Thinking of getting your HGV licence and have some questions or concerns about the HGV medical test?
It’s a normal human reaction to worry as soon as we hear the word ‘test’ and even to assume the worst – even before taking the test!
You may have questions, such as:
- Do I really need to take a HGV medical test?
- What do they test for?
- How long does a medical take?
- Who performs the test – is it my GP?
- Will it cost me anything?
- How long does a HGV medical last?
- What if I’m trying to renew my HGV licence?
- Do I need a medical to renew my HGV licence?
We’ll answer all these questions, and more, in order to provide you with all the information you need about the HGV medical test.
Do You Have To Take a HGV Medical Test?
The short answer to this is – yes. If you want to drive a HGV then it is a legal requirement.
In order to drive a commercial vehicle on public roads you need to have a reasonable level of health and fitness – and you need to prove this by taking (and passing) a HGV medical test.
All new HGV drivers have to undergo a medical examination and acquire the necessary paperwork showing they have been examined by a professional.
The doctor who performs the medical exam submits the paperwork (the D4 medical form) to the DVLA.
Note: It is important to note that it is not the physician who examines you that determines if you are fit to drive a HGV – the doctor only completes the required paperwork – it is the DVLA who decides if you are fit to drive a commercial vehicle or not.
Can My GP Perform the Necessary HGV Medical Test?
Any doctor who is registered in the UK can conduct the medical, so you could go to your local NHS doctor, or to a private physician if you prefer.
Although you may feel more comfortable using your local doctor for the HGV medical, there are some disadvantages to doing this. Your general practitioner will likely be very busy which could cause delays in getting an appointment, they will likely charge you for their time, and they also are unlikely to be familiar with the paperwork that they need to complete and submit – potentially causing more delays. The DVLA may need to go back to the doctor for clarification if the paperwork is unclear. All of this can cause hold ups in you getting the certification you need to proceed.
Alternatively, having a private doctor perform your medical exam has several advantages, such as:
- Quicker appointment
A private physician will usually have shorter waiting times as well as more flexible options for scheduling an appointment.
- Lower costs
Private doctors can often be cheaper than your local GP for an examination of this type – saving you money.
- More experienced
Certain private doctors administer the HGV medical test regularly and often, so they are very familiar with the exam and know how to complete the paperwork properly, in a way that the DVLA will understand. This makes the entire process more efficient.
We usually recommend this option because there is a better chance of the paperwork being filled in correctly, making it far quicker.
NOTE: As part of the service that we provide at the HGVT (HGV Training Centre) we can arrange your HGV medical test with a private doctor. We even include the medical in the price when you sign up!
Contact us for more details
What Are the HGV Medical Requirements?
There are certain requirements that you need to fulfill in order to pass the medical and be deemed fit to drive a commercial vehicle.
If you have never completed a medical test before you may be feeling some apprehension or worry about how fit you need to be, or whether you will meet the necessary requirements.
It is natural to be a little nervous about undergoing a medical, but don’t worry – excluding any serious condition which could prevent you from being a HGV driver, you really only need to be in general good health, so that you would not endanger yourself or others as part of your job as a commercial driver.
Our advice? Don’t be put off by the thought of the medical. Take the HGV medical test (it’s necessary if you want to get your HGV licence). You’re probably in better health than you know.
Having said that, there are specific things the examining doctor will be looking for, which we will detail below for your information.
What Does the HGV Medical Test Involve?
The medical comprises two parts:
- An interview with the physician
The first part involves a discussion with the doctor. It’s important to be as honest as possible in answering the doctor’s questions. They will discuss your medical history and ask you questions about your health and lifestyle generally, including your sleep patterns, any use of alcohol, and any medication you may be taking.
- A physical examination
The second part is the actual medical examination. The doctor is looking for specific things and he or she will check your eyesight, your vitals, and other markers of your health. The entire exam is usually completed in about 30 minutes or less. The doctor will complete the necessary paperwork for the DVLA. As stated above, it is the DVLA (not the attending physician) who makes the ultimate decision of your fitness, or otherwise, to be a HGV driver.
HGV Medical What Do They Test For?
The examining physician will be checking for any conditions which could potentially make driving a commercial vehicle problematic or dangerous. Amongst the things they will look into are:
- Eyesight
Naturally you need to have good eyesight to be a driver, and the requirements for HGV drivers are a little stricter than for regular car drivers.
You will need adequate vision out of each eye individually (with or without corrective glasses or lenses).
However, even if you have loss of vision in one eye, you may still pass the eyesight test. The doctor will be assessing your total field of vision.
- Heart Conditions
Any potential heart issues will need to be recorded by the doctor. This includes heart murmurs, heart attacks, aneurysms, PAD (peripheral arterial disease) and the like. Even benign heart issues could lead to something more serious down the road so it needs to be taken into account as part of your medical.
