Not heard anything from the DVLA

[Flower3333]

I submitted my form online to the DVLA on the 21 December to renew my driving license. I got an automated response saying they would contact me to let me know how it was progressing but I haven’t heard anything.

I forgot about it until this morning but my license runs out on the 21st February. I’m not sure how to contact the DVLA to check what is happening. Has anyone had any recent contact with the DVLA?

 

[grovesy]

I saw something on social media from the DVLA yesterday, that said whilst waiting unless an Optician or Doctor has told you not to drive you can still drive. Have you checked the website.

 

[Flower3333]

I saw something on social media from the DVLA yesterday, that said whilst waiting unless an Optician or Doctor has told you not to drive you can still drive. Have you checked the website.

Thanks. I’m going to phone them. It says on the government website to wait two weeks before contacting them if you applied online.

 

[grovesy]

Thanks. I’m going to phone them. It says on the government website to wait two weeks before contacting them if you applied online.

They have had problems with outbreaks of the virus at the DVLA, so that might also have affected the turn around.

 

[grovesy]

The report I saw said that out of a total staff of 2,000 they had 25% off with Covid. They were blaming management for the outbreak because they'd insisted that everyone needed to be back in the office.

My current 3-year licence expires at the end of May. I can apply up to 90 days beforehand so I plan to get my application in at the beginning of March.

I watched the Commons Committee asking questions of the DVLA management a couple of weeks ago and they were not covering themselves in glory.

 

[Myrtle]

I had the same problem, gave them a ring and was told that under Section 88 of some law I can’t remember you can continue to drive as long as your doctor or optician has told you otherwise.
They sent me the relevant information by post and gave me a web link which I no longer have as my renewed licence arrived a matter of days later- maybe it was coincidence, maybe it wasn’t...
Hope it’s sorted soon

 

[Steve_H]

I had this a few years ago, when I contacted them I was told that unless told otherwise could still drive.

 

[freesia]

I've been chasing the DVLA weekly. I had to renew to licence by post as i needed to attach a copy of a letter as proof of something and was told i couldnt do that when applying online. They can only tell me that it is in a queue to be reviewed and nothing else about how long it will take. They sent me a letter saying i could drive under Section 88 as long as a doctor agrees my fitness to drive. Currently waiting for my GP to call on 15th and hopefully he'll say yes as i need to drive to get to work. My licence runs out on 23rd.

 

[Flower3333]

Thank you everyone for responses. I finally managed to speak to DVLA after 3 hours. They confirmed that they had received my application and it was in the queue to be reviewed by the medical section.

They confirmed that I could continue to drive under Section 88. I thought this meant I could drive as long as a doctor hadn’t told me I wasn’t fit to drive. However reading further a doctor has got to state that you are ok to drive. I’m now confused!

 

[freesia]

Thank you everyone for responses. I finally managed to speak to DVLA after 3 hours. They confirmed that they had received my application and it was in the queue to be reviewed by the medical section.

They confirmed that I could continue to drive under Section 88. I thought this meant I could drive as long as a doctor hadn’t told me I wasn’t fit to drive. However reading further a doctor has got to state that you are ok to drive. I’m now confused!

Thats what they've been saying to me since the beginning of the year. Nothing is changing. DVLA have sent me the Section 88 and it does state your doctor needs to agree to your fitness to drive.

 

[grovesy]

Heard it brought up in the House of Commons questions this week a couple of times , seems there are been further Covid outbreaks at the DVLA.

 

[nonethewiser]

Renewed last year at start of pandemic took something like week to two weeks for licence to come back. Makes sense they are struggling with backlog 12 months down road.

Wouldnt worry about it as long as you've not been told to drive, own licence has run over in past waiting for checks to take place.

 

[Emmakeets]

If your license expired last year they have automatically extended it 11 months due to covid, I’m surprised they haven’t extended this yet

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I’ve just had to send in my forms too. Thinking about it I should have known better than to fill in the paper versions, but I found it off-putting to have to use a separate validation service (the post office) rather than be able to use my existing .gov account.

My understanding is that there have been delays in processing applications and renewals due to covid outbreaks/illness, and also having to space staff out to comply with safe working practices - so there are fewer staff available.

I believe the digital services are the fastest way to get things back to you

Sorry to hear that you haven’t heard anything yet @Flower3333. The confusion over section 88 can‘t be helping either!

 

[Becka]

I had to send a paper form because it was impossible to sign up to their two remaining validation services.

After a few weeks trying to register, both kept giving me a "too busy at the moment" type of error. Looking into it, it seems that GOV.UK Verify was supposed to have closed down last year, so I do not think the two remaining services work anymore for registering new people.

Not that I can think of any reason why you should need to be verified, they accept paper forms and faxes (still!) without needing any extra validating. And they will still have to verify the form data whichever method you use.

I did complain to GOV.UK Verify, but they were not of any help.

 

[Flower3333]

I’ve just had to send in my forms too. Thinking about it I should have known better than to fill in the paper versions, but I found it off-putting to have to use a separate validation service (the post office) rather than be able to use my existing .gov account.

My understanding is that there have been delays in processing applications and renewals due to covid outbreaks/illness, and also having to space staff out to comply with safe working practices - so there are fewer staff available.

I believe the digital services are the fastest way to get things back to you

Sorry to hear that you haven’t heard anything yet @Flower3333. The confusion over section 88 can‘t be helping either!

I used the digital service in December but I’m still waiting. Also I don’t feel it is right to phone my doctors about Section 88 as they are extremely short staffed due to COVID and they aren’t even doing smear tests at the moment.

 

[trophywench]

Well it isn't necessary to actually have the renewed licence in your hand, only to be able to prove you have submitted the renewal. You can drive until DVLA tell you that you can't.

Have you seen your GP since you got the current one and is there anything different since then with your health that could have medically affected your ability to drive?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I used the digital service in December but I’m still waiting. Also I don’t feel it is right to phone my doctors about Section 88 as they are extremely short staffed due to COVID and they aren’t even doing smear tests at the moment.

Yes I understand completely @Flower3333

I've sent a question to the DUK information team to see if they know the answer and will let you know if I hear anything.

 

[freesia]

Yes I understand completely @Flower3333

I've sent a question to the DUK information team to see if they know the answer and will let you know if I hear anything.

I spoke to the advocacy team at Diabetes UK the other day. I rang initially because a GP at my practice (who is new/locum and doesnt know me or had read my records) heard i was type 1 and immediately said no she would not give permission to carry on and i should speak to my consultant. I don't have one, only a DSN who can't give permission. I emailed my surgery asking for her decision to be reviewed urgently, referring them to Assessing fitness to drive - A guide for medical professionals, as if i can't drive i can't get to work. My surgery have said my own GP will ring me back today. The advocacy team said i had done all i could and lots of people were needing Section 88. I did this because the Section 88 specifically states that your doctor must have have told you you are fit to drive.
What also worries me is on the Section 88 it states that if you have not received your licence with 12 months, you have to reapply. With the backlog that they seem to have, who knows how long it will take to get through them when everyone are eventually allowed to go back to work.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I’ve had this back from DUK today which might help?

In broad terms, provided the applicant has not be told by a medical professional not to drive, they can continue to drive while the application is being processed. The applicant must be medically fit to drive and meet the other conditions in INF188/6 leaflet - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/695575/inf188x6-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf​

​

If someone is unsure if they are medically fit to drive – e.g. if their diabetes has worsened – we should recommend they speak to their GP/DSN before continuing to drive.​