How long have others waited for DVLA driving licence

missblue · 26 August 2016 at 1:58PM

I'm interested to know whats the record (longest time) someone has waited from a decision from the DVLA and if there is anything you can do to speed it up.

My son applied for his driving licence 13 months ago (still no decision). I have just spoke to them today and it was just like dealing with the Vogon Bureaucracy from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The lady on the helpline informed me that all checks have been made and it went for a decision to be made in May this year. It is waiting within other caseloads and they cannot give me any idea when a decision would be made because they have no idea what the decision makers work load is. ?????

The DVLA state a driving licence application should takes 3 weeks, I understand collecting medical information means this process is longer for the disabled but why when the DVLA have all the information is it acceptable for the application to wait indefinitely for a decision to be made. Yet again it seems different rights between the able bodied/nurotypical and the disabled/medical needs.

DomRavioli · 26 August 2016 at 2:40PM

Firstly - a standard driving licence is absolutely not what you have applied for. The DVLA must be absolutely sure that your son is legally allowed to drive before granting a licence; would you like someone who was incapable of driving due to medical issues running you over or crashing into your house?

Secondly - you can't speed it along. Perhaps put in a complaint and you may get bumped up a bit but they may have large caseloads and a backlog.

And finally, it is acceptable for the DVLA to make you wait - it isn't indefinitely, you just aren't aware of the timescale. It is in the interests of safety and the law, which you cannot justify or override.

So you've actually only been waiting 4 months for the actual decision(May - august) - it took 9 months for the DVLA to receive all paperwork, proofs and letters regarding his medical condition.

If you're that concerned, perhaps write a letter of complaint regarding the time scale. But as for it moving things along I doubt it will help.

Savvy_Sue · 26 August 2016 at 5:02PM

They are notorious for delays in this area. Agree that a complaint might help, but they take as long as they take.

emilianozapata · 26 August 2016 at 7:08PM

missblue wrote: »

I'm interested to know whats the record (longest time) someone has waited from a decision from the DVLA and if there is anything you can do to speed it up.

My son applied for his driving licence 13 months ago (still no decision). I have just spoke to them today and it was just like dealing with the Vogon Bureaucracy from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The lady on the helpline informed me that all checks have been made and it went for a decision to be made in May this year. It is waiting within other caseloads and they cannot give me any idea when a decision would be made because they have no idea what the decision makers work load is. ?????

The DVLA state a driving licence application should takes 3 weeks, I understand collecting medical information means this process is longer for the disabled but why when the DVLA have all the information is it acceptable for the application to wait indefinitely for a decision to be made. Yet again it seems different rights between the able bodied/nurotypical and the disabled/medical needs.

Firstly, there are a lot of Trolls on this site, so ignore the negative feedback, you have every right to be annoyed.
Depending on who it is, you may be able to get assistance from your MP to write you that letter of complaint, it seems ridiculous that it has taken this long. They are public servants, and their target times are supposed to take into account difficult circumstances.
If you have mitigating factors be sure to put those in too, like if you need the driver to be able to drive for a job, or for shopping or hospital visits etc.
Also ask for their written complaints process.
I've actually put in a written complaint to Martyn regarding the level of personal abuse on this site. It used to be really helpful, now it seems to be an NPD focus group. Good luck.

DomRavioli · 26 August 2016 at 8:12PM

emilianozapata wrote: »

Firstly, there are a lot of Trolls on this site, so ignore the negative feedback, you have every right to be annoyed.
Depending on who it is, you may be able to get assistance from your MP to write you that letter of complaint, it seems ridiculous that it has taken this long. They are public servants, and their target times are supposed to take into account difficult circumstances.
If you have mitigating factors be sure to put those in too, like if you need the driver to be able to drive for a job, or for shopping or hospital visits etc.
Also ask for their written complaints process.
I've actually put in a written complaint to Martyn regarding the level of personal abuse on this site. It used to be really helpful, now it seems to be an NPD focus group. Good luck.

The 3 week time frame is for a standard licence, not a medical one.

It is a young person, applying for their first licence. So no reason to drive anywhere currently.

