Epilepsy - how long to receive reinstated license after having a DVLA-ordered medical?

jonstorey1988

Hi all.
I'm in the process of reapplying for my driving license from the DVLA, having willingly surrendered it in 2015 due to a cluster of unexplained, possibly epileptic seizures that
have long since passed. In 2017, the hospital gave me the go-ahead to reapply for my license, but only in Nov last year did I begin the process and make the first call/fill in the forms.
Last week, the DVLA sent me a letter asking me to attend a medical with my GP, which was booked for today. It was actually done over the phone (the DVLA confirmed that an over the phone medical would suffice in my case) so happy days.
My question is: to people who have been in a similar situation, how long did they wait after their medical until their license physically arrived? I'd like to think that a basic, no-frills medical would be the last box to tick off, so to speak, and perhaps I'm looking at a few more weeks max, but I'm only speculating.
I'm aware that I can legally drive now, sans-license, under Section 88 of the RTA, but I would rather wait until I actually receive a license before I go car and insurance shopping.
Many thanks in advance for any sharing of similar experiences.

LadyDee

Telephone the medical department at the DVLA and ask then to send you a letter confirming you are able to drive whilst waiting for your physical licence to arrive and keep the letter with you.  I had something similar a few years ago and received the letter within a couple of days.  The licence took another two or three weeks as I recall, although it will possibly be longer at the moment.

Grumpy_chap

Each time my wife has had her licence back following a period of surrender, the process has been quick.  Sufficiently so, that we never really noted the time it took.  Whether that is affected by COVID I cannot say.

As you note, you can now drive ahead of the licence being returned, but I quite understand why you would chose not to.  My wife also always waited.

This link may help, and they have a contact line (0808 800 5050) as well if you have further queries:
https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/driving

jonstorey1988

A big thanks to both of you for your insightful responses.

I rang the DVLA just before and they weren't particularly useful, haha - they said they can't send out letters to verify anything relating to Section 88. The lady on the line told me that my doctor had to have confirmed that I am fit to drive, to which I told her he did - years ago! Seems a trifle odd that it's now a verbal concept if I was to get pulled over. I'm not sure how I feel about that. But furthermore, if I was to settle on a car now, I'd have to fib to my insurers about having a license, when I don't technically - yet.

I guess that's all the more reason to wait it out and look forward to receiving my license. Unless anybody has any pointers of course. I'd love to drive now, but I feel uneasy about it before I get my license. Am I being daft?

Grumpy_chap

I looked back at when my wife last got her license reinstated (2017).  Her anniversary of last seizure was in February, so she wrote off to the Consultant at the end of January and got the form back, then sent that off and received the licence mid-March, chose a car 23rd March and took delivery of hew new (to her) car at the end of March 25th just ahead of Mother's Day to take Mum out.
No idea how COVID affects those timescales.
I totally understand your desire to wait until you get your licence actually in your hand before getting a car.  It seems sensible.

jonstorey1988

Grumpy_chap said:

I looked back at when my wife last got her license reinstated (2017).  Her anniversary of last seizure was in February, so she wrote off to the Consultant at the end of January and got the form back, then sent that off and received the licence mid-March, chose a car 23rd March and took delivery of hew new (to her) car at the end of March 25th just ahead of Mother's Day to take Mum out.
No idea how COVID affects those timescales.
I totally understand your desire to wait until you get your licence actually in your hand before getting a car.  It seems sensible.

That bodes well for me. I mean to get to the point of the medical was three months in the midst of Covid, so hopefully I'm looking at only a few more weeks once the DVLA receive my results. Can't wait! It's quote debilitating going from car to bus overnight.