HGV Medical (D4): Who Needs It, Eyesight Standards, When to Renew

The HGV medical: form D4

By Vadym Starynets, editor and publisher · Checked against gov.uk guidance on 25 September 2026 · How we work

The D4 is the medical examination report DVLA needs before it gives you a lorry or bus licence and whenever you renew one from the age of 45. It is filled in by a doctor, and the eyesight part can be done by an optician. The standards are stricter than for a car licence, especially for eyesight.

When you need a D4

When you first apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence, together with form D2.
At every licence renewal from age 45: DVLA sends form D47P and a D4 56 days before your licence runs out. That means every 5 years from 45, and every year from 65.
When renewing a lorry licence and applying for a provisional bus licence (or the other way round), if you have not completed a D4 in the last year.

Under 45, renewal uses form D47PU and needs no medical, unless your licence runs out within 56 days of your 45th birthday.

Who can fill it in

Either your GP or a private firm that specialises in drivers' medicals. If the doctor cannot complete the vision assessment, an optician or optometrist fills in that section. The doctor, optician or firm can charge; there is no fixed price. DVLA does not charge to issue or renew the licence itself.

The eyesight standard for lorry and bus drivers

Visual acuity of at least 0.8 (6/7.5) on the Snellen scale in the better eye, and at least 0.1 (6/60) in the other eye.
You can reach it with glasses of corrective power not more than +8 dioptres, or with contact lenses (no power limit for lenses).
An uninterrupted horizontal field of vision of at least 160 degrees, extending at least 70 degrees left and right and 30 degrees up and down, with no defects within the central 30 degrees.

Drivers who held their lorry or bus licence before 1 January 1997 may still be able to renew if they cannot meet this standard. Any eyesight problem affecting either eye must be reported to DVLA.

Other medical conditions

The D4 also covers conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, epilepsy and sleep disorders. Whether a condition stops you holding a lorry licence depends on the condition and its treatment; DVLA publishes an A to Z of medical conditions that could affect driving, and you must tell DVLA about any that apply to you.

What happens next

Send the completed D4 with form D2 (first application) or D47P (renewal) to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BR. While a renewal is with DVLA you can usually keep driving under your previous licence's conditions if your doctor supports it, your application is less than a year old and you were not refused or revoked for medical reasons.

Questions

How often do HGV drivers need a medical?

When first applying, then at each licence renewal from 45 (every 5 years) and every year from 65.

Can my optician do the eyesight part of the D4?

Yes. If your doctor cannot complete the vision assessment, an optician or optometrist can fill in that section.

What eyesight do you need for an HGV licence?

At least 0.8 (6/7.5) in the better eye and 0.1 (6/60) in the other, with glasses no stronger than +8 dioptres or with contact lenses, and a 160-degree field of vision.

How much does a D4 medical cost?

There is no set price: the GP, optician or private medical firm sets its own fee. DVLA charges nothing to process the licence.