D4 Form PDF | DVLA Medical Examination Report

The D4 form is the DVLA medical examination report for a Group 2 (bus or lorry) licence. Download, print, or fill it in digitally below, then take it to a doctor who completes the medical sections. You post the signed report to DVLA with your licence application. It is free to obtain and stays valid for four months from your examination date.

Quick Answer

The DVLA D4 is the medical examination report required for most HGV, lorry, bus and coach licence applications and renewals. A doctor completes the medical sections, and the signed paper report is posted to DVLA with your D2, D47P or D47PU application. It remains valid for 4 months from the date of the examination.

The D4 at a Glance

Official name	Medical examination report for a Group 2 (bus or lorry) licence
Who is it for?	Lorry, HGV, bus, coach and minibus drivers (Group 2)
Cost of the form	Free to download, print or order
Medical fee	Paid to the doctor, typically around £50 to £200
Completed by	You plus a GMC-registered doctor, and an optician if needed
Valid for	Four months from the date of examination
Sent to	DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BR, with your D2, D47P or D47PU
Pairs with	D2 (new applications) or D47P / D47PU (renewals)

What Is the D4 Form?

It is the report a doctor uses to confirm you meet the higher health standards for driving larger vehicles. The paperwork has two color-coded parts. You complete the grey boxes with your personal details and a signed declaration. A registered doctor and, where needed, an optician or optometrist complete the green clinical boxes during your appointment. The current version is marked 12/24.

Because it deals with your fitness to drive professionally, every entry matters. Blank boxes are read as missing answers rather than not applicable, so something is recorded in each relevant section before signing.

What Is the D4 Used For?

This D4 medical report supports a range of professional driving situations. You typically need it when you:

Apply for a first lorry or bus licence (categories C, C1, D, D1 and their trailer variants)
Renew a Group 2 entitlement at 45 and every five years after that
Renew a Group 2 entitlement yearly once you turn 65
Upgrade from an ordinary car licence to a professional category
Reapply after a licence was refused or withdrawn on medical grounds
Tell the licensing agency about a new health condition that affects your driving
Return to vocational driving after a medical suspension
Support a taxi or private hire application, where the local council asks for it

Who Needs the D4 Form?

The report exists for Group 2 drivers because they spend more time at the wheel and carry heavier loads or passengers. You need one if you are:

A lorry or HGV driver holding or seeking categories C, C1, C+E or C1+E
A bus, coach or minibus driver holding or seeking categories D, D1, D+E or D1+E
An older driver renewing vocational entitlement at the ages set by the agency
A driver with a notifiable condition asked to supply medical evidence
A taxi or private hire applicant in an area whose council uses this standard

Medical Standards for Group 2 (Bus and Lorry) Drivers

Group 2 standards are stricter than those for cars. The doctor checks each area below against the agency’s published rules. Meeting a condition threshold does not automatically determine whether you pass or fail; the licensing agency makes the final decision.

Health area	What the standard looks at
Eyesight	Visual acuity of at least 6/7.5 in the better eye and at least 6/60 in the other, plus visual field and, if worn, corrective lenses within limits
Blood pressure	A reading of 180 mmHg systolic or more, or 100 mmHg diastolic or more, prompts further readings and review
Diabetes	How it is treated, glucose monitoring habits, and any history of low blood sugar needing help
Neurological	Seizures, stroke, blackouts and related conditions from the past set periods
Heart health	Coronary disease, rhythm problems, implanted devices and exercise tolerance
Sleep and mental health	Sleep apnoea severity, psychiatric history and any substance dependence

The Medical Examination Process

The appointment is short and straightforward. A typical visit lasts about 10 to 15 minutes unless your history is complex. Here is what usually happens:

The doctor checks your identity against acceptable documents before starting.
Your eyesight is assessed by a doctor, an optician, or an optometrist.
Blood pressure, height, and weight are recorded.
The doctor reviews your medical history, medications, and any conditions.
The clinical boxes are completed, and the report is signed and stamped.

You leave with the signed report in hand. The four-month clock starts from that signing date, so book close to when you plan to apply.

D4 Medical Requirements: What to Bring?

Turn up prepared so nothing holds up the appointment. Bring:

Photo identification the doctor can use to confirm who you are
Your glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them for driving
A list of current medications and doses
Details of any specialists or consultants you see
Your blood glucose records, if you have diabetes

Eligibility Requirements

Situation	Requirement
First professional application	Hold a full car licence and be resident in the UK
Age 45 to 64	Renew vocational entitlement every five years with a fresh medical
Age 65 and over	Renew every year, each time with a new medical
New health condition	Supply a medical report when the agency requests one

When You Need to Complete the DVLA D4 Form?

Renewing at a milestone age set for vocational drivers
Starting out with a first HGV or PCV application
Reinstating entitlement after suspension or refusal
Declaring a condition that could affect safe driving

Special Cases and Circumstances

Many conditions are compatible with professional driving when well managed. Being open is always right; failing to declare a condition can lead to a withdrawn licence and prosecution. Common situations include:

Diabetes treated with insulin, where glucose monitoring records are reviewed
Vision in one eye only, which needs an optician or optometrist assessment
Controlled epilepsy or a past seizure, judged against set time periods
Driving while a renewal is processed, covered by Section 88 rules when conditions are met
A result that does not meet a standard, where the agency may ask for further tests

D2 vs D4: What Is the Difference?

