Motorcycle Category Lost from Licence - any advice?

Kayak Kid

Kayak Kid

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Kilsyth, Glasgow, UK
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I recently reached 70 years of age and followed the DVLA procedures for a replacement driving licence to include my C1 category to drive vehicles over 3500kg. My Motorhome is plated at 4250kg.

However, on receiving my new card licence, my motorcycle category allowing my to ride any engine size was not included! I have been riding motorcycles for some 50 years up to 1800cc and still ride safely with a current maximum NCD on my motorcycle insurance.

I have challenged this by letter to the DVLA indicating the date I sat my motorcycle test and the test centre involved. At that time licences were issued by the city councils and mine was Glasgow City Council. The category was shown on my original paper licence which I had from its issue to me many years ago and which I returned to the DVLA with my recent application (granted not in the best of condition).

The DVLA has written back to me stating that they have no record of me having this category and that it would be in breach of the relevant legislation if I operated a vehicle for which I am not licensed.

I have heard and read that this has been a fairly common issue - but would welcome any advice on how I might take the matter forward.
 
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Dave and Jen said:
They took my m/c licence off at replacement a few years ago, I wasn't bothered because I have a stiff left leg and my left arm is amputated above the elbow would make riding on a bit difficult.
However, the last time I applied for a replacement they put my entitlement back on!!!!
Didn't bother telling them as it would only cause more problems (probably)
They do know about my condition and haven't put any restrictions on my car licence.
Cheers, Dave
Click to expand...
I'm 79, no right arm use and still riding with the front brake and clutch levers on the left. Many adaptations for foot and hand disabilities here:

www.kliktronic.co.uk

Motorcycle Customisation For The Disabled Worldwide | Kliktronic

UK specialist in disabled motorcycle adaptations. Kliktronic push-button gear changer & K-Lever2 clutch & brake system. Worldwide distribution
www.kliktronic.co.uk www.kliktronic.co.uk

My adaptation..........
K lever.webp
 
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Spriddler said:
I'm 79, no right arm use and still riding with the front brake and clutch levers on the left. Many adaptations for foot and hand disabilities here:

www.kliktronic.co.uk

Motorcycle Customisation For The Disabled Worldwide | Kliktronic

UK specialist in disabled motorcycle adaptations. Kliktronic push-button gear changer & K-Lever2 clutch & brake system. Worldwide distribution
www.kliktronic.co.uk www.kliktronic.co.uk

My adaptation..........
View attachment 995106
Click to expand...
Thanks Spriddler I admire you very much and hope you keep riding. However my riding days are over, I had my accident in 1967 and not really bothered with bikes since.
Cheers, Dave
 
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Kayak Kid said:
I recently reached 70 years of age and followed the DVLA procedures for a replacement driving licence to include my C1 category to drive vehicles over 3500kg. My Motorhome is plated at 4250kg.

However, on receiving my new card licence, my motorcycle category allowing my to ride any engine size was not included! I have been riding motorcycles for some 50 years up to 1800cc and still ride safely with a current maximum NCD on my motorcycle insurance.

I have challenged this by letter to the DVLA indicating the date I sat my motorcycle test and the test centre involved. At that time licences were issued by the city councils and mine was Glasgow City Council. The category was shown on my original paper licence which I had from its issue to me many years ago and which I returned to the DVLA with my recent application (granted not in the best of condition).

The DVLA has written back to me stating that they have no record of me having this category and that it would be in breach of the relevant legislation if I operated a vehicle for which I am not licensed.

I have heard and read that this has been a fairly common issue - but would welcome any advice on how I might take the matter forward.
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I have just checked my licence and it appears to have a number of moped and motorcycle categories starting with AM, A1, A2 and A.
I am 80 later this year, and although I surrendered my HGV1 and manual PSV licences when I was 75, my licence shows I still retain my full Motorcycle licence ( A ) and Full car and trailor licence up to 3500kg as I requested not wishing to go through the hassle and expense of retaining the others.

As my licence comes up for renewal again in a few months, I will pay the categories my attention when it returned, Thankyou! 👍
 
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When my license came up for renewal at 70, I didn't check the motorbike part as I was more interested in the C1.
Fifteen months later, when a friend told me to check, I found my motorbike section missing. I called the DVLA, and the girl asked if I was still riding a motorbike. I told her it was none of her business and that I had passed my test many years ago. She then agreed to send me a new license with the motorbike and C1 sections. I never send them my old license. I destroy the old one once my new one arrives.

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Yes, this happened to me as well.

Passed my full bike test in 1984.

Stopped riding bikes in 86.

Moved house in 1990’s, paper licence came back as paper/card combo.

