I am over 80 and need a new plastic licence and a C1/D2 licence

[busby]

Since I was was 40 when my sight started to alter I have had an Eye check up every 3 years and since 75 have had a check up every year. This has shown that Cataracts are forming but unlikely to affect my sight until 90 but it has shown I am what they classify as Glaucoma risk in both eyes which will affect my licence. I am in hospital in about 6 weeks for laser surgery which will stop that problem hopefully. Now all this is free since getting to 65 because its on the NHS and using a good local Optometrist they can refer you to specialists when needed

Couple of years ago SpecSavers picked up on an eye problem on me which they thought was the onset of Glaucoma and sent me to a private eye hospital.
After tests they put me on two lots of eye drops..Three months later they took me off the stronger of the drops.I went for 6 monthly check ups twice more..I am still on the drops but my eye sight is much improved.They discharged me at the hospital so all is well..I do have a yearly eye test because of an R.A. medication I take. BUSBY..

 

[B-JandBella]

Reading the literature available, over 80s require a doctor to state I am fit to drive and get a new plastic licence but I will also need a C1 D2 licence to drive my 3.5 plus motorhome at the same time. I have previously used the doctors for HGV etc, will I need to see my own doctor in addition or can the HGV doctor do both?
I have been looking for new insurance cover also, as my previous insurer no longer covers 80+. A fascinating search with initially only two quotes 1400pounds then 2600pounds (previously 450). A second search with another search engine brought the 1400 pounds down to 800, with the same company, fascinating.

Have you tried Principal Insurance. Very reasonable I found..

 

[Three Stars]

Aged 79, with a C1 DVLA medical due in a few weeks and heart and eyesight issues, you might understand that I'm keen to make any arrangements necessary to pass the tests! In the past I've used D4Drivers but an eye test with a well-used card in a room not very well lit meant that, according to them, I just passed the minimum requirement. My optician subsequently assured me that I passed easily so, this time, I'm paying £25 for the local optician to complete the eyesight part of the form. We are all legally required to inform the DVLA of health issues that might affect our ability to drive safely. The range of heart tests I've had over the years have to be recorded on the D4 form and I suspect that the DVLA will want to ask further questions or request a medical examination to clarify my situation. That could take a while! This time round my GP has agreed to complete the form. He has access to all my medical history and sees no reason why I should not continue to have a C1 licence. In this way, I hope to renew the licence without any issues being raised by the DVLA and with no delay.

 

[nicholsong]

I did find this but from 70, not 80.....

The government recently set out a detailed action plan to address road safety issues. This may have an impact on our elderly loved ones and their ability to maintain independence. The plan means drivers over 70 may be required to take regular eyesight tests every three years, in order to maintain their licenses.

Change In The Law For Elderly Drivers?

The government has set out a detailed action plan to address road safety issues. This may have an impact on our elderly loved ones and their ability to maintain independence. The plan means drivers over 70 may be required to take regular eyesight tests every three years, in order to maintain...

careline.co.uk

I think that if implemented it would only alter things for drivers drivers over 70 only holding a B licence, since anyone holding C1 and above has an eye rest every 3 years, or yearly for HGV.

Try as I might, I too cannot find the article I read and reread. I was directed to it by headline items of the News. Did I panic, well yes I was certainly very concerned. I searched other sites for more information and found plenty of proposed actions but no dates for them to begin and had heard nothing on the news. Following the introduction of my thread, I got the feeling from other contributors that they also knew of the new tests.
Your questioning certainly has given me some hope it has not yet been introduced.

Alan, you state that your MH is 3.5t so why do you want a C1? Unless you intend to change to a heavier one or uprate the existing.

At the moment you are over 80, so you must have renewed your B licence by self declaration at 70(or did you?), so why the need for C1 to drive your 3.5t MH?

l feel we are noI being given All information to be able to see the whole problem, if indeed there is any.

 

[PhilipLh]

I think that if implemented it would only alter things for drivers drivers over 70 only holding a B licence, since anyone holding C1 and above has an eye rest every 3 years, or yearly for HGV.


Alan, you state that your MH is 3.5t so why do you want a C1? Unless you intend to change to a heavier one or uprate the existing.

At the moment you are over 80, so you must have renewed your B licence by self declaration at 70(or did you?), so why the need for C1 to drive your 3.5t MH?

l feel we are noI being given All information to be able to see the whole problem, if indeed there is any.

