Who May Not Hold a Licence

Disqualification is a legal bar, not a test result

A person can fail to qualify for a learner's or driving licence without ever sitting a test. The official manual sets out the grounds, and they fall into three kinds: dependency, a court or authority decision, and medical fitness.

Dependency and court orders

• Addiction to a drug having a narcotic effect, or the excessive use of intoxicating liquor.
• While disqualified by a competent court or authority, for as long as that disqualification is in force.
• While a licence already held has been suspended, for as long as the suspension lasts.
• Where a licence has been cancelled, for the period during which no new application may be made.
• Where the licence applied for covers a class of vehicle the person may already drive on a licence they hold.

Medical conditions

A person is disqualified while suffering from any of the following:

• Uncontrolled epilepsy.
• Sudden attacks of disabling giddiness or fainting, from hypertension or any other cause.
• Mental illness to the extent that detention, supervision, control and treatment as a patient are necessary.
• Any condition causing muscular incoordination.
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
• Defective vision, measured against the prescribed standard.
• Any other disease or physical defect likely to make the person incapable of driving and controlling that class of vehicle without endangering the public.

The exception that is tested

The manual adds one proviso in plain terms: deafness shall not of itself be deemed to be such a defect. A deaf person is not disqualified from holding a driving licence on that ground alone, and questions on this point turn up regularly.

Note the wording of several others too. It is uncontrolled epilepsy and uncontrolled diabetes that disqualify. A condition that is properly controlled is a different matter.