Driving Offences
Psychiatric Assessments for Driving-Related Legal Cases
At Harley Street Mental Health, we provide expert psychiatric assessments to support individuals involved in legal proceedings relating to driving offences. Our evaluations can offer crucial insight into mental health factors that may have contributed to the offence or impact ongoing driving eligibility, and are often requested by legal professionals, courts, or the DVLA.
Why a Psychiatric Assessment for Driving Offences?
Mental health conditions, such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or substance misuse, can sometimes influence judgment, concentration, or risk-taking behaviours. A psychiatric report can be essential for:
- Court mitigation in driving offence cases (e.g. dangerous driving, driving under the influence, failure to stop)
- Assessing capacity or mental state at the time of the offence
- Determining whether a mental disorder contributed to impulsivity or poor decision-making
- Supporting appeals or reviews related to DVLA medical fitness-to-drive decisions
Our Expertise
Our consultant psychiatrists are experienced in producing reports for legal use and court proceedings. We offer:
- Thorough psychiatric evaluations with consideration of past and current mental health
- Medico-legal reports addressing fitness to drive, contributory factors, and recommendations
- Collaboration with solicitors and barristers for court preparation and expert witness services where required
Who We Work With
This service is designed for:
- Individuals facing driving bans or court proceedings
- Legal representatives seeking expert opinion for sentencing or mitigation
- Those involved in DVLA medical fitness-to-drive reviews due to mental health or substance use issues
Book your assessment today
We offer flexible appointments and fast report turnaround for urgent cases. To arrange a driving offence psychiatric assessment, please contact us via Email contact@hsmh.co.uk for a quote or fill up the form below:
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our team is here to help. Contact us for personalized guidance.
A psychiatric assessment for driving offences provides an independent evaluation of an individual’s mental health in relation to a driving-related charge or offence. Conducted by experienced consultant psychiatrists, our assessments can support court cases, licence reinstatement applications, and sentencing mitigation by providing expert insight into any underlying psychological or medical factors.
All assessments are carried out by GMC-registered consultant psychiatrists who have specific expertise in medico-legal reporting. Our psychiatrists provide clear, impartial, court-compliant reports that explore the relationship between mental health, substance use, risk, and driving behaviours.
You may need a psychiatric report for a driving offence if you are facing charges related to:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Dangerous or reckless driving
- Failure to provide a specimen
- Medical conditions affecting driving ability (e.g., epilepsy, psychiatric illness)
- Seeking mitigation at sentencing
- Applying for driving licence reinstatement following a medical suspension
During your assessment, the psychiatrist will review your mental health history, substance use history (if relevant), physical health, risk factors, insight into the offence, and any mitigating circumstances.
They will conduct a full psychiatric interview and mental state examination, considering any diagnosed or undiagnosed conditions that could have influenced your behaviour or driving ability at the time of the offence.
We offer fast access to psychiatric assessments for driving offences, with appointments often available within a few days. We understand that court deadlines can be tight and also offer expedited reports if needed urgently.
Reports are typically completed within 2 to 4 weeks following the assessment. Where necessary, fast-track services are available to meet urgent court or DVLA deadlines.
Yes. Our psychiatric reports are prepared to the highest medico-legal standards and are regularly accepted by Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Courts, solicitors, and the DVLA. Reports are clear, impartial, and compliant with legal and medical evidentiary requirements.
Yes. If your driving licence has been suspended or revoked for medical reasons , such as alcohol misuse, drug use, mental health conditions, or neurological issues , we can provide a comprehensive psychiatric assessment to support your licence reinstatement application with the DVLA.
Yes. Our psychiatrists are skilled in assessing for underlying or undiagnosed conditions such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, substance misuse, or other psychiatric issues that may have contributed to the incident or behaviour leading to a driving offence.
Absolutely. We understand that facing a driving offence can be stressful and upsetting. Our psychiatrists are carefully selected for their compassionate, non-judgmental approach, creating a safe space where you can discuss your circumstances openly and feel fully supported throughout the process.
What makes you different to other clinics?
We hand pick all of our clinicians to ensure that they have the same values as us.
This ensures that our service users are actually listened to and are the heart of our treatment plans.
We recognise that diagnosis and treatment plans cannot simply be “one size fits all” and our personalised down to earth approach aims to keep the process as easy as possible.
We will try to keep your costs low where possible. Once you are on the right dose and feeling settled (you may need one or two medication titration appointments to achieve this), you can order your medication through the repeat medication process.
Following two months of being on the same dose, with no further changes, we will consider returning your care to your GP.
Can I see you on the NHS?
We are a private clinic, and therefore you cannot be seen by us as part of the NHS. <br><br>We can write to your GP once you are stable on your treatment to ask them to take over prescribing as part of a Shared Care Agreement, however they are under no obligation to accept this agreement.
Do I need a referral?
Our clinicians can see you directly without a referral, however a condition of all appointments is that you agree for Harley Street Mental Health to copy your GP into all assessment and treatment plans.
We are happy to accept referrals from other clinicians, however this is not necessary to use our service.
What happens during an appointment?
If you have booked a virtual appointment, you will be sent an invitation through our clinic software known as “Semble”. On the day of your appointment, you click the link and will enter into a video interview with one of our clinicians.
If you have booked an in-person appointment you will be greeted by your clinician in the waiting room.
Do you accept insurance?
Currently we do not accept insurance, and all of our assessments and treatment plans are self funded, and therefore we encourage you to look at the “fees” page prior to booking.
Do you prescribe medication?
Our team are able to prescribe medication as part of your treatment plan if this is required. Our prescriptions are private, and therefore you will be liable for the cost of the prescription and the medication.
Hod do I know if the treatment will be beneficial?
Unfortunately, there are no guarantees with psychiatry. All of our clinicians are extremely experienced and prescribe based on the most up to date evidence base. You will be involved in your treatment plans at all stages.
I have a complaint?
We are sorry to hear that you have a complaint. Please see the complaints section of our website or email complaints@hsmh.co.uk where we will endeavour to resolve your complaint in a timely manner.
What are the fees associated with ADHD Assessments?
Please see the fees section on the website. It is important that you are aware of all costs prior to starting treatment. An ADHD assessment costs £715 and lasts approximately 1.5 hours and will include a detailed written report and treatment plan (includes a prescription which will posted to your chosen pharmacy, if medication is considered suitable for you).
The cost of medication will be in addition to this and paid directly to your chosen pharmacy.
We then require service users to attend titration appointments at £150 each where your medication is adjusted until most effective. Once you move on to repeat prescriptions, they will cost £48 for a monthly prescription.
Once you are stable on your medication (around two months of being on the same dose, with no further changes and you feel much better) you can ask us to write to your GP and enter into a shared care agreement which costs £125. Your GP is under no obligation to accept a shared care agreement, and therefore we encourage all service users to discuss this with their GP prior to using our service.
Are you registered with the CQC?
Yes, we have been approved for registration with the Care Quality Commission
I have another question
Please email us on contact@hsmh.co.uk and we will get back to you shortly