Driving Licence Renewal at 70

[nicholsong]

Get a free Eye test before the medical, I needed new glasses to pass.

On the UK Medical D4 eye test I was always worried about the uncorrected vision test, although I never found out whether that is a fail by DVLA.

It is always a worry that under the DVLA system the Doctor cannot give you a pass or fail, and you have to wait for DVLA, maybe including their medical department, which apparently can take 3-4 months, that on top of the 4 months prior to renewal that a medical is valid, so when the Dr. signs you off it may be on information more than 6 months old - could have died by then.


For my UK Pilot's Licence, conducted by authorised examiners one was told immediately. Same here in Poland, where the medicals are conducted at government authorised clinics. Thankfully the the tests here are at 5 year intervals for C1.

 

[joe and sue]

On the UK Medical D4 eye test I was always worried about the uncorrected vision test, although I never found out whether that is a fail by DVLA.

It is always a worry that under the DVLA system the Doctor cannot give you a pass or fail, and you have to wait for DVLA, maybe including their medical department, which apparently can take 3-4 months, that on top of the 4 months prior to renewal that a medical is valid, so when the Dr. signs you off it may be on information more than 6 months old - could have died by then.


For my UK Pilot's Licence, conducted by authorised examiners one was told immediately. Same here in Poland, where the medicals are conducted at government authorised clinics. Thankfully the the tests here are at 5 year intervals for C1.

DVLA medical team have no medical qualifications, I asked the question, and was told that they evaluate the data provided and decide accordingly.
It seems to me that you get points added or removed depending on the questions asked, and your score decides !!!!
You could not make it up

 

[nicholsong]

DVLA medical team have no medical qualifications, I asked the question, and was told that they evaluate the data provided and decide accordingly.
It seems to me that you get points added or removed depending on the questions asked, and your score decides !!!!
You could not make it up

I wonder why I am not surprised. After all the rest of DVLA seem not to know much about vehicles - or how to enter data on forms.

 

[Ex-caravantugger]

Get a free Eye test before the medical, I needed new glasses to pass.

If you’ve had an eye test within the last 12 months you will have to pay, £25. I did and got what I thought was a more thorough test or perhaps a more dedicated optometrist. Mike

 

[Bessy765]

I sent my second time renewal (73) in June last year at the earliest permitted. In spite of information on the DVLA website about them being able to use your passport photo and confirmed by phone. I got it all back late August and had to include a new photo and was informed I would go to the back of the queue so at least another ten weeks. Then someone at the DVLA decided that a medical episode I had had in 2004 with no further episode or treatments and fine at the first renewal would need checking with my GP. They wrote to me and my gp on the same day 2nd October, I received my letter on the 5th. I wrote and took a letter to my GP the same day giving my permission to disclose all and any information they required. As I had contacted DVLA medical and they informed me they still had not heard back from my GP I phoned the surgery 2nd Dec. I was informed the letter was with the doctor for signing. By 10 th Jan again the DVLA told me they had still not heard back from my gp. They send a addressed envelope which goes directly to their dept and avoids the major backlog. I finally discover the form was signed by my doctor on the 18th of Jan but not posted until the 26th. To be fair to the DVLA who when speaking (when you can get through had always tried to be helpful informed me that mine was not the only case where replies to information from gps had been really slow coming back) phoned me to say they had received my doctors information, and phone me again to tell me my licence had been issued. It arrived dated the 29/01/2022. So not always down to DVLA.

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[Camdoon]

DVLA medical team have no medical qualifications, I asked the question, and was told that they evaluate the data provided and decide accordingly.
It seems to me that you get points added or removed depending on the questions asked, and your score decides !!!!
You could not make it up

I would imagine that when the form was designed that any medical skill was intentionally taken out the process so that a level of consistency could be achieved. Ultimately an appeal would be where any medical opinion would be sought.
I am also sure that doctors are glad they are not under pressure to sign off their patients as no doubt consistency would not be achieved that way either.

 

[Bessy765]

I wondered how a non medical trained person, whilst not trying to circumvent any safety measures, could decide that a medical episode (mild TIA0 that happened in 2004 with not further episodes or ongoing treatment) could decide that a medial enquiry was required.

 

[bigalw35]

today's date is the 9th of September 2022, my licence expires tomorrow 10th of September 2022, I have not been issued a renewal, what do I do ??

 

[Riverbankannie]

today's date is the 9th of September 2022, my licence expires tomorrow 10th of September 2022, I have not been issued a renewal, what do I do ??

Assuming that you have applied for your new licence, and hopefully have some sort of proof like recorded delivery, (and you have not been told that you may not drive medically) then you can continue to drive in the UK under Section 88 of the RTA for up to a year for the same classes that were on your old licence.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

today's date is the 9th of September 2022, my licence expires tomorrow 10th of September 2022, I have not been issued a renewal, what do I do ??

I see your 75 coming up for 76, if you need a C1 licence because your van is more than 3500 kg you need a D2 and D4 submitting to retain it. If you just want an ordinary car licence you can renew on line .
Depends on which licence categories you want to renew. I would have thought you would have received a reminder though.
If you have applied for your licence but just haven't received it yet you can still drive in the UK only under Section 88.

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[bigalw35]

Assuming that you have applied for your new licence, and hopefully have some sort of proof like recorded delivery, (and you have not been told that you may not drive medically) then you can continue to drive in the UK under Section 88 of the RTA for up to a year for the same classes that were on your old licence.

