Brain tumours and driving

You may not be allowed to drive for a while after you have had a brain tumour. This depends on the type of brain tumour you had and on where it was in the brain. The guidelines include specific information about the following

• Fits
• Benign tumours
• Pituitary tumours
• Gliomas
• Primitive neuroendocrine tumours (PNET)
• Other
• If you had a brain tumour as a child

Fits

You can't drive for at least a year after you have

• Had a fit at any point
• Been on anti-fit medicines

The only exception to this is if you have had a fit while you were sleeping and have previously had a fit during sleep, with a 3 year period after it that was free from waking fits. If you have a fit while asleep and haven't previously had a sleeping fit followed by 3 years with no fits while awake, then you still have to stop driving for a year.

Benign tumours

If you have had a benign brain tumour in the hind brain or brain stem you can drive again as soon as you are over your treatment. And you can keep your ‘up to 70 years old’ license.

If you have had an acoustic neuroma or schwannoma, you don't have to tell the DVLA at all unless it has caused any dizziness.

If you have had any other type of benign brain tumour anywhere else in your brain, you cannot drive for a year. Then you will be given a short term license (probably for 3 years). After 3 years, you will be assessed again, and may have your ‘until 70 years old’ license returned.

If you have had a benign meningioma, you may be allowed to drive again after 6 months, provided you haven't had any fits.

Pituitary tumours

Generally speaking, you can drive again once you are fully recovered from a pituitary tumour, however your tumour was treated. The DVLA will need medical evidence that you are fit to drive before you get your license back. So they will be in contact with your specialist before you get your license.

Glioma (including astrocytoma, ependymoma and oligodendroglioma)

If you had a grade 1 or 2 glioma, you can't drive for a year. Then your situation will be reviewed and you may get your license back.

If you had a grade 3 or 4 glioma, you can't drive for 2 years. Then your situation will be reviewed. In some circumstances, the DVLA will say you cannot drive for longer than 2 years before they review your license. All these decisions are taken after consulting your specialist and for medical reasons.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNET)

If you have had a low grade primitive neuroectodermal tumour completely removed with surgery, you can't drive for a year. Your situation will then be reviewed by the DVLA. The most common type of PNET is medulloblastoma.

Other tumours

Any brain tumour, other than those listed above, means you can't drive for 2 years.

If you had a brain tumour as a child

If you had a brain tumour as a child, but you have grown up without any recurrence of the tumour, you can have a regular license that will be valid until you are 70.

The regulations about driving are issued by the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Authority in Swansea. By law, you have to tell the DVLA about your medical condition. They will take back your license and issue you with a new one, once you are declared fit to drive again by your doctor. You don't have to re-take your driving test. You will just get your license back once you are declared fit. The return of your license is not automatic once you have given it up for medical reasons. The DVLA will contact your specialist and will take each decision on an individual basis depending on what your doctor says about your level of fitness and risk of further symptoms.

You can find information about the medical rules for drivers on the DVLA website.