!

Inform the vehicle licensing authority in your country

Please note that if you are a car driver that is on the autistic spectrum. You may need to inform the vehicle licensing authority in your country that you have a diagnosis.

Here in the UK it’s the DVLA. I checked on their website the other day, and Autistic Spectrum disorder is one of the conditions they need to be informed about. I called them and they are sending me out some medical forms to fill out. I think they will also be contacting my doctor to find out if they have advised me not to drive.

In the mean time, the DVLA advised me to continue to follow my doctors advice on whether I should drive or not.

Inform your car insurance company

I then called my car insurance company to tell them about my conversation with the DVLA. The insurance company also said I should follow my doctors advice on whether I should be driving, and to inform them on the DVLA’s decision.

I’m sure that I will be given the all clear to continue driving, but I just wanted to stress the importance to all of you autistic drivers, the importance of being open and honest with your insurance company and vehicle licensing authority in your country. In case of an accident, your insurance company may decide not to pay out if they find out you did not tell them about your autism.

Also the vehicle licensing authority will not be happy if you have been driving with an undisclosed medical condition.

Be careful out there.

Steve www.adultswithautism.org.uk

About Steve- adults with autism

Hi I'm Steve
I'm the owner of Adults With Autism.org.uk. I also work as a professional film maker and specialist tutor fot the National Autistic Society in London.

I also have high functioning autism. This was diagnosed when I was 48 years old.

Comments

Ann says
December 6, 2017 at 7:12 am

I am the parent of a teenager with an historical diagnosis of mild autism
The DVLA website appears to suggest you only need to notify if it affects your driving
However if you call them they insist all cases have to be notified
Also their PDF document assesing medical conditions to drive – a guide to medical conditions (pg 78- 82) state that you have to inform them and slllowvthrm to make a decision in respect of fitnesss to drive
Reply
Just says
November 20, 2015 at 9:25 pm

Just to point out that you only need to tell the DVLA about autism if it “affects your ability to drive safely.” If it doesn’t, then you are not required by law to inform them. It would obviously be a good idea to ask for your GPs opinion on that.
https://www.gov.uk/asd-and-driving
Reply
- Steve- adults with autism says
  December 5, 2015 at 1:38 pm
  
  Hi Just
  Re: Dvla and driving.
  Sorry for taking so long to reply.
  I thought the DVLA website said that if we are on the autistic spectrum we have to inform them. And they will take my doctors advice on whether i can drive.
  Im just waiting for their answer. But i dont see that in my case it will be a problem.
  Do you drive?
  Regards Steve
  http://www.adultswithautism.org.uk
  Reply