Is C1 really needed?

[peterc10]

A couple months ago my mates wife applied online for the year extension (before they started doing it automatically) new licence came in about a week but C1 missing. She phoned them they said put in a new application in the post with a covering letter. So she though might as well get a full 3 year one, got a D2 from the post office & had a medical sent it off. Just over a week a got a new licence.
So on rare occasions, DVLA can get things sorted but from my experience with them you can't rely on them it's pot luck.

In my experience they are good with things that do not involve any human interaction. So automatic on line activities work well and the computer spits out the new whatsit to be sent and it is. It is when the people get involved that the mistakes are made and things get lost.

 

[cmcardle75]

Category AM didn't exist when you took your test. Mopeds were covered by UK national category 'P'. When European licencing changes introduced category 'AM', anyone with a 'B' or 'A' category got 'AM' added when they renewed their licence. I would guess that this date is the date of your first licence renewal after introduction of the category. 'P' is also still shown as grandfather rights, as the requirements are less restrictive than the 'AM' licence (you can go 5kmh faster).

 

[Don Campbell]

DumfriesDik never did say how old he is, so if he is over 70 that's it until he does the medical and makes a new application.

 

[bobnick]

With a normal car licence you can ride a moped without passing a test. However there weren't many mopeds around in 1903.
That 1903 is obviously a mistake. Test didn't come in till well after that date for anything.

 

[cmcardle75]

With a normal car licence you can ride a moped without passing a test. However there weren't many mopeds around in 1903.
That 1903 is obviously a mistake. Test didn't come in till well after that date for anything.

The date is 2013, shortly after the 'AM' category was invented. They decided you couldn't have a date earlier than the introduction of the category as the start date!

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[pappajohn]

That 1903 is obviously a mistake. Test didn't come in till well after that date for anything.

Interestingly, the first full driving licence in the UK was held by a woman, Vera butler, in 1900. She had to travel to France to obtain it.
The UK driving test was introduced in 1935 the suspended in 1939 for the duration of the war.
If you got a provisional licence during the war you never had to take a test to gain a full licence after the war.

 

[peterc10]

No it doesn't if you passed before 1974/75 It gives the last date they updated your licence .They lost everything before then.

Not sure it was the last date you renewed your licence. All of my historical categories, including C1 are shown as beginning "<25.09.75". I assume from that it means earlier than that date, which would be correct. I suspect that date was put on my licence the first date I updated it after 1975, which would be 1983 when I changed address. Or, if not it it would have been in 2001 when I changed address again and I think I changed to the photo card. Since then it has stayed the same, and it was certainly the same on my previous photocard licence.

 

[bobnick]

Anybody still got their little burgundy licence in booklet form????? No i don't. But i did have one (or was it blue??)

 

[dave carnell]

I'm nearly 70 when you send your licence in you loose the C1 entitlement I got a D2 and D4 from DVLA and had a medical which is every 3 yes to continue with the C1

 

[DartmoorTwo]

I've reached 70 so C1 will not be transferrable to a new licence, unless I get a form (I think it's called D4) completed by my doctor and an eye specialist. At the moment the fact that I've reached 70 is somewhat immaterial as they've extended the need for a new licence by 9 months, but I'm going to take advantage of that period of time to get the forms sorted.

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[2657]

Anybody still got their little burgundy licence in booklet form????? No i don't. But i did have one (or was it blue??)

I had my burgundy one until we sold the house in 2008 and the old blue HGV licence.
I still have my driving test fail certificates from 1965, motorbike, and 1966, car somewhere. I never kept my HGV1 fail certificate......never passed anything first time!

 

[hblewett]

You can send your D2 (application) and D4 (medical report) to DVLA whenever you like. If you've no medical issues you're likely to get your licence back pretty promptly, if there is anything medical they want more info or tests for you've got all that time to get that sorted out.

