MP highlights taxi licensing medical delays, which Minister says is an authority problem not a DVLA issue
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
The Government has confirmed that responsibility for taxi and private hire medical licensing decisions rests with local authorities, not the DVLA, amid growing concern over delays linked to Group 2 medical assessments.
The clarification came in response to a series of parliamentary questions from Greg Smith, who asked what assessment ministers had made of the impact delays to taxi and private hire licence renewals were having on the industry. He also questioned whether discussions had taken place with the Department of Health and Social Care over access to GP appointments needed for licence medicals.
Responding on behalf of the Department for Transport, Lilian Greenwood said medical suitability for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers “is a matter for licensing authorities not the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).”
Greenwood confirmed the Department’s guidance for licensing authorities in England remains that drivers should meet standards equivalent to Group 2 licence holders, the medical category used for bus and lorry drivers. These standards are widely regarded as stricter than ordinary car licence requirements due to the safety-sensitive nature of professional driving roles.
The minister also clarified that medical assessments do not have to be completed by a driver’s own GP. Instead, the process requires an examination by any registered medical practitioner using the DVLA’s D4 medical form as a template. The D4 form is commonly used for heavy goods vehicle and passenger carrying vehicle licence applications.
Greenwood said: “All initial category C and D licence applications require a medical assessment by a registered medical practitioner recorded on the D4 form. This does not need to be the applicant’s GP.”
The response will draw attention to the taxi and private hire sector, where drivers in some areas continue to report long waits for medical appointments, renewal backlogs and inconsistent approaches between licensing authorities. In several licensing regions, delays in obtaining medical sign-off have left drivers temporarily unable to work while awaiting renewal decisions.
The Department for Transport stopped short of outlining any plans for national reform or intervention. Greenwood instead reiterated that councils are responsible for assessing the medical evidence they receive and deciding whether licences should be granted or renewed.
The issue has become increasingly prominent as licensing processes have moved further towards digital administration while still relying heavily on external checks, including DBS monitoring and medical certification. Industry representatives have repeatedly warned that delays outside a driver’s control can now directly affect their ability to continue working legally.
While the Government’s response did not indicate direct talks with the Department of Health and Social Care regarding GP access for licensing medicals, the answer may reinforce the growing use of private medical providers offering Group 2 assessments outside traditional NHS GP services.
Lilian Greenwood added: “The Department for Transport’s guidance to licensing authorities in England on the medical suitability of drivers is that they should seek the same information to inform their decision as required by the DVLA for category C and D licences (Group 2) required for an entitlement to driver lorries (category C) and for buses (category D). All initial category C and D licence applications require a medical assessment by a registered medical practitioner - recorded on the D4 form, this does not need to be the applicant’s GP. It is suggested in the Department’s guidance to licensing authorities that that the DVLA’s medical examination report (D4) is used as a template to gather relevant information.
“The guidance is clear that it is the responsibility of licensing authorities to assess the medical information they receive and decide whether a taxi or private hire vehicle licence should be issued.”
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