Over 70 Driving Licence Renewal

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Noel:-

Being a type 1 diabolic since the age of 7, I've had to renew my license every three years since I got it in 1975. In 1999 I lost all the decent towing and luton van type categories out of the blue. There was a nice explanatory note that said that If I could prove that I had been driving over 3 1/2 tonners or large trailers for a minimum of 20 hours per week for several years, that I could get the classes reinstated on production of evidence and a health certificate.

 

Bah! Humbug! Bloody tin pot dictators!

Edited By Mark Rand on 01/12/2021 08:49:11

[HowiParticipant @howi]

If you are up to date with happenings at DVLA via current news channels, you should know that postal applications take months (bit like tax office). Online application has always been simple to complete, same as poasspoirt renewal and tax renewal, and item received very quickly.

If you have applied via post, don't hold your breath.

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

It would seem that I am not the only one feeling a bit peeved with the DVLA. This quote (from April 2021) throws a little light on the matter:

'The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has confirmed to HonestJohn.co.uk that some drivers who are applying to renew their driving licence as they turn 70 will not be able to apply online. This leaves a postal application as the only option, with the DVLA saying it will take approximately six weeks to receive the new licence back.' [Click Link for Full Article]

I still can't see why my on-line application was rejected, I supplied the required data and I have a current passport. The passport ran consecutively from my old passport so the required 'digital signature' should still be on file!

Oh well, I shall just have to wait. I wonder if my new/renewed licence will turn up before my birthday in February?

John

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

John, if you are lucky it might turn up before the next renewal has to be applied for. ❗️Dave W

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Gentlemen ! For those extolling the benefits of renewal on line at 70 and keeping the categories you have YOU CAN'T ! Please READ my first post. It can ONLY be done BY POST, you will require the paperwork to be signed by a registered medical practioner, including an eye test. On line will give only the right to drive small cars and vans/trucks. Mine was done 2 years ago so things may have changed – probably got worse ! Noel

[JourneymanParticipant @journeyman]

Yes that is so but I only need to drive a car so on-line would have suited me fine. In fact I gave consideration to not bothering to renew and getting rid of the car. I do many more miles on my bike than I do in the car and it sits in the garage with the battery draining most of the time. I have a bus pass, I can still walk and there are some reasonable local taxi firms about. It would probably be cheaper to dispose of the car but the convenience outweighs cost, just!

John

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

I had to renew by post at age 70, but since then i have done it on line with no problems.

I am due to renew again at age 82 next year, (if i last that long ,) but i will hand in my licence then as i feel that i would be a danger to myself and others.

[Leo F Byrne 1Participant @leofbyrne1]

I made the mistake of applying on line when I reached 70 and lost entitlement to drive our motorhome, which is a Hymer-type Niesman-Bischoff. Do not do this! My GP was going to charge £150 for a medical, but a friend did it for nothing. (He is a GP and now my GP.) The whole business took ages.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Wait till you get to 80, that,s when the fun really starts !

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Larry, must be a person thing, I am 85+ and have not had a problem

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

When my renewal came due at 70 I don’t recall any information about losing classes of vehicles that I was previously licensed for, maybe I missed it. My days of driving heavy vehicles is gladly in the past, I remember in 70’s when I was in the Air Force, driving old Bedford tankers full of de-icing fluid, in the depths of winter, albeit within the confines of the Station not on public roads, you needed to be Hercules there was no power steering and the gearboxes were awful, definitely don’t miss it. Dave W

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

The point I was trying to make in reference to Baz renewing his licence immediately rather than waiting 18 months till the compulsory renewal date is because it will be easier to change his paper licence now for a plastic one with photo and also easier again when he is 70. Renewing a paper licence at 70 could be more problematic.

My last 4 plastic licences all have the same photo, although the mean DVLC ditched the nice colour photo for cheap monochrome in the last 3.

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

As a insulin injecting Diabetic I have to renew my licence every three years, I've done this since 2015, at the beginning of this year I received a reminder and went on line for the first time and failed for the same reasons of others, my passport is no longer current and will not be renewed so I filled in the paperwork and posted it off, in eight days I had my new licence.

Martin P

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I swapped from paper to plastic when I reached 70. Totally painless on line, but by all accounts the DVLA has fallen apart due to Covid, so get in as early as possible. I'm not sure what happens if your old one expires before the new one is issued due to their ineptitude. I'll not go on too long or politicians might decide to let Capita run it and then we will be in trouble

[Anthony KendallParticipant @anthonykendall53479]

Don't forget folks, you are supplying information into a system and if it does not fit the algorithm it will simply be rejected. Nobody is qualified, able or allowed to apply common sense to your application.

