The DGT have listed illnesses that prevent you renewing your driving licence

One of the requirements both to obtain a Spanish driving license, and to renew it, is to pass a medical examination in which a doctor certifies that the applicant is fit to drive a vehicle. This medical must be carried out at an approved Driver Recognition Centre, and the doctor, who must be aware of the patient's medical history, will certify that the person is physically, mentally and coordinatively fit to get a new, or renew their driving licence.

In the last few years, there have been debates about what conditions and illnesses are allowed or disallowed for driving, and the time between renewal periods for certain ailments as well.

Because of this, they have now created a list that clarifies which illnesses prevent driving, and which have shorter renewal periods for driving licences and need a report made from their specialist doctor verifying that they are fit to drive.

The illnesses fall into the following categories: cardiac, vascular, endocrine, psychiatric, neurological, digestive, respiratory, oncological, chronic and degenerative, and are listed here:

Chronic and degenerative diseases.
These diseases are incompatible with driving, according to the DGT:
- Alzheimers.
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
- Essential tremor.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Muscular dystrophy.
- Osteoporosis.
- Parkinson.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Heart diseases.
- Arrhythmias.
- Acute myocardial infarction: at least 6 months must have passed since it occurred.
- Patients with prosthetic valves: the same case as with myocardial infarction.
- Pacemaker carriers: valid for three years once one month has passed since placement.
- Automatic defibrillator carriers: the same as in the case of pacemakers.

Psychiatric illnesses.
Unless the person suffers from a mild disorder and has a medical report that certifies it, he will be unable to drive with these mental disorders:
- Dementia and Anxiety Disorder.
- Personality disorder.
- Depression.
- Sleep disorder.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
- Intellectual development disorder.
- HDT.
- Dependence on alcohol and/or drugs.
- Endocrine diseases
- Hypothyroidism and parathyroids: Licence must be renewed between 1 and 10 years.
- Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: Licence must be renewed between 1 and 5 years.

Vision-related problems.
Diseases that affect sight are the ones with the highest risk. Like glaucoma or cataracts:
- Cataracts: If the patient undergoes surgery for this ailment, it will not be legal for him to drive until a month later and only if the ophthalmologist has given him a favourable evaluation.
- Glaucoma: To renew the driver's license with glaucoma, a favorable report is required.

Respiratory diseases:
- Sleep apnea: Driving with an Apnea-Hypopnea Index equal to or greater than 15, associated with moderate or severe daytime sleepiness, is not allowed. Depending on which cases, with a positive report from the doctor, it will only be possible to renew it for a period of one year to three years.
- Permanent dyspnea at rest or on mild exertion: Licence renewal is not allowed in any case.

Digestive diseases:
- Kidney transplant: Those who have undergone a kidney transplant, after more than six months of evolution without problems derived from it, with a favourable report from a nephrologist, may obtain or extend a permit or license with a period of validity established at the discretion of the physician.
- Nephropathy with dialysis: Patients undergoing dialysis programs, with a favourable report from a nephrologist, may obtain or extend a permit or license, reducing, at the discretion of the physician, the period of validity.

Neurological diseases:
- Crisis or loss of consciousness: if it has occurred during the last year, the renewal of the licence is not allowed.
- Epilepsy: valid from 1 to 10 years.
- Transient ischemic attack: up to one-year extension with a favourable report.

Vascular diseases:
- Dissection: after a period of six months from the operation, the licence may be renewed for 1 to 2 years.
- Aneurysm of large vessels: if there is no danger of rupture of blood vessels, a renewal of 1 to 10 years may be carried out.

Oncological diseases:
- Oncohematic disorders: If there are no serious alterations, they can be renewed for one year.
- Oncological ailments: The patient must be maintained without any ailment or treatment to renew the permit. In this case, it can be renewed for a period of between 1 and 5 years.