renewing restricted licence - DVLA response time?

aless02

DH is on a 1 year licence due to bipolar disorder. He sent off the usual paperwork back in June, licence expired in early August and we are STILL waiting. Does anyone know if the DVLA have an SLA to keep to with regards to response time? Is there a way to make a complaint to hurry this along? When he's phoned to enquire, they've been extremely unhelpful and will only say he's a 'Priority 1' and will be sorted 'soon' (so I think this means the GP has responded, we're just waiting on the DVLA's doctors to file the paperwork).

I know he can still drive while waiting, but we are looking at going on holiday in a few months and will need to hire a car...and at the speed they are going, I actually worry he won't have his new licence in time!!

carerof3

I don't want to worry you, but my friend's took over 6 months to arrive. Then as it was a one year one, he had to renew again in another few months. The license spends more time in the DVLA than with him! He kept phoning & emailing, but as you say they are unhelpful. In case you are going to ask me the email contact details - they are here: https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail/directgov/en/index.html
(sorry if you knew already, but it may help someone else who wants to save their phone bill)

Sewsosew

My 3 year licence was due for renewal in July 2011 and I sent off the forms with consultant details etc. I kept getting letters saying that they'd contacted my GP/consultant etc and that I'd hear in 6 weeks or that they'd got a report from my GP/consultant and they'd assess it and I'd hear in 6 weeks. I eventually got the licence back in February of this year, so I can't be any more positive than carerof3 I'm afraid.

Mrs_Ryan

OH is on a three-year restricted because of his delusional disorder and psychosis and his I think took about 4 weeks after expiry so its not all bad news. However he has had about 4 different consultants in the time since his last licence was issued and its due to expire in February 2013 so this should be interesting...

colin13

it dosent matter how long it takes,as you are still entilted to drive while investigations go on,,but always wondered wot would happen,if a police man asked to see ur licience,and it is out of date,,lol,,im awaitiung my ne licience,and I dont care,last time i stressed my self,with not getting reply when they said,ive learnt my lesson

Bryando

colin13 wrote: »

it dosent matter how long it takes,as you are still entilted to drive while investigations go on,,but always wondered wot would happen,if a police man asked to see ur licience,and it is out of date,,lol,,im awaitiung my ne licience,and I dont care,last time i stressed my self,with not getting reply when they said,ive learnt my lesson

I have a letter from the DVLA saying I could drive whilst they deal with my licence as long as no Doctor has said not to. DVLA took 2 months to get back to me on a year restricted licence. I think it really depends on how quick your consultant takes to reply.

aless02

I know he can drive - but we are going to the USA in November and need to hire a car. I doubt any car hire place would give him one, even with the letter saying he's "allowed". Anyway, the saga just got worse as they've apparently written to his GP AGAIN to clarify whether he's been hospitalised in the past year. Why they couldn't have asked her that back in July is beyond me.

Thanks for the response though.

skivenov

Hire places have a phone number they can call the DVLA on to check the status of someone's licence. Probably worth ringing the DVLA beforehand though to make sure.

aless02

skivenov wrote: »

Hire places have a phone number they can call the DVLA on to check the status of someone's licence. Probably worth ringing the DVLA beforehand though to make sure.

but in the USA too? I find it hard to believe that a place would give a car to someone who couldn't produce a physical licence for them.

Savvy_Sue

aless02 wrote: »

but in the USA too? I find it hard to believe that a place would give a car to someone who couldn't produce a physical licence for them.

You'd be surprised: when we hired a car in the USA, I'm fairly certain they only looked at one licence, even though we were both intending to drive, and reminded them of this and checked it was OK.

However, if it's only the OP who has a licence, that might well be different.

ktcoil

Hi guys after a little help, i got a 24 month ban for drink driving(i know very very silly), this ran out last year, i have just sent of £90 with a d1 form to dvla in which i need to wait for them to gt back then go for a medical, i am looking at cars that are going to be cheap for me, looking at a ford ka 1.3 and then a citreon saxo 1.1 etc, anyone know which will be good car that can be cheeper i know the ford ka is little bigger engine but will it actually be dearer than a citron saxo as they are older? also there is a drink driving course you can do that reduces you ban time but i know my ban is is over, can this be worth doin for getting insurance down etc?

thanks