- Neurological issues
Certain neurological problems could prevent you from being a HGV driver as they could present a serious hazard while driving. As part of your exam you will be questioned about any memory issues, prior brain surgery, blackouts, seizures, epilepsy, narcolepsy and cataplexy, stroke, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and more.
- Diabetes
Being diabetic doesn’t necessarily prevent you from obtaining your HGV licence, but needing regular insulin may be a concern. If you have diabetes then the condition must be well-managed.
- Mental health issues
Various aspects of your mental health will be discussed, including depression, dementia, hospitalisation for psychiatric problems, cognitive issues, etc. It’s important for drivers to be in good mental health and to be safe to drive.
- Drugs and alcohol
Obviously it is not possible to be a HGV driver if you are a chronic alcohol or drug user. Driving with substances in your system is illegal and dangerous. During the medical, the examining physician will question you about this and look for signs of alcohol or drug abuse.
- Sleep issues
Lack of quality sleep is a leading cause of traffic incidents. Sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia can make driving for a living especially hazardous. While having sleep issues doesn’t mean an automatic disqualification, it is important to be honest when discussing this with the examining doctor. Any sleep problems you have will need to be managed.
Do you need to be a perfect picture of health?
It may look like a potential HGV driver needs to be in perfect health, but in reality as long as you are in good general health, and don’t have a serious health condition that could disbar you, you are likely to pass your medical test without any problems.
HGV Medical – What Could Disqualify You?
Certain serious health conditions could potentially disqualify you from being a HGV driver. A (non-exhaustive) list includes:
- Blackouts
- Recurring dizzy spells
- Epilepsy
- Narcolepsy
- Cataplexy
- Strokes
- Seizures
- Heart attacks
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Prior brain surgery
- Brain tumor
- Serious head injuries
- Dementia
- Cognitive impairment
And more…..
Any condition which could be potentially dangerous for you to be a commercial driver will be carefully assessed as part of your HGV medical test.
Developing Medical Conditions
As a licensed HGV driver, you are required to report any serious changes in your health that could affect your driving or potentially disqualify you from driving commercially. This includes developing cancer.
When you report a developing health condition to the DVLA, this could result in a new HGV medical test being required. If you pass the new medical exam you may have your full driving licence restored, or it may mean that you are moved to a short-term licence.
If your driving license is suspended because of a failed medical, there are processes in place to allow you to have your driving privileges restored. It should be noted that sometimes this can take several weeks to complete – this is to ensure the safety of you and others on the road – it’s not intended as a punishment.
What Does Short-Term Format HGV Licence Mean?
If you develop a medical condition after you have already received your HGV licence, the DVLA will make an assessment which may result in you being transferred from the full licence to a short-term licence.
What does this mean?
It essentially means that your licence will be valid for a shorter period – possibly between 1 and 5 years. You would need to have a medical exam more often, in order to monitor your health and ensure it is not deteriorating further – perhaps to the point where you are no longer able to drive safely.
The renewal process is that when the short-term licence gets close to expiring, you would need to undergo and pass a new HGV medical test.
Although this may seem inconvenient, so long as your health condition remains under control, you can re-apply and renew your licence, and continue driving.
How Long Does a HGV Medical Last?
Your medical test remains valid for a certain period of time, after which you would need to renew it. This is dependent on your age (and medical conditions as noted above).
- Under 45:
If you obtain your HGV licence before the age of 45 then your licence will last up to your 45th birthday before you need to reapply.
- 45-65
After you turn 45 your licence will need to be renewed every five years.
- 65 and over
Once you are 65 years old you will have to retake your medical test every year.
How Much Does a HGV Medical Cost?
The cost of a HGV medical will vary based on various factors but generally will cost between £50 and £100.
Some factors that can affect the price include:
- Location
Whether you go to your local NHS GP or a private doctor can make a difference. You may find that going to a private clinic for your HGV medical test could work out cheaper – but it is best to check out the prices beforehand.
As mentioned above – there are other considerations to take into account too, such as how experienced is the physician in administering the medical, and in completing the required paperwork for the DVLA.
If your local GP is unsure of the paperwork this could result in delays as the DVLA obtains clarification from your doctor.
- Your health
If your health conditions are complex and you take various medications, this may have an impact on the cost.
Shop around
It’s advisable to shop around to discover the best option for you. Generally we would recommend you use a private doctor who specialises in the HGV medical test.
You can download the necessary D4 paperwork from the government site before your appointment.
Your HGV medical test can also be organised through us, as part of the price of signing up with HGVT (HGV Training Centre).
Summary
The HGV medical test is a necessary step in the process of getting your HGV licence. As you can see, it is not as difficult to obtain as you may have thought, providing you have no serious health issues which would prevent you from safely driving a HGV.
For more information please give us a call or fill in our Contact form and we will be able to provide you with more information and answer any further questions you might have. We look forward to hearing from you.
