Telling your insurance company

If you have had to stop driving due to narcolepsy, you will need to tell your insurance company. Insurance companies will want to know if you have had to stop driving due to any medical condition, including narcolepsy as part of their terms and conditions. If you do not tell your insurance company, and they find out that you have had to stop driving, this may affect your insurance with them.

Once the DVLA confirms you can have a driving licence then you are able to drive any vehicle that your licence covers. Under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), insurance companies should not increase the cost of your policy just because you have a history of narcolepsy.

Before giving a quote, an insurance company needs to consider your circumstances in the whole, as an individual. When you get your licence back, it is usually a three-year licence. Insurance companies cannot use the fact that your licence is valid for three years as a reason for increasing the premium, or changing or refusing a policy.

Insurance companies can ask questions or ask for more information about medical conditions to support your application. They may ask to see your driving licence or a letter from the DVLA confirming that you are allowed to drive. This should mean that each application is considered fairly. If the company increases your premium, they must be able to give you a reason why.

For more information on the DDA, contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission. If you have any problems with insurance the Financial Ombudsman may be able to help.