C1 medical at D4Drivers. What do the jury think?

[Poursay]

Used D4drivers twice, no problems, happily use next time, he says hopefully!

 

[Clarky]

Forms sent, D2 + D4, recorded delivery.
Photo and payment sent as 'belt and braces' plus a covering note.
Now the wait to see how long the new license takes.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

Richard.

 

[Lenny HB]

Forms sent, D2 + D4, recorded delivery.
Photo and payment sent as 'belt and braces' plus a covering note.
Now the wait to see how long the new license takes.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

Richard.

No payment need for age 70 & over.

 

[Clarky]

No payment need for age 70 & over.

But, but, but.....they say that payment is required if you need a new photo.
Confused.com.

 

[Lenny HB]

But, but, but.....they say that payment is required if you need a new photo.
Confused.com.

Depends which notes you read, I had to send a new photo didn't send any payment.

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[Phill D]

Depends which notes you read, I had to send a new photo didn't send any payment.

I did not send a photo or payment as it was renewal at 70.
They then sent and asked for payment and the photo.
Then they returned the payment and my new licence.
You can't make it up.

 

[Clarky]

I did not send a photo or payment as it was renewal at 70.
They then sent and asked for payment and the photo.
Then they returned the payment and my new licence.
You can't make it up.

Even more confused.com.

 

[Pausim]

Just send it in with more than 56 days left on your old license then no photo needed and no confusion about the fee.

 

[Mickey1]

No payment need for age 70 & over.

Lenny HB , I’ve never paid for renewal of licence or photo, I’m 70 , just had a medical with d4drivers for first time, I’ve been using dr on wheels.

Mickey.

 

[Phill D]

Just send it in with more than 56 days left on your old license then no photo needed and no confusion about the fee.

sadly if only that was how all DVLA operatives see it. that is exactly what i did that as i have indicated above.

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[Pausim]

sadly if only that was how all DVLA operatives see it. that is exactly what i did that as i have indicated above.

It worked for me, no photo, no fee and turned round in about 3 weeks. Nothing to do with being age 70, you just have to have more than 56 days still to run on the returned license. You can only apply 90 days before your 70th birthday which means you only have 34 days to take advantage of the 56 day rule.

 

[Phill D]

It worked for me, no photo, no fee and turned round in about 3 weeks. Nothing to do with being age 70, you just have to have more than 56 days still to run on the returned license. You can only apply 90 days before your 70th birthday which means you only have 34 days to take advantage of the 56 day rule.
View attachment 494997

I applied within the 90 days.
I read and made sure I understood the rules but unfortunately some of the DVLA staff either don't know the rules or can't read an application form correctly.

You were lucky and had the right operative to process your application.
I was not.
Clearly the person I had, had no idea what was correct.

Why else, would they part process my application, then ask for payment and a photo, then refund the payment along with the new license stating it was not necessary.

 

[Pausim]

I applied within the 90 days.
I read and made sure I understood the rules but unfortunately some of the DVLA staff either don't know the rules or can't read an application form correctly.

You were lucky and had the right operative to process your application.
I was not.
Clearly the person I had, had no idea what was correct.

Why else, would they part process my application, then ask for payment and a photo, then refund the payment along with the new license stating it was not necessary.

It has to be within the first 34 days of the 90 day period, otherwise you have less than the required 56 days left on your old license. If you have less than 56 days left when they receive the application they need the new photo.

 

[Phill D]

It has to be within the first 34 days of the 90 day period, otherwise you have less than the required 56 days left on your old license. If you have less than 56 days left when they receive the application they need the new photo.

My application form arrived at DVLA within the first week of the 90 day period. I have said above i am very familiar with the rules and ensured i complied with ALL of them.
clearly you think I made a mistake. when that was not the case.
i have nothing further to add..

 

[Pausim]

My application form arrived at DVLA within the first week of the 90 day period. I have said above i am very familiar with the rules and ensured i complied with ALL of them.
clearly you think I made a mistake. when that was not the case.
i have nothing further to add..

Sorry, just puzzled why they handled your application differently.

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[Phill D]

Sorry, just puzzled why they handled your application differently.

i think it was a case of, they were sat on my application because of the pandemic . my renewal fell outside their auto extensions, as a result it was handled by a number of different operatives who between them got it all mixed up.

it got sorted but it took a long time.

fortunately none of use needed a license to go outside of the UK or i would have been spitting blood.

 

[Lenny HB]

Just send it in with more than 56 days left on your old license then no photo needed and no confusion about the fee.

Lenny HB , I’ve never paid for renewal of licence or photo, I’m 70 , just had a medical with d4drivers for first time, I’ve been using dr on wheels.

Mickey.

I left it too late so I had to send a photo but I didn't send any payment. Stupid rule that 56 days thing.

 

[Pausim]

I left it too late so I had to send a photo but I didn't send any payment. Stupid rule that 56 days thing.

Yes it is a very strange rule.

 

[acropolis22]

Depends which notes you read, I had to send a new photo didn't send any payment.

Likewise.

 

[Clarky]

I left it too late so I had to send a photo but I didn't send any payment. Stupid rule that 56 days thing.