 

[Ian Bosman]

This is what the DVLA say about my licence
Image of category B1 vehicle Hide information
Description

You can drive motor vehicles with 4 wheels up to 400kg unladen or 550kg if they’re designed for carrying goods

Restriction codes

01 Eyesight Correction
Category : BStart date: before 10 Dec 1973End date: 28 Nov 2020 Restrictions apply
Image of category B vehicle Hide information
Description

You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) with up to 8 passenger seats and a driver (with a trailer up to 750kg). You can also tow heavier trailers if the total weight of vehicle and trailer isn’t more than 3,500kg MAM. Physically disabled drivers with provisional category B entitlement will also have provisional entitlement to ride category A1 or A motor tricycles. Able-bodied drivers can no longer ride motor tricycles with a provisional category B licence

Restriction codes

01 Eyesight Correction
Category : BEStart date: before 10 Dec 1973End date: 28 Nov 2020 Restrictions apply
Image of category BE vehicle Hide information
Description

You can drive vehicles up to 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) with up to 8 passenger seats and a driver with a trailer weighing up to 3,500kg

You will note that there is no mention of a weight less than 3500, only the MAM so do not know what is the 3050Kg often quoted so to me it seems that I can drive up to the National Speed Limit in the UK.

 

[Lenny HB]

In my experience they are good with things that do not involve any human interaction. So automatic on line activities work well and the computer spits out the new whatsit to be sent and it is. It is when the people get involved that the mistakes are made and things get lost.

Opposite way round with my mates wife. Computer got it wrong, people sorted it out, unusual I'll grant you that.

 

[2657]

You will note that there is no mention of a weight less than 3500, only the MAM so do not know what is the 3050Kg often quoted so to me it seems that I can drive up to the National Speed Limit in the UK.

The 3050k is the 'Unladen Weight' of the vehicle which is almost impossible to ascertain in relation to motorhomes, especially smaller ones.

This is an anachronistic useage and goes back to the days when everything was based on the unladen weight, why this one remains in place for speed limits and nothing else is anyone's guess, 3050k is the metric equivalent of 3 tons imperial.

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[minesapint]

That has recently happened to me but I understand that I may apply for CI with successful completion of neccessary medical.

DVLA are being a pain with the C1 Licence. Due to the chinese flu I could not get a medical at the docs, so I went to an outside company who do the C1 licence medical and charge for it. I passed with no problems, sent the forms to DVLA, who then sent them to my doctor, who duly filled in any extra information demanded by the DVLA. After an eternity the dvla came back and now want me to have a breathing stress test, which I believe involves a tread mill and oxygen monitor. I have been told it will be months before I can get a breathing stress test, and it will have to be taken in a hospital environment, which I do not fancy, due to the chinese flu.

So far five months to get the C1 Licence back.

 

[AndyVW]

The 1973 date on your card licence is when the DVLA went to computerised, somebody manually typed the info onto the computer from info held in a "file" There were so many cock ups the DVLA gave you five years to challenge the digital entries, a large portion of the UK didnt bother. You cant get it back now I,ve tried.

 

[Lenny HB]

Just looked at mine the start date is '74, took my car test in '68.

 

[Marmite]

Are you sure 75 is 1975?

 

[Philemery]

I passed my test back in the 1980's and do not have C1 listed. However, looking at Gov.uk website I see this:

Category B - if you passed your test before 1 January 1997
You’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg maximum authorised mass (MAM). View your driving licence information to check.
You’re also allowed to drive a minibus with a trailer over 750kg MAM.

Link

So I am good to go with a motorhome over 3500kg, right? And I don't need to explicitly have C1 on my licence do I? I have written to them just today to confirm.

Can I just add some cautionto this thread, DVLA have been under fire for years over the incorrect transfer of entitlements on licences, and a great many people lost various categories( motorbike, plant, agricultural) having swapped to a plastic card licence. Unless you were able to send proof of tests passed, they were not interested in re-instating your entitlement to drive much more than the basic car or hgv groups. Do not assume you are legal to drive over 3500kg just because you passed your test a long time ago.

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[Pausim]

I passed with no problems, sent the forms to DVLA,

You don’t pass the medical, it is just a Doctors report that is submitted to the DVLA.

 

[Bucket]

Useful thread this. I have renewed my licence as required and when moving and never thought to check if my entitlement to C1 had been omitted! Just assumed it was all still the same. Luckily it is, phew.
moving house again shortly so will take care to check it comes back correct this time.

 

[hblewett]

After an eternity the dvla came back and now want me to have a breathing stress test, which I believe involves a tread mill and oxygen monitor. I have been told it will be months before I can get a breathing stress test, and it will have to be taken in a hospital environment, which I do not fancy, due to the chinese flu.

