Hi everyone
I have just reinsured my car and had a big surpprise. Having had MS for 12 years, I have just discovered that MS is a “notifyable disease” and I should have told the DVLA about it years ago.
Since no-one has ever told me this and I only found this out by chance yesterday when filling in the insurance form, it seems I am a bad boy, my car insurance would have been null and void for the past 12 years, and I am also breaking the law.
I have discussed driving with my GP several times and he has never mentioned it, my useless neurologist did not mention it (but I haven’t seen him for years), so how was I suposed to know.
The result is that the premium has gone up, and I now have to pluck up courage to tell the DVLA and hope they don’t get upset.
hi
as i understand it u have to inform them re ms but it does not affect the premium. they are not allowed to charge u extra cos u have ms but u do have to tell them so they have correct info.
maybe someone on here can clarify.
ellie x
Hi
I don’t think your premium should have gone up because you have MS. As chocorange says, it is a notifiable condition for the DVLA but it shouldn’t affect your insurance premium.
The DVLA, as a rule, would normally give you a three year restricted licence, if they consider you are fit to drive. I lost mine in November last year when my three year licence expired and DVLA decided I was no longer fit to drive, but after many medicals, forms, assessments etc, I was awarded another 3 year licence in July this year. I only drive an automatic car now, as my left side is next to useless, but I only drive when I feel I am really able to. If I am having a particularly bad period I don’t bother, for my safety and the safety of other road users.
You can find the form on-line, I believe, to inform the DVLA about your condition.
Good luck
Dawn
Yes you are right you have to advise them of your condition and tell them how it affects you.
They will then send you a form asking againm how it affects your driving and if you need any adaptations to your car and if you drive an automatic or a manual.
They will also ask for contact details of your GP and neuro so they can speak to them to confirm that you are safe to drive so don’t worry to much.
It shouldnt affect your premium though mine didnt.
Yes, thats right, I informed the DVLA when I was diagnosed and they gave me a three year licence after getting medical reports from my GP and neuro. My insurance was no different to the previous year either even though I had to declare my ms to them. I think most of us are sensible to know when we are unfit to drive, I know if I’m having a bad day I don’t drive anywhere, so I feel sure you would have questioned your fitness to drive a lot sooner if you had any concerns and then you would have found out that you were meant to inform the DVLA a lot sooner.
Suex
Hi everyone
I was diagnosed at the end of June. My car insurance was up for renewal at the beginning of August and I informed them after I received their quote. My premiums didn’t rise. I also informed the DVLA. My problem is that I am a bus driver and am unsure what is going to happen with my PCV license. Unfortunately I broke my ankle so have been off work with that since the end of May but i’m almost fit to return to work but have been told by Occupational Health that I can’t drive buses again until my license is approved.
I have had ‘weird’ symptons off and on now for approx 9yrs ( numbness, tingling, vibrations) but gp always blamed them on work. It was only waking up a year ago with double vision that prompted tests. The vision problems lasted 8 months but I was allowed a 3yr license then. Occupational Health think I should get a 1yr license but as yet no one will tell me anything.
I don’t know anyone else with MS so have been reading threads on here for the last few months. Don’t want to go off on a tantgent just wanted to know if anyone had any advice on my license problem. Thanks for reading.
Geraldine
d
vla
Hi
As others have said, your premium should not go up - that’s discriminatory. If the DVLA say you’re fit to drive (assuming they do), then you’re fit to drive - having MS will not make you more of a liability, so your premium cannot go up. You need to call the insurance company and let them know they’re breaking the law.
As a warning though, things can take a while with the DVLA. They’ll get you to fill out a medical questionnaire, and then do goodness knows what for several months, before almost certainly giving you a three year licence, which you’ll have to apply to renew every three years. And I’m not joking about having to wait for months - the quickest I’ve had a licence back is about 3 months, and the longest about 9 months…
Dan