Hi, I had the medical and the eye test on the 8th of August and submitted the paperwork to DVLA on the 10th of August, signed for and I did kept the postal receipts

 

[Riverbankannie]

Hi, I had the medical and the eye test on the 8th of August and submitted the paperwork to DVLA on the 10th of August, signed fro and I kept the receipts

You are good to carry on driving then. It’s just when not In UK you could not produce a valid licence if required so would be a risk to go abroad.

 

[pj650]

Hi, I had the medical and the eye test on the 8th of August and submitted the paperwork to DVLA on the 10th of August, signed fro and I kept the receipts

It’s just the waiting game now, but things are improving at DVLA. Hopefully you will have it shortly.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Hi, I had the medical and the eye test on the 8th of August and submitted the paperwork to DVLA on the 10th of August, signed fro and I kept the receipts

If you have no prior medical issues IE heart or diabetes as examples you will probably receive your licence without any further checks required. .you can check if your licence has been renewed on line at DVLA.
If you have had prior heart issues you will probably be booked in for a treadmill test before your licence is issued

 

[bigalw35]

If you have no prior medical issues IE heart or diabetes as examples you will probably receive your licence without any further checks required. .you can check if your licence has been renewed on line at DVLA.
If you have had prior heart issues you will probably be booked in for a treadmill test before your licence is issued

I look at the DVLA site every day, but at the moment my licence still expires on the 10th

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[Riverbankannie]

I look at the DVLA site every day, but at the moment my licence still expires on the 10th

Don’t do that, just get on and forget about it for a while. There are many of us on here driving around on section 88.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Don’t do that, just get on and forget about it for a while. There are many of us on here driving around on section 88.

Thats all good unless you want to drive in the EU and then its a no go. Its about time DVLA got there act together and sorted out over 70s licences, but there again I don't suppose it on their priority list with all the medical checks etc. Over 70 s licences must be the most expensive ( DVLA cost) licences to renew.

 

[Mr David]

today's date is the 9th of September 2022, my licence expires tomorrow 10th of September 2022, I have not been issued a renewal, what do I do ??

Provided you have no medical issues then based on my experience when I submitted my C1 driving licence renewal recently, you should receive your new licence any day now. Mine took about 4 weeks. You can check online your driving licence details and that will show your licence validity and categories and it will be updated by the DVLA as soon as they have processed your application and a number of days before they have notified you by mail. Hope that is some help.

 

[Speve]

I renewed mine back in May and got it back within 8 days so they are sometimes very quick

 

[joe and sue]

Don’t do that, just get on and forget about it for a while. There are many of us on here driving around on section 88.

I did for 7 months

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[bigalw35]

We’ll just to let you all know, as I said earlier I’ve checked the dvla site every day since about the 15th of August, I checked again today and the info is that my FULL licence has been renewed, not through the front door as yet, but I imagine shortly. So it looks like I SHALL be joining you all again next year

 

[SheilaHandley]

Shop around for your medical. NHS practice wanted £110 but privately as little as £40.

 

[Bcollinson]

Hello.

I understand I will need to renew my driving licence when I reach 70, and will need to take a medical to retain the c category. What I'm unsure of, and hopefully some of you fellow funster can help me out whith is; what other categorises do you loose when you reach the age of 70.

Thanking you in anticipation. Derry

Drs health check £90, eyesight test £25. Heart check up at hospital FOC but took most of the day. Took about 6 mths in total.

 

[janeb]

Don't forget if you tow a car....... think it's C1+E. We put a covering letter attached to form to DVLA to say that all categories were to be kept. Didn't want to lose motorcycle, or anything !!

 

[bigalw35]

Hello.

I understand I will need to renew my driving licence when I reach 70, and will need to take a medical to retain the c category. What I'm unsure of, and hopefully some of you fellow funster can help me out whith is; what other categorises do you loose when you reach the age of 70.

Thanking you in anticipation. Derry

technically, you lose everything, your licence runs out, but all you need to do if you only want the car end of it you can do it online, but for the likes of the C1, you have to have a medical and an eye test, I had mine done in August 2022 with D4Drivers £55.00

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[Don Campbell]

All drivers' licence rights stop at 70 - even a Category 'B' licence holder has to renew then, albeit easier renewal process.

Spot on - 70 overides everything. Not sure if anyone has mentioned that provided you have submitted a renewal you have a right to continue driving all categories you were previously licenced for until you get your new licence from DVLA, no matter how long they take. If it goes to their medical people, and all C1 over 70 applications do, don't expect to hear anything for months. They are diabolically slow normally, although someone, I'm sure will prove me wrong.

 

[bigalw35]

Spot on - 70 overides everything. Not sure if anyone has mentioned that provided you have submitted a renewal you have a right to continue driving all categories you were previously licenced for until you get your new licence from DVLA, no matter how long they take. If it goes to their medical people, and all C1 over 70 applications do, don't expect to hear anything for months. They are diabolically slow normally, although someone, I'm sure will prove me wrong.

posted the C1 application on the 10th August, received the notice on their website 13/09/2022 all now reinstated, just awaiting the actual licence now

 

[cyberyacht]

My OH's took a year. Best advice, photocopy everything you send and use recorded delivery to prove it gets there.

 

[nicholsong]

I have just realised that I have had my >70 C1 licence for 10+ years and I am still only into less than 2 years of my Polish 5-year medical, so I will be a bit short of 84 when that comes around.

I did try to get insurance for losing a licence for medical reasons but there is no market for it apparently, which is strange because we insured out commercial pilots' licences for that.

 

[Hymerboy]

Specksavers told me I should wear glasses to drive, the D4Driver doctor told me I didn't need them.!

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