DVLA woes

caveat_emptor

I'm on 3 year renewal and licence runs out on 31 March. I returned the renewal application forms early January and have not heard anything from DVLA. I'm not surprised as my last renewal took 5 months and I was 2 months without a licence. But I read, on DVLA website, that I could drive while the renewal was in process providing I was fit to drive and had not been told that I should not. Contacted my insurer who said that my insurance was invalid without having a licence, which is perfectly understandable. So why does DVLA even mention that driving without a licence is possible. I know the answer but couldn't possibly comment.

Keep_pedalling

Last time I updated mine (2 years ago) I had my new one back in about a week. Have you chased them up?

lincroft1710

Mine took about a week, last year.

Car_54

The DVLA website reflects Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which says that someone in your position may continue to drive if "a qualifying application by the driver for the grant of a licence to drive vehicles of that class for a period which includes that time has been received by the Secretary of State".

You need to ascertain whether your application has indeed been received. A phone call to DVLA is needed.

When this happened to me, I got an acknowledgement letter very quickly, which explicitly confirmed that I could continue to drive under s88. I didn't see the need to tell my insurer.

The fact that you've heard nothing suggests to me that your application has gone astray.

Woodstok2000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6661569/dvla-woes

Insurance is invalid without a license, but.....thats not the situation you are in. You have a license, it's just being renewed. It falls under Section 88, and is explained here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64edcf3a13ae1500116e2f5d/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf

Bigwheels1111

Just talking to my Mum about this today over lunch, for 3 of her friends. ( Older people )

They have been waiting between 4/6 months so far.

You can still drive until they send a letter telling you to stop driving.

You can call and check where they are at, By calling them.

One had no got the letter they sent asking for more details.

Plus if you have a copy of your licence go online and see if its been updated.

I added D category to my licence last year, sent of pass certificate in July, Licence arrived in September.

Updated on gov.uk site 4th August, but took 4 weeks for licence to arrive.

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

Car_54

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939924#Comment_81939924

"You can still drive until they send a letter telling you to stop driving".

Not quite. As I explained above, your application must have been received by the DVLA. Unless they have acknowledged it, you can't know that.

Ectophile

Send your application form by first class post, and get a receipt from a Post Office. It is assumed to have arrived one clear working day later, unless the DVLA can prove it didn't. See the Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/30/section/7

TooManyPoints

Contacted my insurer who said that my insurance was invalid without having a licence, which is perfectly understandable…

The usual wording is this (or similar):

“…provided that the driver holds a licence to drive the vehicle or has held and is not disqualified from holding or obtaining such a licence”.

So that should cover you as far as insurance goes.

In any case, Section 88 of RTA will provide an continuing entitlement to drive whilst your application is in progress provided:

1. Your application has been received by the DVLA and
2. You have not declared on your application any new “relevant disability” and that any you have declared previously have not deteriorated to such a degree that your ability to drive needs to be reassessed.

badmemory

I think I am right in saying that online renewals are quite speedy whilst those done by post are definitely not.

Car_54

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81940306#Comment_81940306

The Interpretation Act only applies "Where an Act authorises or requires any document to be served by post ". Are you sure that a licence application meets that test?

And if it does, it's two working days, not one.