Driving and brain tumours
Most people diagnosed with a brain tumour will not be allowed to drive for a time after their diagnosis and treatment.
How a brain tumour may affect your right to drive
Following diagnosis and treatment for a brain tumour, most people will not be allowed to drive for a period of time. If you have a driving licence, you must tell the licencing agency (DVLA or DVA) that you have been diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Advice on driving may vary even between people with the same tumour type. Your doctor or clinical nurse specialist can explain how this applies in your individual situation. You can find more information on the GOV.UK website.
Whether you have to stop driving, and for how long, depends on:
- the type and grade of your tumour
- how the tumour was diagnosed
- what treatment you are having
- your symptoms and whether you have had any seizures
- the type of license you have - for example Group 1 (cars and motorcycles), or Group 2 (lorries and buses).
You might have to surrender (give up) your license for a period of time. If you send back your license, it can be easier to reapply for a new license. You can reapply for your license if you meet the required criteria to drive again in the future.
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). If you live in Northern Ireland, contact the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA).
You can be fined if you do not tell the DVLA or DVA about a medical condition that affects your driving. If you continue to drive when you have been advised not to, you:
- will not be covered by your insurance
- could be prosecuted if you have an accident.
Reapplying for your licence
If you have surrendered (given up) your licence, you may be able to to get it back after a period of time. This will depend on whether you meet the required criteria.
These include:
- how long it is since any treatment
- your most recent brain scan result
- your current symptoms
- your eyesight.
You can contact the DVLA or DVA and submit forms to reapply. They may ask your doctor for medical information about you.
Your doctor or clinical nurse specialist can tell you more about this.
Getting support
Being diagnosed with a brain tumour may cause a range of different emotions. There is no right or wrong way to feel. It may help to get support from family, friends or a support organisation.
Macmillan is also here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can:
- Call the Macmillan Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00.
- Chat to our specialists online.
- Visit our brain cancer forum to talk with people who have been affected by brain tumours, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions.
Other organisations who can help
You may also want to get support from a brain tumour charity, such as:
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
-
References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our primary brain tumour information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
EANO-ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for prophylaxis, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up: Neurological and vascular complications of primary and secondary brain tumours. 2021. Available from www.eano.eu/publications/eano-guidelines/eano-esmo-clinical-practice-guidelines-for-prophylaxis-diagnosis-treatment-and-follow-up-neurological-and-vascular-complications-of-primary-and-secondary-brain-tumours [accessed August 2024].
NICE Guideline NG99. Brain tumours (primary) and brain metastases in over 16s. 2018 (updated 2021). Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng99 [accessed August 2024].
Date reviewed
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
- structure the information clearly
- make sure important points are clear.
We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.
How we can help