In tears over latest DVLA fiasco

[Puddleduck]

Kirsten The Parliamentary Ombudsman is the person to go to with complaints and the nearest to a central registry. However the only way to get to the Ombudsman is via your MP. Some MPs don't even know the Ombudsman exists so the constituent making the complaint may need to hand hold and push.

 

[Don Campbell]

After loooong delay to renewing C1 last year I had to send renewal details in March as they only renewed for a year [despite IMO having no relevant medical grounds to do so but that's another story ] So sent off all the forms and my physical driving licence to them 3/3 and it was received by DVLA 5/3 according to post office tracker which I have just viewed .
Phoned today as required to wait 5 weeks before enquiring and they have no trace of the application and say the tracking number is not correct .
Phoned again got to another department in hope initial person had made a mistake and the advice is to try to get number that they accept from tracker [I may have kept wrong bit of receipt ???] and IF they have lost it they will start a case BUT IF they say they have not received it ie tracker invalid [!?] I will need to start process again - both processes will take the same time and they do not offer an express or expedited service.

Loosing the will to live here

Make an appointment to see your MP and ask him to start an enquiry into the DVLA's unwarranted mistakes and delays. They need a good boot up the backside just like the Passport Office got before they improved and they can start with the medical section which seems to be the tardiest.

 

[Puddleduck]

Welcome to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman | Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)

www.ombudsman.org.uk

 

[Tricky One]

My partner had similar experience when at 70 she applied to keep C1. Took over 6 months. Numerous phone calls plus letter from them that they needed to refer to her Doctor for more info. Neither would tell her why. Joke was the Doctor’s reply was accompanied with bill to the DVLA for £40. She eventually had her License and C1, so assume they were satisfied with report, though whether they paid the £40 is anybodys guess.

 

[Chalkster60]

Your first mistake was sending your old license.
They can now say you had no C1 or any number of other categories on the license
ALWAYS retain the license as proof stating it was lost

I always lose my license, I’m just terrible for it, then it turns up later, I am so absent minded, I have four of them now, a friend lost their motorcycle entitlement and DVLA had no record of it and she had no copies of the license.

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[Clive Beeza]

I’ve just renewed my licence for the third time, coming up to 76 in 3 days! I sent all the C1 paperwork in on 9th February, within 3 months, thinking I would get a new licence from my birthday; I got the new one dated from 14th February!

When I wrote to question this, I was informed that the new licence is from the date of assessing it. Apparently, 3 years ago, during lockdown or whatever, they just rubber stamped it from your birthday! Which is strange, because my 70th birthday licence was from my birthday? Still, I can’t be bothered to pursue the argument.

If I’m still here in 3 years, I’ll be sending it all in on 9th February!! I don’t want to waste my D4D medical on 2 years 10 months instead of 3 years.

Exactly the same thing happened to myself
as the renewal actual date was when we would be away on a tour of Norway (highly recommended)
I applied early with a covering explanatory letter for the reason for the early application
and the DVLA must have been having a rare 30 minute efficiency period
because the renewal arrived in good time
BUT not to run consecutive to the expiring licence but dated from the day of issue
losing me 3 months use of the original unexpired licence
" just could not make this fiasco up could one "

 

[Clive Beeza]

Your first mistake was sending your old license.
They can now say you had no C1 or any number of other categories on the license
ALWAYS retain the license as proof stating it was lost

Always Always send a phopto copy they do accept a photocopy despite their bumf saying differently as they "NEVER" admit making a mistake that way you have your original licence to ensure ALL your driving categories can be verified if need be

 

[Odd-no-more]

You can go on the DVLAs website and see you catagies, any points etc. I do this before applying, and keep a copy

 

[Kirsten]

You can go on the DVLAs website and see you catagies, any points etc. I do this before applying, and keep a copy

Thank you , yes have done this in the hope the date my licence ends would have been adjusted ie renewed . Booked a holiday in van to Norway in June and need a physical licence with C1 on it to be able to go .Not looking good atm

 

[Puddleduck]

Thank you , yes have done this in the hope the date my licence ends would have been adjusted ie renewed . Booked a holiday in van to Norway in June and need a physical licence with C1 on it to be able to go .Not looking good atm

Once your MP gets the Ombudsman involved you may find your original application turns up as if by magic - and if not then the reapplication becomes a priority.

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[Odd-no-more]

It is annoying that we can't choose when to renew, my licence ran out whilst I'm in Spain, luckily I was able to renew just before we left, but that was only due to luck. As I don't need the C1 I renewed without it, it's much simpler, if I ever do need it I can apply to have it reinstated.

