Quick answer: the D4 is the DVLA’s medical examination report for lorry and bus licences. Download it free from GOV.UK or have it supplied and completed at a clinic. A GMC-registered doctor fills in the medical and vision sections, and the finished form stays valid for four months.
The D4 is the DVLA’s medical examination report for lorry and bus drivers. If you are applying for or renewing a Group 2 licence (categories C1, C, C+E, D1 or D), the DVLA will not process your application without a completed D4. This page covers where to get the form, who fills in each part, and the mistakes that get forms sent back.
What is the D4 medical form?
The D4 is a four-page medical questionnaire and examination record. A doctor works through your medical history, examines you, and records your eyesight, blood pressure and heart health against the DVLA’s Group 2 standards. You need one when you:
- Apply for your first provisional HGV or bus licence (sent together with the D2 application form)
- Renew your licence at 45 and every five years after that
- Renew annually once you turn 65
- Return to driving after certain medical conditions, when the DVLA asks for one
Where to download the D4 form
The official form is free. You can download the D4 PDF from GOV.UK or order a paper copy from the DVLA. You do not need to print one for an appointment with us: we keep current-version D4 forms at every clinic and complete the whole document during your examination.
Who fills in what
The entire D4 is completed by the examining doctor, who must be a GMC-registered medical practitioner. The vision section may alternatively be completed by an optician or optometrist if your doctor does not test eyesight, which is a common reason GP-completed forms arrive at the DVLA half-finished. At Simply Medicals the doctor completes every section, including vision, in one appointment. You sign the consent declaration, and that is the only part that is yours.
Where to send it, and how long it stays valid
A completed D4 is valid for four months from the date of the examination. Send it to the DVLA in Swansea together with your application: the D2 form for a first provisional, or your renewal paperwork if the DVLA has written to you. Post it promptly; a form older than four months is rejected and you pay for a new examination.
Why D4 forms get rejected
- An out-of-date version of the form (the DVLA revises it; old printouts get bounced)
- The vision section left blank because the GP does not test eyesight
- The examination date more than four months before the DVLA receives it
- Missing pages, or a missing doctor’s stamp and registration number
Getting your D4 completed for £49.99
A GP will typically charge £80 to £120 for a D4 examination, and many surgeries have stopped offering them. Our GMC-registered doctors complete D4 medicals at more than 80 clinics across England for £49.99, with same-day and next-day appointments. Book your D4 medical online or find your nearest clinic on our locations pages.
D4 form FAQs
Can my own GP complete the D4?
Yes, any GMC-registered doctor can, but most charge considerably more than a specialist clinic and may not test vision, leaving you to visit an optician separately.
Do I need to fill anything in before the appointment?
No. Bring photo ID, your glasses or contact lenses if you use them, and a list of any medication. The doctor does the rest.
How long does the examination take?
Around 20 to 30 minutes for a straightforward medical history.
Is the D4 the same as the HGV medical?
Yes. “HGV medical”, “lorry medical” and “D4 medical” all describe the same examination recorded on the same DVLA form.