I got some movement from DVLA after asking for assistance from my MP. The stress test is booked in for Monday week, but next Friday I have to go for a Covid test on the Friday before, then self-isolate until I go for the stress test. It looks to me like they're doing everything possible to keep everyone safe, and you won't be mixing with any other patients as mine (and I'm sure yours) will be done 'privately' (paid by DVLA), so you won't be waiting in A&E or anything like that, and are unlikely to see any other patients other than maybe one or two, distanced and masked, in the waiting area. If you have to wait as long as I did, Covid could well be a thing of the past by the time you get stress tested!

 

[TonyEmm]

Correct, MOST Motorhomes will fine on your licence, effectively your licence includes C1.

C1 was introduced to restrict drivers AFTER 1997 from driving vehicles over 3500kgs on a normal licence.

Or you do as I did and get A, CE + DE

That’s incorrect! I passed my test back in 1967 and still need C1 to drive over 3,500kgs... As I’m over 70, I had to have a medical to renew it... (and that’s a total rip off, didn’t even have my blood pressure taken and cost me £120). I have C1E which allows me to drive up to 8250kg gross trail weight....
HOWEVER, if you don’t specifically have C1, I’d be inclined to query it. My wife also passed her test in in the 80’s (1986) and got C1E as an automatic right.
without any C category listed, you are limited to 3500kg.

 

[Crampy]

I have just been asked to renew my Licence to a 70+ version. I am 78!
I do not have a C1 on my licence and I have a 3,500kg Motohome. Can I drive it, or not?

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[denisejoe]

I have just been asked to renew my Licence to a 70+ version. I am 78!
I do not have a C1 on my licence and I have a 3,500kg Motohome. Can I drive it, or not?

Yes you can. You can drive up to 3500Kg on a normal car licence. Over 3500Kg you need the C1.

 

[TonyEmm]

Don't forget that entitlement changes when you reach 70.

You can keep all categories if you have the required medical.... I had mine 6 months after the event and had my categories reinstated. I now have to do it every 3 years....

 

[pappajohn]

I have just been asked to renew my Licence to a 70+ version. I am 78!
I do not have a C1 on my licence and I have a 3,500kg Motohome. Can I drive it, or not?

Technically you don't have a licence to drive anything, it expired 8 years ago.
Until you renew your licence that's how it stands.
You have to renew the photo every 10 years but at age 70 the licence itself expires.
As you aren't renewing C1 it's straight forward, no medical needed just form filling.

 

[Cavs]

This is an anachronistic useage and goes back to the days when everything was based on the unladen weight, why this one remains in place for speed limits and nothing else is anyone's guess, 3050k is the metric equivalent of 3 tons imperial.

That is correct and the reason for the different speed limits is down to the class of vehicle (nothing to do with taxation class or type of vehicle): up to 3 imperial tons (now 3,050 kg) unladen weight is a motor car; over that is a heavy motor car.

(Over that starts to go into locomotive and others that I can't remember!)

 

[Boris7]

That’s incorrect! I passed my test back in 1967 and still need C1 to drive over 3,500kgs... As I’m over 70, I had to have a medical to renew it... (and that’s a total rip off, didn’t even have my blood pressure taken and cost me £120). I have C1E which allows me to drive up to 8250kg gross trail weight....
HOWEVER, if you don’t specifically have C1, I’d be inclined to query it. My wife also passed her test in in the 80’s (1986) and got C1E as an automatic right.
without any C category listed, you are limited to 3500kg.View attachment 443420

But you got that C1 because you passed your car test prior to 1997, if you still have an old driving licence prior to 1997 C1 won’t be on it.


Category C1
Category C1 is for goods vehicles between 3500kgs MAM and 7500kgs MAM and is a subcategory of Category C.

Subcategory C1 vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM allowing a combination of up to 8.25 tonnes MAM. However, the 750kgs MAM trailer weight limit is an absolute limit.

There is a minimum age requirement of 18 years for this category.

Drivers who passed their car test before 1 January 1997 normally will also have category C1 entitlement.

Drivers who passed their car test after 1 January 1997 will have to meet higher medical standards, obtain a Category C1 Provisional Licence and then pass both theory and practical C1 driving tests to gain category C1.

To drive vehicles of this type professionally (i.e. in connection with a business or employment) drivers will also need to meet the Driver CPC requirement.

Supervising drivers accompanying provisional C1 licence holders must themselves have passed a C1, C1E, C or CE practical test and hav

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