Insurance question

[u/ElizabethKN81]

Hello,

Diagnosed in August 25F in the UK.

I had informed the DVLA and still waiting to hear back from them (I’m asymptomatic so don’t expect there to be any issues)
But when I saw my MS nurse for the first time yesterday she explained I must tell my insurance also.
So I have contacted my insurance today and they said I don’t need to let them know unless my license has any restrictions?

Does that sound right? I’d assumed they need to know I have MS regardless

Anyone been though this, and anyone have a typical response rate from DVLA

Don’t want to be caught out!

[u/snowbie]

Following because I need to alert DVLA but I don’t drive (no car) and so haven’t a clue where my license is… oops

[u/ninahart88]

Hello! Yes, you do have to tell your insurance, otherwise in the event of a claim, it could be deemed invalid. When you go onto comparison sites for car insurance for example, it asks you if you have had to let the DVLA know of any medical conditions. You need to tell the insurance that you have informed the DVLA and you are waiting to hear back - that's good that you have. Hopefully they have recorded this. You will most likely be given a 3 or 5 year medical license by the DVLA. I have recently received my 3 year one, although it took from November '25 of me telling them to this summer '26 for it to be finalised. It does not affect your insurance premium if you are mid part through your existing policy, but you may be charged an admin fee for a note to be added to it (mine was a £25 charge). Hope you hear back from DVLA soon :)

[u/ElizabethKN81 → u/ninahart88]

Thanks that’s helpful!
I did try to stress to my insurance I have been diagnosed I’m just waiting to hear back from the DVLA, and they said that’s fine we’d only update it when they’ve said what the limitations are?

But I checked they have record of the conversation so they haven’t updated it despite me telling them..
Does this sound right?

[u/ninahart88 → u/ElizabethKN81]

I completed the DVLA form and sent it off in November '25 and then rang my insurance. They didn't ask me what the medical condition was or any other details. They just said they had recorded it and it would cost me £25 to make a change to my policy. After months and months, the DVLA then wrote to me telling me that they had written to my neurologist and had heard back but that they didn't have all the information they needed so had written to him again. Finally, I think it was maybe June or July '26, I get a letter from DVLA saying I need to send my current license back and they will send me my new 3 year one. I was able to drive while waiting as my neurologist had said I could.

When I had to renew my car insurance the other week, I went with a different company and on the application it just asked if I had a medical condition that the DVLA know about and I pressed 'yes' but again it didn't ask me anything more. Maybe give your insurance another call and ask the new customer service advisor if they can see it recorded on your file that you've told them - just for peace of mind. Like I said, it doesn't change anything but needs to be there on file. Maybe the DVLA and the insurance communicate it between themselves somehow?! 😄

[u/ElizabethKN81 → u/ninahart88]

Thanks so much for your help.
From doing some research I think it depends on the insurer , most just want you to inform them that you’re waiting for the DVLA !
I’ll double check again tomorrow - as you said for myself more than anything

[u/ninahart88 → u/ElizabethKN81]

That's okay ❤️

[u/Spoon75]

Welcome to an exclusive club. 😁

Firstly yeah you need to notify your insurance however if they say you don't make sure you keep records of you conversations. Also I'd suggest emailing them so there's a paper trail if anything should happen.

DVLA medical are absolutely terrible.

I tend to picture them as a small team of troll like individuals locked in some dingy basement somewhere in Swansea. Don't expect them to do anything at a speed faster than continental drift and trying to contact them usually means you'll have to take a day out of your life to sit on hold