These two are often confused because they travel together in the same envelope. One is your application; the other is your medical proof.

Feature	D2 application	D4 medical report
Purpose	Applies for or adds a lorry or bus category	Confirms you meet Group 2 health standards
Who fills it in	You, the applicant	You plus a doctor and, if needed, an optician
When	New applications and upgrades	Whenever a medical is required
Renewal swap	D47P or D47PU is sent for renewals	Still needed alongside the renewal form

How to Fill in the D4 Fillable PDF Form?

You are responsible for only a small part of the paperwork. Follow these steps for the sections that are yours:

Read the official INF4D notes first, so you know what each part expects.
On page 1, enter your full name, date of birth, address and postcode exactly as they appear on your licence.
Add an optional contact number and email if you are happy to be reached that way.
Fill in the date you were first licensed to drive a bus or lorry.
Give your GP’s details only if your own doctor differs from the examining doctor.
Leave the green clinical boxes for the medical professional to complete at your appointment.
On page 8, read the declaration carefully, then sign and date it. Do not change its wording.
Use black ink and block capitals, and write “None” rather than leaving a box blank.

Fees, Processing Time and What to Expect

The paperwork is free from official sources. What you pay for is the doctor’s time to carry out the medical, and you are liable for that cost. After posting, applications typically take about 3 weeks, though a medical review can add several more.

Vocational licences are a small share of DVLA’s work, about 4 percent of driver transactions according to the National Audit Office, and the agency aims to process paper vocational applications within a few working days. Longer waits usually stem from cases where the agency has to write to a driver, GP, or consultant for more detail, which the DVLA’s chief executive told the Commons Transport Committee is the main cause of delay, especially when someone has more than one condition.

Cost and Payment for the D4 Medical (2026)

Prices vary by provider and location, so it pays to compare. As a neutral resource, we set out the typical picture rather than selling an appointment:

Provider	Typical price range	Notes
Specialist driver clinic	Around £50 to £90	Often same day, eye test included
Your own GP surgery	Around £80 to £200	Many no longer offer it
Mobile or workplace service	Varies by area	Convenient for fleets

Renewing the licence itself is normally free; the medical fee is separate and paid to the doctor.

Where to Send Your Completed Report

Postal address:

DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BR

Post the signed report together with your application form to the address above. For a first application, send it with the D2 form. For a renewal, send it with the D47P or D47PU you receive in the post. This return address is confirmed on the GOV.UK renew a lorry or bus licence pages. Keep a copy for your records, and use a tracked postal service, since the report cannot be replaced if it is lost. If the medical was for a taxi or private hire role, send it to your local council instead.

Vehicle Categories Covered

Category	Covers
C1	Medium-sized lorries
C	Large lorries
C+E	Large lorries with a trailer
D1	Minibuses
D	Buses and coaches
D+E	Buses with a trailer

Common Mistakes That Cause Delays

Most held-up applications fail on admin, not medicine. Avoid these, and you avoid the back and forth that adds weeks:

Leaving boxes blank: Write “None” or “N/A” rather than leaving it blank, since a blank reads as missing.
Using an old version: Check you have the current 12/24 report, as the agency returns outdated ones.
Details that do not match: Your name, date of birth, and address must match your licence exactly.
Booking too early: The report lasts four months, so a medical done too soon can expire before you apply.
Missing the eyesight section: If the doctor cannot complete it, an optician or optometrist must.
Sending the report alone: It must travel with the matching application form.

The D4 Process, Start to Finish

Here is the full journey in order, so you know what comes next at each stage:

Download, print or order the report.
Your eyesight is assessed by a doctor, an optician, or an optometrist.
Blood pressure, height and weight are recorded.
The doctor reviews your medical history, medications and any conditions.
The clinical boxes are completed, and the report is signed and stamped.

Frequently Asked Questions

It must be completed by a GMC-registered doctor, with the vision section filled in by a doctor, an optician, or an optometrist. The examining doctor confirms their registration and licensure to practice. Many drivers use a specialist clinic or their own GP.

Yes, in most cases they go together. The D2 is your application to add or renew a lorry or bus category, and the medical report supports it. For renewals, the D47P or D47PU replaces the D2, but the medical is still enclosed.

It is valid for four months from the date of your examination. Submit it within that window, so it is best to book your medical close to when you plan to apply. If it lapses, you will need a fresh examination.

No, it is a paper report that you post to Swansea with your application. The doctor and optician sign it by hand, and the agency needs the original signed copy. Send it by a tracked service to be safe.

Yes, branches that offer DVLA services can supply the paperwork, though stock varies. The quickest route is to download and print it, or fill it in on screen. You do not have to visit a Post Office to obtain it.

Often, yes. Under Section 88, you may continue driving while the agency processes your renewal, provided you meet the conditions. These include holding a valid licence and having no medical reason not to drive. Check the current rules before relying on this.