You are here

CML and informing the DVLA

Just taking out car insurance on a new car. Insurer requested pre-existing medical conditons and my husband told them of CML. Needless to say the insurer did not really know too much about it but is happy to cover us if we tell the dvla of the condition. I was rather offended by this as the requirements state that you need only inform the dvla of conditions that may affect your driving and on this basis I do not consider CML relevant. So I was all ready to get on my high horse and argue the bit out with the insurer and refuse to contact the dvla. I suppose maybe if I'm in less combattive mood, it is better to just inform the dvla to ensure we are covered - my concern is that the dvla will not understand either and protracted negotiations will be required.

In short has anyone else considered this matter or indeed informed the dvla of their CML.

Thanks v much
Annie

Hi Annie
This is the first I have heard of informing the DVLA about CML ! I am also under the impression that they only need to know about conditions which may affect your driving. I can understand your feelings and given the great ignorance of all these departments about CML I guess that a doctor's certificate to certify you fit for driving would do. I have never been asked such a question by my insurers. Will be interesting to see what the others have to say.
I will certainly go on the DVLA website tomorrow and see if I can get any clarification.
By the way, it was so nice to meet you in Edinburgh, thank you so much for agreeing to talk.
Elizabeth x

I phoned and wrote to my insurers and they said nothing would change. As long as I hadn't been told by the Doctors to not drive there was no problem.

This was the same with the MSA (Motorsport association) when I had to get a new race license last year.

What would the DVLA be interested about this ?

rob - http://cmlblog.spaces.live.com

I phoned and wrote to my insurers and they said nothing would change. As long as I hadn't been told by the Doctors to not drive there was no problem.

This was the same with the MSA (Motorsport association) when I had to get a new race license last year.

What would the DVLA be interested about this ?

rob - http://cmlblog.spaces.live.com

Hi Annie,

Your insurers stance is ridiculous - CML does not affect driving I did consider it and checked both DVLA and insurance T's and C's - you would have to be careful if drugs produce side effects that could affect driving but cross that bridge when you come to it. I suggest you go to a different insurer.

Russ

hi annie, iv just applied for a driving license for my son& dont know if this helps but no type of cancer was on the medical list that came with it.it was conditions like epilepsy, diabetes, heart conditions etc.

Hi everyone
Dealing with this problem for a friend of mine, who does not have cml, but he has been told to advise the DVLA that he is considered unfit to drive. On reading the bumff that comes with this, it is the responsibilty of the person to advise the DVLA that he has been told not to drive by his doctors, crucial thing here is 'doctors' I think, no-one told me not to drive, I am sure that Elizebeth would agree that after any form of transplant, you don't want to drive, but you do resume eventually. Bit of a 'grey' area, but I feel the advice given by others on this subject is pretty accurate.
Change your insurers. You are not an invalid.
Have fun and keep smiling
Keith

Many thanks to all of you who replied. You will be impressed to hear that, buoyed by your support, we went back to the insurance company, told them the full story and they were quite happy for us not to inform dvla. Basically I suppose they are just ticking off a check-list and ensuring they cover themselves by advising those with a pre-existing medical conditon that they should consider informing the DVLA - the matter was not well handled by them but this is not a first in the insurance industry....
Many thanks - it was really useful to us to hear other peoples' experiences.
Annie

It has been a few months since I last posted on the site (“pregnancy I hope!”) but have been keeping up to date with your comments.

I am very pleased to announce the safe arrival of my baby daughter in December 2007. Ellie-may is a very special baby as I was dx with cml in March 2004 at the age of 22. It is with much thanks to my consultant, Jonathan Cullis at Salisbury Hospital that even thinking about starting a family was a possibility. I stopped taking Glivec in December 2006 and stayed off it until January this year. Luckily the cml remained under control throughout my pregnancy and I am pleased to say that I am back on Glivec and doing really well now.

I absolutely love being a mum and Ellie-May has brought my husband and I much joy and happiness. It wasn’t an easy decision to stop the Glivec but I am the kind of person who thinks that if you never try you will never know! CML really doesn’t have to be the end - in fact it has given us a new beginning!

I hope this news gives others a little hope.