I think you will find he said it was “3.5 plus”.

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[Clive Mott]

Your own doctor xan do it privately if they have time, if not then D2 Drivers.com worked for me.

 

[pappajohn]

A

Your own doctor xan do it privately if they have time, if not then D2 Drivers.com worked for me.

At a fraction of the cost of your doctor.
I asked at my docs reception and was told it was £400.

£58 at D4Drivers is a no brainer....and they're recognised by DVLA.

 

[rosalan]

Have you tried Principal Insurance. Very reasonable I found..

Yes.....nothing came up on the space for offers. They said they were sorry.

 

[nicholsong]

I think you will find he said it was “3.5 plus”.

You are right. I missed the word 'plus' on re-reading although I had been posting on the asumption that he did need C1..

Then it raises the question about how he has been driving it from 70-80 and not got a plastic licence.

 

[pappajohn]

Then it raises the question about how he has been driving it from 70-80 and not got a plastic licence.

Took me a while to figure it out.
The op has a plastic licence and needs to renew it complete with C1 and D1.
The opening post was badly worded and confusing.

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[The Wino]

Couple of years ago SpecSavers picked up on an eye problem on me which they thought was the onset of Glaucoma and sent me to a private eye hospital.
After tests they put me on two lots of eye drops..Three months later they took me off the stronger of the drops.I went for 6 monthly check ups twice more..I am still on the drops but my eye sight is much improved.They discharged me at the hospital so all is well..I do have a yearly eye test because of an R.A. medication I take. BUSBY..

Sounds unusual what are the drops you are still using?

 

[nicholsong]

Took me a while to figure it out.
The op has a plastic licence and needs to renew it complete with C1 and D1.
The opening post was badly worded and confusing.

I last renewed my UK C1 Licencefor the fifth time and it was issued on 22.02.2024, just 3 week shy of my 82nd birthday. I had just submitted the D2/D4, same as every other renewal. [I was looking at my licence as I typed]

So he just needs to do D2/D4 as he must have been doing for last 10 years.

Nothing has changed. The proposal for eye tests for 70+ would only affect B licence holders, since C1 holders' medicals include it already.

Where 80+ came into this nobody knows, not even Alan..

"

 

[Two of usI]

Don't use your own doctor, they think of a figure then add 2 more 0s.
Search D4drivers.....specialist in driving medicals and a fraction of what your doc will charge

I will never use D4drivers again....... I have cancer ( Bowel / Lung & Liver) and have had several operations, but ( thank God ) am currently well ( according to my Oncologist )....... last year I went for my C1 to D4drivers, the doctor asked me what my history was.... I explained.... he told me that in his opinion I would not live long enough for him to sanction my licence, so referred it to DVLA, after 3 months and the DVLA referring to my G.P. I was given the license, but, only for 12 months, so, I have now to reapply this year.......... after complaining and threatening action they returned my fee, but, nothing more........ my Consultant Oncologist was amazed....... In my opinion they are sharks who employ Drs who are not fit for purpose...... otherwise the Drs would have proper Drs positions I will in future go straight to my G.P.

 

[The Wino]

I will never use D4drivers again....... I have cancer ( Bowel / Lung & Liver) and have had several operations, but ( thank God ) am currently well ( according to my Oncologist )....... last year I went for my C1 to D4drivers, the doctor asked me what my history was.... I explained.... he told me that in his opinion I would not live long enough for him to sanction my licence, so referred it to DVLA, after 3 months and the DVLA referring to my G.P. I was given the license, but, only for 12 months, so, I have now to reapply this year.......... after complaining and threatening action they returned my fee, but, nothing more........ my Consultant Oncologist was amazed....... In my opinion they are sharks who employ Drs who are not fit for purpose...... otherwise the Drs would have proper Drs positions I will in future go straight to my G.P.

I think a lot of things that the NHS sub out now to the private sector are similar in that they want to deal with a lot of the straightforward things and leave more complicated cases to someone else. After all if they are operating on a flat fee just how long have they got per patient to delve into complicated histories. If someone has a straightforward history with a couple of common stable conditions they are probably great and good value if things aren't so straightforward who knows!

 

[busby]

Sounds unusual what are the drops you are still using?

Lantroprost Timol 50 mg...Still have annual eye test because I take Hydroxychloroquine for my Rhumatoid Arthritis. BUSBY.

