Do I need to notify the DVLA or my insurer after knee surgery or when fitted with a knee prosthesis?
Executive summary
Knee surgery — including total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or fitting of a knee prosthesis — does not automatically trigger a DVLA notification in routine cases, but there is a clear legal duty to tell the DVLA if the operation leaves the driver unable to drive three months later; drivers of higher‑category licences face stricter rules and may need explicit medical clearance [1] [2]. Insurers should be informed: many firms expect notification after orthopaedic surgery, may refuse cover for a period post‑op, and failure to disclose can invalidate a claim [2] [3] [4].
1. What the law requires of ordinary car drivers (Group 1 licences)
The government’s guidance states that anyone who has had an operation must tell the DVLA if they are still unable to drive three months after the operation, and failure to do so can carry fines and other sanctions [1]. Multiple patient‑facing sources echo that DVLA notification is required only when the operation produces a continuing inability to drive at that three‑month mark, rather than for every routine joint replacement [1] [5].
2. Where clinical advice and DVLA rules diverge — the surgeon’s role
Royal College of Surgeons guidance and hospital information make clear that surgeons and treating clinicians are relied on to determine fitness to drive, and that for routine hip or knee replacements patients will often be advised they do not need to tell the DVLA unless the doctor tells them otherwise; transport regulators place the onus on treating clinicians to clear return to driving [2] [6]. Academic studies find a lack of standardised clinical guidance on precisely when to resume driving after TKA, urging individual discussion with the surgeon about timing and legal responsibilities [7].
3. Insurance: the practical and legal risk of non‑disclosure
Insurance providers widely advise that customers should notify their insurer about major surgery because companies sometimes exclude cover for a period after operations, and non‑disclosure can lead to policy cancellation or claim refusal; insurers also note that if a doctor has told a person not to drive, the DVLA form and notification process must be followed [2] [4] [3]. Independent clinics and consumer guides consistently recommend informing the insurer before resuming driving because insurers assess current health and could deny claims if a medical change that affected driving was not declared [8] [9].
4. Special cases: professional drivers and persistent impairment
Drivers holding Group 2 licences (buses, lorries) and other professional categories face higher medical standards and may be required to notify the DVLA or obtain explicit clearance sooner and for longer periods; the RCS and hospital advice highlight this difference and recommend specific medical advice for these licence holders [2]. If a knee operation or prosthesis results in long‑term disability or inability to control a vehicle, formal notification procedures for limb disability are triggered under DVLA guidance [1] [10].
5. Practical checklist drawn from the reporting
Patients are advised to confirm with their surgeon when they are medically fit to perform an emergency stop and control pedals (a functional test often used to judge driving readiness), to ensure they are off sedative pain medications before driving, to check their insurer’s policy on post‑operative notification and waiting periods, and to notify the DVLA if unable to drive three months after surgery or if instructed by their doctor to stop driving [7] [5] [3] [1]. The literature also warns of inconsistent guidance between clinicians, insurers and regulators and calls for clearer, standardised advice on timing and legal responsibilities, leaving a practical onus on patients to ask their surgeon and insurer for written confirmation where possible [7] [6].