Insurance Tips
What to do if you’re injured and can’t drive
Getting back behind the wheel after injury
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 04/08/2026
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 04/08/2026
Stop driving straight away if an injury affects your ability to control a car safely. Driving while impaired is illegal and could invalidate your insurance if you’re in a collision. Check the list of health conditions that affect your driving on the UK government website.
Tell the DVLA if a doctor advises you not to drive for three months or more. They’ll use your doctor’s medical information to assess your fitness to drive. If you don’t report a notifiable condition, you could face a fine of up to £1,000.
If you’re feeling well enough to drive, you should double-check your insurance policy before getting back in the driver’s seat. Insurers can refuse a claim if you were not deemed fit enough to operate the controls of the vehicle - and this can still be the case, even after a cast or boot comes off.
It’s always worth checking with a professional and getting medical sign-off, before confirming with your insurer that you're covered to drive again.
If you need a lift while you’re unable to drive, or if someone else is using your car while you recover, you could look into temporary car insurance. Available by the hour, day or month, it’s a fast and flexible way of keeping your car moving when you can’t - with no impact on your no claims discount.
https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving
https://www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions
https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving/find-condition-a-to-z
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/general-information-assessing-fitness-to-drive
The DVLA makes the final decision on your fitness to drive. They base this on medical standards and information from your doctor. You must report any condition that could affect your driving, and the DVLA can issue, restrict, or revoke your licence based on medical evidence.
Report a condition if it affects your driving, lasts three months or more, or is likely to get worse. Epilepsy, insulin-treated diabetes, and significant eyesight problems are common examples. Not reporting can mean a fine of up to £1,000, so check the government's list if you're unsure.
Report a condition if it affects your driving, lasts three months or more, or is likely to get worse. Epilepsy, insulin-treated diabetes, and significant eyesight problems are common examples. Not reporting can mean a fine of up to £1,000, so check the government's list if you're unsure.
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