Professional Medical Services

Who needs a Taxi Medical Form?

A Taxi Medical Form is required for individuals who wish to obtain or renew a taxi licence. This form is necessary because taxi drivers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of both themselves and their passengers while operating a vehicle. The medical assessment helps determine if an individual is physically fit to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle on public roads. Therefore, anyone seeking to become a taxi driver or renew their existing licence would need to complete a Taxi Medical Form.

A taxi or private hire medical assessment is a mandatory requirement for all drivers seeking a licence to operate. This assessment is conducted to ensure that taxi drivers are in good physical health, enabling them to drive private hire vehicles or hackney carriages safely on public roads.

In order to obtain a taxi licence, drivers must successfully pass a thorough medical assessment. This evaluation serves as a means to confirm the driver's fitness. Prior to being granted a licence, it is crucial to demonstrate that you are physically capable of operating a vehicle. For those operating private hire cars or hackney carriages, a medical assessment is necessary in accordance with the specific requirements of the local council.

The primary objective of this examination is to prioritize the safety of the driver as well as other road users. Meeting the standards set by the DVLA necessitates successfully passing the medical assessment. If you are seeking reliable taxi driver medical assessments in the UK, Motor Medicals is a prominent provider in this field. As an approved organization, we offer services in partnership with various councils. Please refer to our list of approved councils for driver medicals.

The regulations for taxi drivers are slightly different from those for bus and lorry drivers. The recommendation from the government expects that a taxi driver should meet the same medical requirements as a HGV or PCV licence holder.

Visit the DVLA website if you need any more information at www.dvla.co.uk, or speak with your local council. The local authority (council) determines what the medical consists of and who can do it, so please check with your local authority to make sure that any registered doctor can perform the medical and not just your GP.

You must get your medical history from your GP secretary or be sure to have access to the NHS App so you can provide your medical record on your appointment with our doctor in line with local authority requirements. (Important note: without the medical record, the doctor cannot provide the final certification you require in your form as per local authority requirements). Not all the local authority require this in the certification. Please ensure that you bring the relevant Licencing Authority Medical Assessment Form with you; otherwise, the medical cannot be completed.

Attending your Taxi medical

• Please arrive 15 to 10 minutes in advance your appointment to be sure that you have completed your part in your form.
• Please come to your medical wearing comfortable clothes so you can move easily in, as you may be required to do a step test.
• Please remember to bring photographic ID (passport or driving license) and your glasses (do not wear contact lenses for your examination we will be asked to were them in the clinic).
• Avoid loud noise for 16 hours before your medical as this may affect your hearing for the examination.

A routine medical examination approximately takes about 15 minutes; however, it may take longer depending on your medical history. We advise that you allow at least 1 hour for the appointment.

On the day at the clinic the Doctor of Kent D4 Medical will:

• Check your identification.
• Take a blood pressure measurement.
• List of any medication you're currently taking.
• List of any hospital consultant you see regularly.
• Document your height, weight, smoking and alcohol history (To assist the Doctor it would be helpful to bring a note of your most recent weight and height with you).
• Ask questions about your medical history and document it on the taxi medical form.
• Bring all the letters and tests from hospital discharge, GP or specialist (cardiologist, neurologist, orthopaedics, medics, endocrinology and diabetes).

What you will need to bring:

• A original or print out of the form documentation, having already completed your personal details. Fill in along with your name and date of birth at the foot of all other pages in most of the forms of the local autorities on the taxi medical form before the appointment with the doctor for carrying out the medical examination. Check all sections of the medical report have been fully filled in. If you send the local authority an incomplete report your application will be returned.
• Photo ID (passport, driving licence).
• GP's name, surgery address and contact details.
• Details of any medication you're taking (name and concentration).
• Your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them (though not colour correction lenses). You will need to remove contact lenses during examination if you wear them.
• Your previous medical certificate if you have one.
• Comfortable footwear and clothes to enable you to undertake exercise test if needed.
• List of any hospital consultant you see regularly.
• Document your height, weight, smoking and alcohol history (To assist the Doctor it would be helpful to bring a note of your most recent weight and height with you).

What does the medical involve?

• Measure your height and weight.
• Take your blood pressure.
• Test your eyesight (included free of charge as part of the medical assessment).
• Physical examination.
• If you have any previous medical history then the doctor will discuss this with you too.
• Sometimes other tests are needed such as a step test, an ECG or spirometry (breathing test) and will be recommended to the local authority.

Important note regarding eyesight assessment:
The eyesight test performed during the medical is a basic visual acuity screening.
If you have a history of eye surgery, glaucoma, visual field defects, macular or retinal disease, optic nerve pathology, or any other significant ophthalmic condition, the DVLA Group 2 medical standards require that a formal eye assessment is carried out by a registered optician (optometrist) or ophthalmologist. This specialist assessment is not included in the medical examination and must be arranged separately by the patient.

How long will it take?

The appointment usually lasts 15-30 minutes

How long is my D4 Form is valid for?

The interval between having your medical examination and applying for your licence (or licence renewal) must not exceed 4 months.

What happens after examination?

The completed taxi Medical Form must be posted to the relevant authority by yourself. The interval between having your medical examination and applying for your licence (or licence renewal) must not exceed 4 months as per DVLA group 2.

What happens if my medical condition change after my taxi medical examination report?

You need to tell your local authority about some medical conditions as they can affect your driving. Check if a health condition affects your driving from: www.direct.gov.uk/driverhealth. Use the A to Z to check if you need to report your condition and find the relevant form or questionnaire.