Hi
I’ve had to renew my license every three or five years since my diagnosis. I’ve just received my latest license and for some reason, I’ve been issued with an automatic one. I didn’t have to go to my GP, I completed my form as usual. The only thing I had to do this year was renew my photo. Has this happened to anyone else?
Thank you
You mean your driving licence has been changed to one for automatic cars? Did you want that or ask for it? Contact them and check what’s happened.
Thanks. I’m going to phone them and see what’s happened x
Hi there,
Yes, that can happen, and you’re not the only one who’s seen it. The DVLA sometimes changes the terms of a licence depending on the medical review process and the information they’ve already got on file. If they feel they have enough medical evidence from your history and previous reports, they won’t always send you back to your GP for another assessment.
As for being issued an “automatic only” licence, that usually happens when DVLA believes there may be medical concerns affecting the ability to safely operate a manual gearbox. It’s worth double-checking the licence categories printed on your photocard to see exactly what you’re entitled to drive—sometimes drivers only notice the “auto” restriction after the fact.
If you’ve always driven manual vehicles and nothing has changed in your medical condition, I’d recommend contacting DVLA directly to clarify whether the restriction was intentional or an admin error. It’s better to get it corrected now than run into issues later, especially if you’re working in haulage or may need to drive a manual truck.