Would I Need To Re-Sit Test ?

Joe_Horner

mad_spaniel wrote: »

A license which is restricted by virtue of a medical condition also has to be declared to your car insurer and usually means a higher premium.

In the vast majority of cases there should be no increase provided you're abiding by any DVLA rules regarding your condition.

Effectively, if you're following the rules then DVLA say you're still safe to drive and an insurer loading your premium for something that's been declared safe is disability discrimination.

Of course, that doesn't mean that some insurers won't decline to quote at all, which can have the same effect by pushing you to more expensive providers.


OP: Your old licence will still be valid (subject to any DVLA medical decision, of course) but it might be an idea to book one or two refresher lessons after that length of break - as much for your own confidence as anything else!

Mojisola

venomx wrote: »

Passed my driving test in 2012 and drove for a year, no points on license completely clean.

So i havent driven in 6/7 years and now take meds.

Anyone who hasn't driven for 6+ years should think about having a driver assessment to see if they are still safe on the road.

SHAFT

Joe_Horner wrote: »

In the vast majority of cases there should be no increase provided you're abiding by any DVLA rules regarding your condition.

Effectively, if you're following the rules then DVLA say you're still safe to drive and an insurer loading your premium for something that's been declared safe is disability discrimination.

Of course, that doesn't mean that some insurers won't decline to quote at all, which can have the same effect by pushing you to more expensive providers.


OP: Your old licence will still be valid (subject to any DVLA medical decision, of course) but it might be an idea to book one or two refresher lessons after that length of break - as much for your own confidence as anything else!

Depending on how long he held a provisional for it may not be.

Joe_Horner

SHAFT wrote: »

Depending on how long he held a provisional for it may not be.

Really? Please do enlighten us all.

SHAFT

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Really? Please do enlighten us all.

A photo is only valid for ten years and you don't get ten years on your first full licence.

Joe_Horner

SHAFT wrote: »

A photo is only valid for ten years and you don't get ten years on your first full licence.

But the licence (ie: the permission to drive a motor vehicle) is still valid even when the photocard expires.

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/blog/entry/legislation-expired-photos-do-not-invalidate-driving-licences/46025/

SHAFT

Joe_Horner wrote: »

But the licence (ie: the permission to drive a motor vehicle) is still valid even when the photocard expires.

Had you said his entitlement to drive was still valid you'd have been correct. At this moment in time it's unknown whether the licence is still valid.

Joe_Horner

SHAFT wrote: »

Had you said his entitlement to drive was still valid you'd have been correct. At this moment in time it's unknown whether the licence is still valid.

No, it's unknown whether his licence photocard is still valid.

The photocard isn't, in itself, the licence. The licence is the record held by DVLA of a passed driving test for the relevant category, the photocard is merely portable evidence of that licence to avoid everyone having to carry the DVLA mainframe with them while driving.


The difference is that, if your photocard has expired, then you can't be charged with driving not in accordance with a licence but you can (in theory at least) be charged with failing to update your details even if you never drive because it's not actually a driving or licence offence, it's a purely administrative one.

It's all explained in clear legalese in the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.99, in particular paras (1) and (2A).

Note that para (5), which creates the offence for failing to update the photocard. does not require the holder to drive in order to be committed - it's the failure to update itself which is the offence.

So, you could pass your test, get your licence, then never own or drive a car and commit that offence 10 years later by failing to update the photo on the licence you've never used or intend to use.

But you could not be charged with driving otherwise than in accordance, which is the offence for someone driving without a licence.

SHAFT

Joe_Horner wrote: »

No, it's unknown whether his licence photocard is still valid.

The photocard isn't, in itself, the licence. The licence is the record held by DVLA of a passed driving test for the relevant category, the photocard is merely portable evidence of that licence to avoid everyone having to carry the DVLA mainframe with them while driving.


The difference is that, if your photocard has expired, then you can't be charged with driving not in accordance with a licence but you can (in theory at least) be charged with failing to update your details even if you never drive because it's not actually a driving or licence offence, it's a purely administrative one.

It's all explained in clear legalese in the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.99, in particular paras (1) and (2A).

Do you want to have a look at the non endorsable offence of driving otherwise in accordance?

Joe_Horner

SHAFT wrote: »

Do you want to have a look at the non endorsable offence of driving otherwise in accordance?

What about it?

You don't commit it by having an expired photocard - as the first link I gave (to the head of motoring at a solicitors) specifically covers.

But, please, whatever you do, don't let a qualified expert in motoring law who's actually confirmed the situation with DVLA change your mind!

Here's the link again, in case you missed it:

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/blog/entry/legislation-expired-photos-do-not-invalidate-driving-licences/46025/