Blood pressure
Anyone who takes blood pressure tablets, or has been told their blood pressure is high.
You must bring
- Three blood pressure readings taken on three different days in the last 4 weeks. Each one must show the date. A clear photo of your home monitor screen, a pharmacy printout or a GP printout all count.
- A list of your blood pressure tablets and doses.
- If your readings are high at clinics but normal at home: a 24-hour (ambulatory) blood pressure report, if you have one.
On the day
- Take your usual tablets as normal.
- No coffee, energy drinks or smoking for 2 hours before.
- Arrive 10 minutes early so you can sit and rest before the check.
What the DVLA says (Group 2 standard, used for D4 and taxi medicals)
- You must not drive and must tell the DVLA if your resting blood pressure is consistently 180 or higher (top number) and/or 100 or higher (bottom number).
- You can be licensed again once your blood pressure is controlled, as long as your treatment has no side effects that affect driving.
Taxi and private hire medicals use this same Group 2 standard in most councils. Source: DVLA, Assessing fitness to drive.
Why we ask
Your readings from home show the doctor your usual blood pressure. They are supporting evidence; the doctor still checks your blood pressure on the day.
This page explains the DVLA standard in plain English. It is not a decision about you. The doctor decides what can be signed on the day, and your council or the DVLA makes the licensing decision.