Everything normal and it flies through.

Anything even slightly different diverts into a sideroad where it is handled by people not understanding medical issues, refer it to others outside DVLA who do (maybe) and they both blame each other for non-response and don't care.

I would think long and hard before submitting anything out of the ordinary that is minor or marginal. Not suggesting you should be dishonest of course.

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Renewed my license earlier this year "On line" with no problems at all, despite mine having expired and me being over 70.

Regards Ian.

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

DVLA delays were featured on BBC's Watchdog last night. Apparently They are taking on more agency staff at Swansea and Birmingham and hiring extra office space. So all will be well from this day forth,

What's that just flown past my window ? Oink

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Posted by Mike Hurley on 02/12/2021 10:10:26:

DVLA delays were featured on BBC's Watchdog last night. Apparently They are taking on more agency staff at Swansea and Birmingham and hiring extra office space. So all will be well from this day forth,

What's that just flown past my window ? Oink

Absolutely pathetic, it's one excuse after another.

Tony

[John AbsonParticipant @johnabson65530]

I'm always inclined to take news reports with a pinch of salt, but even so this hardly inspires confidence in the DVLA quality of management…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55785912

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

I renewed my license 18 months ago. Although not used for some time I did not wish (and felt agrieved) at losing the C, C1, D, D1 entitlements. It cost me £120 at the Docs and FOC at the opticians to get the application filled in appropriately. Doc was happy as taking no medications whatsoever.

I will repeat the exercise at 73. If I am fit enough to drive a quick sports car and to do scuba diving and drive 4-500 miles a day when required, I am fit enough to keep those entitlements should I wish to use them.

Colin

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Older driving is in the news today; just listened to a discussion about proposals to address 'disproportionate deaths in over 70's drivers' by replacing prosecutions for driving without due care and attention with training, and introducing mandatory eye tests.

I thought mention of 'disproportionate deaths' was bit worrying but couldn't find any figures. Only the comment that over 70's drivers were three to four times less likely to be involved in an accident than men aged 17-21. No surprise there, young men are crazed on testosterone!

Anyway, I've reached the age were I'm keeping a critical eye on my driving and found this list from The Older Drivers Forum who suggest looking out for the following signs:

1. Slower reaction times
2. Difficulty in turning to see when reversing
3. Keeping a foot on the brake
4. Other drivers sounding their horns at them
5. Incorrect signals
6. Hitting the kerb
7. Trouble making turns
8. Confusion at exits
9. Over-revving the engine, especially on low-speed manoeuvres
10. Difficulties with low-light or night-time driving
11. Avoidance of driving to new or unfamiliar places
12. Scrapes and dents in the car

I have mild trouble twisting to reverse (2), dislike night-time driving which I find tiring (10), and prefer not driving in unfamiliar places (11). It comes to us all in the end.

I know a chap who's just reluctantly stopped driving aged 93. Convinced he was a good driver and only agreed to stop after his son was 'open and honest' with him after being given a scary lift home. Didn't know he couldn't hear his car's audio alarms or other drivers beeping him, or that tunnel vision was making right turns dangerous. Very difficult – we live in a village where not having a car is a right pain.

Dave

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

Since retiring 18 months ago at 70 my mileage has dropped from between 20-35 thousand miles a year (all round the UK) to around 16 thousand. Have done over 6000 in last 7 months in Caterham 7 (Scottish Borders twice, Peak District twenty plus times, Tours round Wales, plus various other locations. My view is if you don't keep driving you will lose the ability to concentrate and your reaction times etc will suffer.

As with Dave (SOD) I live in a village where a car is a necessity (no buses or other public transport).

Colin

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

My licence ran out start of January after many months waiting for a DVLA eye test I got in touch with my local MP she sorted it in two weeks after contacting the head of DVLA medical centre.

I did not drive when my licence ended after a few months asked my Doctor if I could still drive as there is provision for that he said yes but I was cautious I decided not to.

When my license arrived it said do not drive before the new licence start date.

My eye problem is static and been like that since an accident in abut 1960 after the last DVLA eye test decided to have the hospital eye clinic check if any change since it was diagnosed 20 years ago there was no change.

As I had a temporary eye infection when doing the licence test was concerned as I thought had failed test.

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Just processed my over 70 driving licence, it expires in Feb 22.

They ask to cut old licence in half and send back? when? Now or on receipt of the new one.

I have printed out the applicaton number so am covered by that, so it says?

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Clive

Best keep your current licence until it expires then do as requested.
Your new licence will continue from the expiry date of your current licence.

Emgee

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