The 56 day rule is very odd and I can’t see any logical reason for it.
I read and reread the notes as I thought I must be going daft (no comments needed) and had mis-understood.
Perhaps it’s because they’re Welsh and have a different thought process that side of the border.

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[Phill D]

The 56 day rule is very odd and I can’t see any logical reason for it.
I read and reread the notes as I thought I must be going daft (no comments needed) and had mis-understood.
Perhaps it’s because they’re Welsh and have a different thought process that side of the border.

Not sure which part of Wales then as I live less than 30 miles away.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not sure which part of Wales then as I live less than 30 miles away.

Now I understand your posts.

 

[Pausim]

The 56 day rule is very odd and I can’t see any logical reason for it.
I read and reread the notes as I thought I must be going daft (no comments needed) and had mis-understood.
Perhaps it’s because they’re Welsh and have a different thought process that side of the border.

56 days crops up elsewhere in the system in respect of lorry and bus drivers under 45 years of age and also applying for a license after a drink ban. Perhaps it is the 90 days for us older folks that is the oddity? Maybe someone somewhere decided to give us oldies a bit more time because we are likely to have more health issues and that just coincidently opened up the 34 day window.

When I used the 34 day window I was surprised to find the new C1 license ran for 3 years from the date my old license expired on my 70th birthday. I thought it might run from the issue date having a recollection of someone else posting they only got 3 years from the new issue date not the old expiry date.

 

[Phill D]

i got 3 years from the date of issue..... 8 months after initial application. i was pleased they did not deduct the time they took to get it right.

 

[GROGGY64]

Well my husbands licence expired in November 2020 at age 70. he eventually had his eye test and medical with his GP at the end of March. He sent a new photo and the requested £17 together with the completed forms D2 & D4 to the DVLA on the Ist April. It was sent First Class signed for mail and the enclosed cheque was cleared through our bank on 7th April so we knew that the application had been received and to be hoped was being processed. We had been unable to get through by phone, we hadn’t received any response to several online messages so last week 8 weeks after sending the application I tried to phone again. Hooray - I got through to a real person! I was told nothing wrong just taking longer than normal because of COVID delays and basically told to be patient. I pointed out to him that their website advises an up to six week delay due to COVID but get in touch if it exceeds 6 weeks. Still not made an appearance and another week on now. I will update you if and when it finally arrives.

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[tonyidle]

I had a poor experience with D4Drivers but in their defence it was the Doctor‘s first day and they did refund my money. I then arranged a more expensive appointment with my GP, who was familiar with the form and had time to fill it in carefully. I sent my forms off on 22/12/20 and the license was approved on 18/01/21, which in my opinion is a very reasonable turnaround.

The D4 is a medical report on which the DVLA have to base their decision. I do not think many Doctors would risk their registration by providing wrong information but D4D have to rely on the applicant for much of the information, whereas the GP has the full history. An applicant could easily hide prescription drug history and previous afflictions from D4D but not from their GP. It therefore would not surprise me if the GP report got an easier passage. The DVLA had to suspend one of the other low cost outfits which may also have affected their confidence in non GP reports. Who knows? Only the DVLA can say but what they are printing on form could be a hint.


I think getting the form in with more than 56 days remaining on your old license may help speed things up. With more than 56 days remaining no photograph is needed and it appears that they can then simply run the 3 years on from the original expiry date.

I bought my current vehicle (my first over 3.5T) the same week as my 70th birthday. I'd booked with D4D the week before because my GP practice could not give me a date (or price) for a medical. Cost me £50 and I received my licence within 7 days of sending in the completed forms. That was 3 years ago gone February. In February I renewed my licence without bothering with a medical (lockdown & not needing the van until June at least). Had my medical with D4D (£55) on Saturday, sent in yesterday, now awaiting licence with C1. I'll let you know when it arrives.

 

[StitchUp]

Just had my medical with D4Drivers, took all of 5 minutes to pass

Quick question:
This is the first time I've had to do this to maintain my C1 groups etc as I'm approaching 70 - Do I have to send my existing licence with the application?

 

[JockandRita]

Just had my medical with D4Drivers, took all of 5 minutes to pass

Quick question:
This is the first time I've had to do this to maintain my C1 groups etc as I'm approaching 70 - Do I have to send my existing licence with the application?

Normally yes, but if you require your current licence for car hire, or employee's ID (as I did on the Trucks), you can send a covering note with your application, and agree to return or destroy the old one when in receipt of the new one.

HTH,

Jock.

 

[cyberyacht]

Sent my licence renewal off couple of weeks ago. Wish I'd thought to do that. If the threatened civil service strike materialises, goodness only knows when I'll get a new licence. OH's took a year even when they weren't on strike. Not that it would be a lot of use if I want to go abroad in the meantime.

 

[Pausim]

Just had my medical with D4Drivers, took all of 5 minutes to pass

I am sure the Doctor would have said if there were any medical problems likely to affect your application but technically you do not “pass” the medical, it is a report to the DVLA where the decisions are made. However you can continue to drive C1 vehicles whilst the application is processed if the Doctor has not told you you shouldn’t.

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