Applied for a posting as a detached beat officer which came with a 350cc bike, but on checking my licence it was pointed out I had no full ticket.

Contacted DVLA with details of date and centre passed, and a photocopy of my original licence, like talking to a brick wall, they asked for the pass certificate which you send off to get the licence updated 🤷‍♂️

I gave up, but have been thinking about trying again recently as I’d like a 250 to keep in the van, tbh I might just resit the test, probably quicker!
 
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SafetyPete said:
Yes, this happened to me as well.

Passed my full bike test in 1984.

Stopped riding bikes in 86.

Moved house in 1990’s, paper licence came back as paper/card combo.

Applied for a posting as a detached beat officer which came with a 350cc bike, but on checking my licence it was pointed out I had no full ticket.

Contacted DVLA with details of date and centre passed, and a photocopy of my original licence, like talking to a brick wall, they asked for the pass certificate which you send off to get the licence updated 🤷‍♂️

I gave up, but have been thinking about trying again recently as I’d like a 250 to keep in the van, tbh I might just resit the test, probably quicker!
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That is not that easy these days. CBT, Mod 1, Mod 2 ,Theory. Pal of mine did it a couple of years ago and paid about £1000 for the training, bike hire and test fees.

Welcome to motorcycling - which is supposed to be more environmentally friendly🤔
 
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I'm sorry you've got into this situation, and this is too late for you, but anyone approaching this renewal what I did was,

1) - photocopy the license both sides double sided, take it to the Post Office and get them to stamp it as an official copy.
2) - never sent the old license, just tell them you can't find it (well after that many years , not unusual).

Hope this may help someone.
 
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David and Sally said:
That is not that easy these days. CBT, Mod 1, Mod 2 ,Theory. Pal of mine did it a couple of years ago and paid about £1000 for the training, bike hire and test fees.

Welcome to motorcycling - which is supposed to be more environmentally friendly🤔
Click to expand...
Is it? Why? Most motorbikes have worse mpg than my Prius.
My father's old BSA Bantam did over 200mpg, now that's eco!
 
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Jerrywh said:
Is it? Why? Most motorbikes have worse mpg than my Prius.
My father's old BSA Bantam did over 200mpg, now that's eco!
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More like 200 miles to the Pound (£1) but that was 4galloons (19ltrs) 😄

Never had a Bantam but I think 200 miles to the galloon is stretching it? 🤔

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Jerrywh said:
Is it? Why? Most motorbikes have worse mpg than my Prius.
My father's old BSA Bantam did over 200mpg, now that's eco!
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Lots of reasons.

They're HOVs (High Occupancy Vehicles) which therefore don't contribute as much to congestion, they're more likely to be able to continue to move in congested traffic so they're not sitting idling as long, they're lighter and only have a fraction of the tyre contact surface of other vehicles so they don't wear out the roads as much. They use fewer resources to build, there are fewer consumable parts, they typically need less oil and smaller brake pads, they need much less parking provision space... and that's just off the top of my head.

As for fuel consumption - well, I don't know what your Prius is or what it's getting but I'm guessing somewhere in the 60-70Mpg? Even ten years ago there were 'big' bikes such as the BMW F800ST which were hitting those sorts of figures and if you go down to 50-125cc bikes you're in the Bantam territory economy.
 
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Although I don’t use my HGV entitlement for work anymore, I never send my old license on renewal until the new one arrives.
The licensing system is effectively a live database so mistakes with data entry can only be corrected with historical evidence which DVLA may not always have.
Although they will have backup data for IT support, it is unlikely to have information more than a day or two old due to the nature of the constant changes made every day.
 
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Ok here is the saga also with loss of full Motorcycle entitlement - but not full Moped entitlement (yes I took my test on a moped lets not go there)

After many years lockdown convinced me that solo travel using a bike was a good option as IT often takes me into London

Walked into dealer picked a bike and commenced the paperwork - right up until - "when did you take your bike test?"

Bemused answered as 1981 to be shown the rear of my license - no worry have a photocopy of the old paper version

"Hmmm were not sure, we will deliver tomorrow but cant let you ride it away im afraid"

Get home swift call to DVLA and answered

"you will need your original pass certificate"

But back then we had to send them in to get the license updated

"without it as far as DVLA are concerned you never took a test"

After several weeks of to and fro I went and took DAS just to get qualified again without all the rubbish - passed first time no comments after going through DAS training locally with 3CMT

While at the test centre I was regaling the reasons why I was there and the examiner laughed and called a clooeague out to talk to me, he was currently on desk duty as he was fighting DVLA for loss of several categories, and he was the senior examiner for the area Oh Please!!!!!!!

What hope have us mere mortals got

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