 

[Three Stars]

The application to renew my C1 licence was received by the DVLA on 1st February this year. On 29 March an email from the Licensing Team Leader of the Taxi and Private Hire department arrived which said they could not find me on their system. I replied to point out that the C1 licence was needed for a private motorhome and queried why the taxi department was involved? No reply received to that. A phone call to the DVLA confirmed that my application had been referred to the medical team but they could provide no estimate of the time it would take to deal with the application. During a second telephone call, the operative agreed to chase the medical team after I informed him that one overseas trip had been cancelled and another was planned for the end of April. My local optician had completed the visual inspection part of the D4 and assured me my eyesight was well above the required standard. On 5th April I received an instruction by letter to make an appointment with Specsavers for an eye test including a visual field test to be paid for by the DVLA. That had not been required on any previous post-70 years application. The saga continues and the appointment is on 16th April. Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 allows drivers to continue driving after their licence has expired, under specific conditions, while the DVLA processes their application for a new or renewed licence. However, that only applies in the UK. In France it is an offence to drive without having a valid licence with you and, since mine has now expired, I'm not prepared to take the risk. The monopoly contract with Specsavers to provide visual field tests on the grounds that it saves money for the DVLA is, in my view, highly questionable. Applicants pay individually for all other medical tests so why not this one at any local optician that has the necessary equipment? That would save the DVLA even more money. I think it's now time for a letter to my M.P.

 

[The Framer]

I remember reading recently that DVLA were going to recategorise some heavier motorhomes (I think up to 5 tons) on to a normal driving licence category. Has anyone any knowledge or update

 

[FamWeb]

Having now renewed my C1 three times I send it of 88 days before it is due to expire keep my current licence and put a letter in confirming one, I have kept my licence as I will be driving in the EU whilst my application is processed and undertake to either return my expired licence upon receipt on my new one or destroy it ,and retain photographic proof I have done so. Get the new licence back dated the day after the old one expires no mention of what to do with the old licence, don’t forget to check whether you need to renew the photo.

Is it just your C1 you have to renew or the whole licence? Just asking as we’re about to do provisional driving licence application for my youngest and as a type 1 diabetic apparently he will have to do 3 yearly renewals for life and want to know what we/ he is likely to face for life.

 

[Bessy765]

At 790

Is it just your C1 you have to renew or the whole licence? Just asking as we’re about to do provisional driving licence application for my youngest and as a type 1 diabetic apparently he will have to do 3 yearly renewals for life and want to know what we/ he is likely to face for life.

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[Bessy765]

Sorry at 70 for ordinary renewal photo less than ten years old and self declaration form, for C1 a medical is required from D4Drivers or similar cheaper than doctors. As I need glasses to drive I get an optician to fill in that part of the for (D2 & D4) for your son as far as I know there are specific requirements re the history and if any incidents have occurred.

Google Search

 

[Bessy765]

Driving and diabetes

For most people with diabetes, driving isn’t a problem, and they can hold a driving licence and carry on driving. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about diabetes and driving. "As someone with diabetes, it's really important that I'm aware of the rules around driving in the UK" - Mim...

www.diabetes.org.uk

 

[Paulwill318]

I had my license revoked last year due to cough syncope. As it was due back on the 04/03/25 I sent in my application 8 weeks in advance as advised.
Come the 4th I rang them to be told it was with the medical team & they would advise me of progress, rang again on the 11th still same message. On the 12th received a letter saying that they had sent a letter to my Dr so I spoke to my surgery who said that it would be actioned as soon as it was received but unfortunately my Dr was on holiday the next week. Spoke to surgery on the Wednesday after the Drs holiday & the letter had been returned to DVLA so last Wednesday I rang DVLA to ask if they had received the letter, I was told it was not on my file but might be waiting for scanning which could take up to 10 working days. When asked about processing time once it was on my file I was told they couldn’t say but it cone up to a month.
So a 12 month period could now be anything up to 15 months.
Why say people can apply 8 weeks in advance if nothing will be done for 5 working days after the end of the suspension, why use snail mail instead of electronic communications, why 10 days to scan a letter.
What should have been a simple process made into a marathon of administrative waste.
Still waiting, will call DVLA again tomorrow.

 

[Puddleduck]

I had my license revoked last year due to cough syncope. As it was due back on the 04/03/25 I sent in my application 8 weeks in advance as advised.
Come the 4th I rang them to be told it was with the medical team & they would advise me of progress, rang again on the 11th still same message. On the 12th received a letter saying that they had sent a letter to my Dr so I spoke to my surgery who said that it would be actioned as soon as it was received but unfortunately my Dr was on holiday the next week. Spoke to surgery on the Wednesday after the Drs holiday & the letter had been returned to DVLA so last Wednesday I rang DVLA to ask if they had received the letter, I was told it was not on my file but might be waiting for scanning which could take up to 10 working days. When asked about processing time once it was on my file I was told they couldn’t say but it cone up to a month.
So a 12 month period could now be anything up to 15 months.
Why say people can apply 8 weeks in advance if nothing will be done for 5 working days after the end of the suspension, why use snail mail instead of electronic communications, why 10 days to scan a letter.
What should have been a simple process made into a marathon of administrative waste.
Still waiting, will call DVLA again tomorrow.

I hate to tell you this but after a similar episode of simple syncope caused by dehydration and heat exhaustion (after being in hospital for 16 hours with no liquid provided) it took them 2 years to restore my licence - and then only when my MP and the ombudsman became involved. The hospital still don't know why the licence was revoked as the hospital said I had to inform DVLA ( or they would) but no reason not to drive given the faint was well explained.

 

[CAB96]

I remember reading recently that DVLA were going to recategorise some heavier motorhomes (I think up to 5 tons) on to a normal driving licence category. Has anyone any knowledge or update

Unfortunately not.

The EU are in the process, but no idea if the UK will follow suit.

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