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[The Wino]

Lantroprost Timol 50 mg...Still have annual eye test because I take Hydroxychloroquine for my Rhumatoid Arthritis. BUSBY.

You should be in follow up in a glaucoma clinic on those drops sounds like you have dropped through the gaps in the system. Ask your GP to check.

 

[Lenny HB]

Alan, you state that your MH is 3.5t so why do you want a C1? Unless you intend to change to a heavier one or uprate the existing.

Alan said his Motorhome is 3.5t plus.

 

[L' Hobo]

I did find this but from 70, not 80.....

The government recently set out a detailed action plan to address road safety issues. This may have an impact on our elderly loved ones and their ability to maintain independence. The plan means drivers over 70 may be required to take regular eyesight tests every three years, in order to maintain their licenses.

Change In The Law For Elderly Drivers?

The government has set out a detailed action plan to address road safety issues. This may have an impact on our elderly loved ones and their ability to maintain independence. The plan means drivers over 70 may be required to take regular eyesight tests every three years, in order to maintain...

careline.co.uk

Personally I, and I would recommend others do it too so any sight problems can be detected early, have a yearly eye test.

I was told over 10yrs ago that I had the start of a cataract but it appears that it has got no worse as it hasn't been mentioned lately.

 

[nicholsong]

Alan said his Motorhome is 3.5t plus.

I think you will find he said it was “3.5 plus”.

I dealt with my mistake here -

You are right. I missed the word 'plus' on re-reading although I had been posting on the asumption that he did need C1..

Then it raises the question about how he has been driving it from 70-80 and not got a plastic licence.

I then went on to state what I thought Alan needs to do, here -

I last renewed my UK C1 Licencefor the fifth time and it was issued on 22.02.2024, just 3 week shy of my 82nd birthday. I had just submitted the D2/D4, same as every other renewal. [I was looking at my licence as I typed]

So he just needs to do D2/D4 as he must have been doing for last 10 years.

Nothing has changed. The proposal for eye tests for 70+ would only affect B licence holders, since C1 holders' medicals include it already.

Where 80+ came into this nobody knows, not even Alan..

On which Alan has not so far commented, but gave the post a Like.

 

[busby]

⁸

You should be in follow up in a glaucoma clinic on those drops sounds like you have dropped through the gaps in the system. Ask your GP to check.

I was attending a private eye/glaucoma clinic...Full on testing for each visit every few months..Discharged until they recall me..I also pay Spec Savers for extra non NHS eye test...BUSBY

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[rosalan]

Thank you all for your replies.
I had a letter from LV=BUDGET, saying they no longer insured over 80s.
Since 70, I have tested every 3 years and have a plastic licence including C1 for my 3850 van. I then came across an article re extra testing for over 80s. It now looks like this was either ambitious, ambiguous or simply wrong or whatever. A sense of panic or depression persueded me to to generate a thread. Then when looking for new insurance the second shock, my expensive £500 cover elsewhere became £2000. 5 Hours searching revealed the Camping Club cover was just over £1000 but I must also join the Caravan Club for an extra £60. Compare the Market managed to bring this down to £850 including club membership. I hate filling insurance forms.

 

[The Wino]

⁸

I was attending a private eye/glaucoma clinic...Full on testing for each visit every few months..Discharged until they recall me..I also pay Spec Savers for extra non NHS eye test...BUSBY

" Discharged" usually indicates no more appointments needed appointment to follow is something different

 

[nicholsong]

Thank you all for your replies.
I had a letter from LV=BUDGET, saying they no longer insured over 80s.
Since 70, I have tested every 3 years and have a plastic licence including C1 for my 3850 van. I then came across an article re extra testing for over 80s. It now looks like this was either ambitious, ambiguous or simply wrong or whatever. A sense of panic or depression persueded me to to generate a thread. Then when looking for new insurance the second shock, my expensive £500 cover elsewhere became £2000. 5 Hours searching revealed the Camping Club cover was just over £1000 but I must also join the Caravan Club for an extra £60. Compare the Market managed to bring this down to £850 including club membership. I hate filling insurance forms.

I am glad that the MHFun 'Collective' managed to put your mind at rest over the renewal of C1.

The over 80 insurance quotes must have been a shock. Those of us who live in countries where the vehicle not the driver is insurered do not have the over 80 problem, although there is still a restriction on under 25s driving, so I do not know how they get insurance.