The HGV medical (D4): what's checked and what it costs in Kent
You need a D4 medical before you can apply for a provisional lorry licence. Here's what the doctor checks, the eyesight standard, the conditions that can stop you, and what Kent clinics charge.
Short answer
A D4 medical costs £45 to £66 in Kent at the 7 clinics and training providers that publish a price, with a middle of £58. A GP can do it too, but may charge more. The form is valid for 4 months from the day the doctor signs it, so book it shortly before you send off for your provisional licence.
What the medical is for
Lorry and bus drivers have to meet higher medical standards than car drivers. To get a provisional lorry licence you send DVLA two forms with your photocard licence: the D2 application and the D4 medical report, filled in by a doctor. There's no DVLA fee. DVLA says you should get your provisional licence within 3 weeks, longer if it needs to check your health.
What the doctor checks
The doctor takes your medical history and fills in all 11 sections of the D4: eyesight, nervous system conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, heart conditions, blood pressure, mental health, alcohol and drug use, and sleep disorders. An optician can do the eyesight section instead.
The eyesight standard
- At least 6/7.5 (0.8) in your better eye, with glasses or contact lenses if you need them.
- At least 6/60 (0.1) in your worse eye.
- If you wear glasses to drive, neither lens can be stronger than +8 dioptres.
- A horizontal field of vision of at least 160 degrees.
- People with sight in only one eye can't normally get a lorry licence.
Conditions that can stop you, or need extra checks
- Epilepsy. You need to have been free of seizures for 10 years without anti-seizure medication. After a single seizure, you may be able to drive lorries 5 years later if you meet strict criteria.
- Diabetes treated with insulin. You must stop driving lorries when you start insulin and tell DVLA. You can then apply if you have full awareness of hypos, no severe hypo in the last 12 months, check your glucose at least twice a day, before driving and every 2 hours while driving, and pass a yearly check by an independent consultant. Since 7 November 2025 lorry drivers can use an approved continuous glucose monitor, with a finger-prick meter as backup.
- ADHD. A diagnosis isn't a bar in itself. Lorry licence holders must tell DVLA, on form A1V, only if their condition or medication affects their driving.
- Colour blindness doesn't stop you, and you don't need to tell DVLA.
- Blood pressure. A resting reading consistently at 180 systolic or 100 diastolic or above is likely to lead to refusal.
- Heart conditions. Uncontrolled angina, heart failure or arrhythmia, and an implanted defibrillator, are likely to lead to refusal.
- Sleep apnoea. Moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea with excessive sleepiness has to be reported to DVLA.
- Alcohol. Persistent misuse means at least a year of controlled drinking or abstinence before relicensing; dependence with withdrawal seizures or assisted withdrawal means at least 3 years' abstinence.
- Mental health. A psychotic illness in the past 12 months is likely to lead to refusal.
Every condition, with DVLA's waiting periods and forms.
If you have any of these, talk to the doctor before you pay for training. DVLA makes the decision, and it won't refund what you paid for the medical if it refuses your application. In England and Wales you can appeal a refusal at the magistrates' court within 6 months.
D4 medical prices in Kent
Published prices including VAT, checked 17 October 2026.
| Clinic or provider | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Midland Medical Group | Sevenoaks (Fern House, 119 Wickenden Road, TN13 3PW) | £45 |
| DrivermedicsEye test included | Ashford (The Panorama, Park Street, TN24 8DF) | £48 |
| D4 Medicals (Just Health)Eye test included | Maidstone (20 Tonbridge Road, ME16 8RT) and Ashford; also Canterbury and Dartford | £50 |
| D4Drivers | Maidstone (Orida Hotel, Bearsted Road, ME14 5AA) and other UK locations | £58 |
| Kent D4 MedicalFrom £60, eye test included | Herne Bay and Faversham | £60 |
| A-Class Driving SchoolInclusive of VAT | Kent (training provider) | £66 |
| Hartlip HGV£55 plus VAT | Aylesford (training provider) | £66 |
Timing: the 4-month window
A D4 is valid for 4 months from the date the doctor and optician sign it. DVLA has to receive it within that time. Most people book the medical first, then post the D2 and D4 together straight away. The provisional licence is usually the longest wait in the whole process, so start here.
How long DVLA takes in 2026
Straightforward lorry and bus licence applications are quick: DVLA's average was about 1 working day online in April and May 2026. Applications where DVLA has to look into a medical condition take far longer:
| Month, 2026 | Lorry and bus medical cases, average working days |
|---|---|
| January | 42.5 |
| February | 46.3 |
| March | 56.2 |
| April | 49.0 |
| May | 45.1 |
Use a genuine medical provider
The D4 must be completed by a doctor registered with the General Medical Council. In June 2026 the director of Doctors on Wheels was jailed for four years after unqualified staff signed off thousands of lorry drivers' medicals, some in vans in a few minutes. Be wary of a medical that's much quicker or cheaper than the prices above, or that skips the eye test. Ask for the doctor's name and check it on the GMC register. Other documented cases.
After you've passed
- You need a new D4 at 45, then every 5 years until 65, then every year.
- From 45, DVLA posts you the renewal forms 56 days before your licence runs out. Renewing is free, but you pay for the medical.
- You must tell DVLA if you develop a condition that affects your driving. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don't.
Related: Medical conditions, condition by condition · Renewal medicals
Common questions
How much is an HGV medical in Kent?
Published D4 medical prices in Kent run from £45 to £66, with a middle of £58. GPs can also do it but may charge more.
How long is a D4 medical valid for?
4 months from the date the doctor and optician sign it. DVLA has to receive it within that time.
What eyesight do you need for an HGV licence?
At least 6/7.5 in your better eye and 6/60 in your worse eye, with glasses or contacts if needed, glasses no stronger than +8 dioptres, and a horizontal field of vision of at least 160 degrees.
Can you get an HGV licence with diabetes?
If your diabetes is treated with insulin, you can apply only if you meet strict rules on monitoring your glucose, with a yearly assessment by a hospital consultant arranged by DVLA.