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  4. Medical & Fitness Requirements

DMV Seizure/Blackout Policy

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  • Medical & Fitness Requirements
    • Medical Review Process
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    • DMV Policy for Drivers Experiencing a Crash Due to a Pedal Application Error
    • DMV Policy for Drivers with Heart-Assist Device
    • DMV Policy for Drivers with Psychiatric Disorders
    • DMV Policy for Drivers with Respiratory Conditions Requiring Supplemental Oxygen and/or Sleep Disorders
    • DMV Diabetes Policy
    • DMV Seizure/Blackout Policy
    • DMV Substance Abuse Policy
    • DMV Transient Ischemic Attack and/or Cerebral Vascular Accident Policy
    • DMV Vaso-Vagal Syncope Policy
    • DMV Visual Field Policy
    • Driving Under the Influence of Prescription Medications
    • Interpreting Letters / Instructions from the Medical Review Services (MRS) Team
    • Medical Advisory Board
    • Periodic Review with Medical Review Services (MRS)
    • Report an Impaired Driver
    • Suspension Date Approaching / Past

Your safety is important to us. Having a seizure is a serious medical event and the possibility of subsequent seizures affects your ability to safely operate a vehicle. 

DMV’s Medical Advisory Board, composed of licensed physicians, sets the requirements to start driving again after a seizure to allow enough time to ensure the driver’s seizure medication is effective, and that none of the corresponding medical conditions have reoccurred.

Process for Customers Applying for a License

Customer Medical Report

If you have a history of seizures, you and your doctor must complete a Customer Medical Report before DMV can issue you a Virginia driver’s license.

Once DMV receives the medical report, a review will be conducted to determine if it’s safe for you to operate a motor vehicle. If it is, you’re free to get your license.

Medical Review Period

Once you’re licensed to drive, DMV will place you on a periodic medical review. Based on your medical report, DMV will require you to provide us with medical reports every three, six, twelve or twenty-four months. 

Process for Customers Who Are Already Licensed

If you are currently licensed and DMV is notified you’ve experienced a seizure, your driving privilege will be suspended for a period of six months from the date of the last episode. 

At the end of the six-month period, you must submit a Customer Medical Report to DMV with Parts A, F and the Customer Information Sections completed. DMV will use this information to determine whether your driving privilege may be reinstated. 

10-Year Review

If you are on anti-seizure medication and have been seizure-free for 10 years, DMV may stop requiring periodic medical reports.

Breakthrough Seizure

If you suffer a breakthrough seizure, you may resume driving three months after the episode. Proof of compliance may be requested.

A breakthrough seizure is a sudden unexpected seizure in someone who previously had their seizures under control. Breakthrough seizures may result from missed medication, change of dosage, alcohol withdrawal, or illness. 

Isolated Seizure

If you have an isolated (single-event) seizure with a clearly identified cause for which treatment has been completed, and have no risk of reoccurrence, you may resume driving three months after the episode, provided your neurologist can supply documentation proving you’re now stable, and no unfavorable conditions have been noted. 

Unfavorable conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • A positive family history of seizures
  • The seizure was focal in origin
  • The EEG showed focal or generalized spikes
  • Neurological deficits were noted before the seizure

At the end of the suspension period, you must submit a Customer Medical Report to DMV that indicates you were examined exactly three months from the date of your episode, and have not suffered a subsequent episode since. Parts A, F and the Customer Information Sections must be fully completed.

Note:

If the isolated seizure or loss of consciousness event is due to withdrawal from alcohol or another substance, you will remain suspended for six months, and must meet the requirements.

Unexplained Blackout

If you suffer an unexplained blackout, alteration of awareness, or loss of consciousness (negative medical work-up with no defined cause), DMV will suspend your driving privilege for a period of six months from the date of the episode.

At the end of the six-month period, you must submit a Customer Medical Report to DMV that indicates you were examined exactly six months from the date of your episode, and have not suffered a subsequent episode since. Parts A, F and the Customer Information Sections must be fully completed.

Disclaimer:

DMV may request additional information to help make a decision, and may make additional requirements depending on your medical information.

For more information, see our Seizure/Blackout Policy.

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