DVLA renewal - fed up and worried

MingoPoppy

I have a medical condition that causes sleepiness, but it has been well controlled by medication for years now. I declared it to DVLA when I first got my licence... big mistake! I wish I’d never bothered doing the right thing due to the bureaucratic nightmare I now find myself in.

I had to renew my licence in July. First of all, the DVLA made me have a medical examination, which was a farce as my GP did one test and then confirmed he had no concerns whatsoever about my fitness to drive. I haven’t seen my consultant recently but assume he returned all the forms as he told me last time I saw him that he had no concerns either.

I just called the DVLA and they told me that my application has been referred again to their medical team as apparently it needs a doctor to review it! They cannot give even an approximate timescale for how long this will take.

I’m so worried that I’m not going to get my licence back before I go travelling in December (I need to hire a car abroad for what I am planning to do) and also worried that, in the worst-case scenario, my application may be refused. I live alone and drive to work (in an area with little public transport) so this would be catastrophic for me.

Does anyone who’s been through this have any words of reassurance, please?

david39

I had similar problems a few years ago. They were reviewing my glaucoma records before renewing my licence and, although I had completed all the forms weeks before, at one week before the licence expired,I still had no replacement.
When I rang them they told me that I was within the law to drive using my expired licence until they either issued the new one or notified me of the cancellation of the licence altogether.
When I pointed out that this would cause problems on the road, should I be required to produce my licence if requested by the police, they agreed to send me a letter confirming the point, which they did. My new licence arrived about two weeks later.
Since then, I am sure that I have read this point on the DVLA website. If your application for renewal has been made in due time, then your existing one covers you until a decision is made, even if it has expired.

HC3

I am waiting for my renewal but as long as your doctor would agree to you driving you are covered that’s how I read it anyway maybe call your doctor for s chat good luck ��

poppy12345

HC3 wrote: »

I am waiting for my renewal but as long as your doctor would agree to you driving you are covered that’s how I read it anyway maybe call your doctor for s chat good luck ��

This is incorrect. You can't drive without a license even if your doctor has told you, you can. You need to wait until you have your license back.

poppy12345

MingoPoppy wrote: »

I live alone and drive to work (in an area with little public transport) so this would be catastrophic for me.

Why have you been driving without a license?

MingoPoppy

Please stop posting misinformation.

It is legal to drive while your renewal application is being considered, providing that there is nothing in your application that would result in it being denied. This is the case for me and is confirmed at on the DVLA website “what happens after you tell DVLA”.

I am driving perfectly legally, thank you very much!

[Deleted User]

MingoPoppy wrote: »

Please stop posting misinformation.

It is legal to drive while your renewal application is being considered, providing that there is nothing in your application that would result in it being denied. This is the case for me and is confirmed at on the DVLA website “what happens after you tell DVLA”.

I am driving perfectly legally, thank you very much!

No it's not. That applies to when you first inform of a disability. You can't otherwise drive until the DVLA have assessed your fitness to drive and issued a license

mad_spaniel

Look up Section 88 Road Traffic Act online for authorative advice
Or contact DVLA!!!!

Convicted drink drivers classified as high risk offenders can not drive under section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 if they were disqualified on or after 1st June 2013.
This is because the law was changed in regards to high risk offenders being able to drive while awaiting the DVLA to process their applications and assess their fitness to drive.

In order to be eligible to drive under section 88 of the Road Traffic Act the following criteria must be met:

You must be confident your application will not be refused due to any condition, your doctor must have told you that you are fit to drive

You must have previously held a valid licence and only drive vehicles that you have applied for on your application and that you were previously entitled to drive

If you hold a group 2 lorry or bus licence, your entitlement to drive these vehicles has not been refused, revoked or suspended by the traffic commissioner

You must meet any conditions specified on your previous driving licence

The DVLA must have received your complete and correct application within the last 12 months

Your previous licence must not have been revoked or refused due to any medical condition

You must not be currently disqualified from driving by a court of law

You must not have been disqualified from driving as a high risk offender on after 1st June 2013

MingoPoppy

All of what has been posted above applies to me, so as I said, I am driving legally. I’m not going to respond any further to posters who have no idea what they are talking about.

cantcope

There is no reason why you cant continue to drive while your renewal process is going on, UNLESS your license has expired during that time.
I have a renewal every 3 years on mine and luckily its always been sorted before then. I'd check yours if you havent as you WILL be driving without a valid license if you're passed that date.

I'm hoping you havent and that its sorted quickly for you.

poppy12345

MingoPoppy wrote: »

I had to renew my licence in July.

If this means your license has now expired then you are in fact driving illegally and shouldn't continue to do so until your license has been renewed.