Why the standard is higher
Professional drivers spend far more hours on the road than most motorists and carry passengers who depend on them. The DVLA Group 2 style standard reflects that, with tighter thresholds particularly around eyesight and conditions that can cause sudden incapacity.
It is not designed to exclude people with health conditions. It is designed to check that conditions are known about, managed and stable.
What the appointment usually covers
- Eyesight, including corrected vision and visual fields
- Heart and blood pressure
- Diabetes and how it is managed
- Neurological conditions, including any history of blackouts or seizures
- Sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, which affect daytime alertness
- Mental health, medication and any substance dependency history
- General mobility and fitness to drive for long periods
Before you book
Two checks save most of the problems we see. First, confirm that the doctor you are booking with is acceptable under TfL's current requirements and has access to your full medical history. Second, make sure you are using the current version of the correct form.
A medical completed on an old form, or by someone TfL will not accept, has to be done again at your own cost.
What to take with you
- Your DVLA driving licence
- Glasses or contact lenses if you use them
- A written list of all your current medication and doses
- Details of any ongoing conditions and specialist letters if you have them
- The correct TfL medical form, unfilled and undamaged
If you have a health condition
Do not assume a condition rules you out, and do not hide it either. Plenty of licensed drivers manage diabetes, high blood pressure or treated sleep apnoea. What matters is that the condition is properly documented and under control.
If your doctor needs more information before signing, that is normal. Get the evidence rather than looking for a doctor who will sign without it — TfL make the final decision and an unsupported form helps nobody.
Having your medical arranged for you
Our Gold VIP package includes arranging the medical for you on the correct current form, alongside the enhanced DBS, the TfL fees and your full application submission. It removes the most common cause of duplicate spending in the whole process.
The medical outcome is a clinical judgement, and the licensing decision belongs to TfL. We make sure the paperwork is right, not the result.
Have your medical arranged for you
Our TfL Gold VIP package is our full-support option: training and study material, medical and enhanced DBS arranged, TfL fees covered and your application prepared and submitted with you. £1,250.
We prepare and support your application. The decision to grant a licence, and the outcome of every TfL assessment, always rests with Transport for London.
Frequently asked questions
Related TfL guides
DBS Check
The enhanced criminal record check and the DBS Update Service.
PCO Application
A step-by-step walkthrough of the application from start to badge.
Eligibility
Age, licence history, right to work and the other basic conditions.
PCO Licence Cost
The costs to budget for: TfL fees, medical, DBS and training.
TfL PCO Licensing & packages
Our main London page: training, full application support and pricing.
This guide is general information based on our day-to-day experience supporting London applicants. Rules, fees and requirements are set by Transport for London and can change — always check the current TfL guidance before you apply, and contact us if you would like help understanding your own situation.