And Martin doesn't own the site. Hasn't done for a while. Perhaps send your issues to the current owners of the site.

missblue · 27 August 2016 at 8:16AM

Thanks for the replies

It is interesting to note only one of you has had actual experience of this. Maybe that's why the opinion seems to be that the length of time has correlation to the difficulty or quality of the decision that is yet to be made. I don't think that's the case, I think it is a seriously underfunded department and if the mainstreams had so few people working in relation to the clients needing the service with such a huge backlog, it would be completely unacceptable. Because it is disability, huge backlogs and no timescales (for waiting times) is OK, this has nothing to do with the quality of the decision that is made.

And as for the comment it has only really been 4 months (since the decision maker logged it) I received a letter from the 2nd of April stating they had all the information they needed and it would be sent for a decision, it has taken them 4 weeks from the letter to logging a decision needs to be made, goodness knows how long they had all the information before that, waiting for a letter to be written. I would hazard a guess the amount of staff time spent on this case would total 2 hours work at the most. 2 hours work for 13 months of waiting!?!? This has nothing to do with the fact medical needs have to be assessed, this is appalling customer service due to serious under-funding in the department.

Wow a year waiting for a 4 month review, we've still got a way to go then.

missblue · 27 August 2016 at 9:21AM

Noble_Viking wrote: »

I was on a one year licence and when that needed renewing it took about 4 months for them to make a decision, now my next review is in 2018.

Just released I read this the wrong way round, not of year waiting for 4 month review but 4 months waiting after a year review - well that's good news it might not be much longer then.

missblue · 27 August 2016 at 9:34AM

DomRavioli wrote: »

It is a young person, applying for their first licence. So no reason to drive anywhere currently.

In our area many transport services are reliant on the fact you are unable to drive, and you need the letter from the DVLA to prove that, the good old days stating unable to drive without that letter has gone. The Local Education Authority has no duty to provide transport and he is completely unable to leave the house without specialised transport. Special school children are being refused transport and disabled bus passes, without this letter, it is yet another hoop to jump and transport is a major headache and battle for many parents of disabled children. Stop assuming you know everything about disability (because it is clear you have no understanding or experience of this situation), that's why you are being called a troll.

DomRavioli · 27 August 2016 at 12:29PM

missblue wrote: »

Thanks for the replies

It is interesting to note only one of you has had actual experience of this. Maybe that's why the opinion seems to be that the length of time has correlation to the difficulty or quality of the decision that is yet to be made. I don't think that's the case, I think it is a seriously underfunded department and if the mainstreams had so few people working in relation to the clients needing the service with such a huge backlog, it would be completely unacceptable. Because it is disability, huge backlogs and no timescales (for waiting times) is OK, this has nothing to do with the quality of the decision that is made.

And as for the comment it has only really been 4 months (since the decision maker logged it) I received a letter from the 2nd of April stating they had all the information they needed and it would be sent for a decision, it has taken them 4 weeks from the letter to logging a decision needs to be made, goodness knows how long they had all the information before that, waiting for a letter to be written. I would hazard a guess the amount of staff time spent on this case would total 2 hours work at the most. 2 hours work for 13 months of waiting!?!? This has nothing to do with the fact medical needs have to be assessed, this is appalling customer service due to serious under-funding in the department.

Wow a year waiting for a 4 month review, we've still got a way to go then.

I have experience of getting a medical for a driving licence. As I collated my info beforehand, I had a decision in 7 weeks.

And you were the one who quite clearly stated "May", and as it is now august, that would be 4 months. Also second guessing these people isn't going to do you or the licence any good.

[Deleted User] · 27 August 2016 at 12:45PM

My experience of the DVLA medical centre is that they take as long as they take, and there's absolutely nothing you can do to hurry them up. The call centre seem under instructions not to answer any questions, and just stonewall everything. That said, 13 months is a lot longer than the 5 months it took me.

I also found that the NHS don't seem to want the responsibility of making a decision, so if they are involved you may find that's where the holdup is. In my case the GP had stuffed a letter from the DVLA in the filing cabinet and ignored it until the DVLA told me that they'd had no reply.

GlasweJen · 27 August 2016 at 8:18PM

9 months for someone who is a blatant no and I even put a note in with the form telling them I know I'm not fit but was just applying as I need the knock back letter.

How long have others waited for DVLA driving licence

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