I had to re-register with the government gateway, I logged in filled in the online licence form, when I got to the very end I was told I would need to register, so I hed to start all over again.
Quote: Originally posted by chrisandsandra on 26/11/2018
My husband is 70 in January next year. Saxo's advice is spot on.
In October he received a letter from the DVLA reminding him that his licence needed renewal and explaining how to do this. It's all explained here. Note that if you want to do it online you must be registered with the Government Gateway.
As my husband wanted to retain his C1 entitlement he had to have a medical including an eye test. The form D4 and explanatory notes needed for this can be downloaded here or you can request to have one posted to you (but do this in plenty of time as he ordered one 3 weeks ago and we are still waiting).
You can have this medical done either by your GP or any other qualified doctor. He rang our GP surgery when he received the form but they were unable to give him a date for the test as they are severely understaffed and it was not regarded as a priority. They said they would ring when a space became available. After 6 weeks or so as time was slipping away he became worried and so started looking into alternatives. He found a number of firms that will do this medical privately for about £45 to £50, which was less than our GP would have charged, by simply Googling 'D4 medical'. He made the appointment online for the next available day which was within 3 days of contacting them. He made sure that he all the required paperwork, including and up to date eye test and it all went very smoothly.
He sent everything off to the DVLA last week. We have not yet had his new licence back but they confirmed that he is allowed to continue driving whilst they are processing it.
It was a bit of a faff and very worrying when our GP could not give us a date for the medical so I hope that this may help someone else needing to do the same.
That is absolutely right. I've had to have a medical every year since I was 65 to retain my PCV (PSV) licence, as I still sometimes drive a Heritage double decker bus. I too am 70 next year. My GP wants £130 for the medical, but I usually go elsewhere and it costs me on average about £50. Next year will be my last renewal though, as my CPC runs out in September, and I'm not paying out £500 to renew that!
I would think hard and long before dismissing the option to retain the C1 entitlement.
I regret not retaining C1 as the choice of Motorhomes is greatly reduced.
There is an option to down plate them but this often reduces the payload to less than a caravan.
saxo1
A friend who is now 70 says he has been told he cannot drive a c1 class (7500kg) motorhome unless he gets it reclassified. All that I have researched says he just needs a medical. Any help.
I let my C1 lapse and am really not bothered. I have no desire to be lugging big vehicles about on today's crowded roads. I just don't need it anymore. I don't want to sling my leg over a motorbike either, but that option is still there.I need to renew again next year.
Thanks to everyone for replies. It was just my neighbour said he had been told he would have to have his motorhome at the weighbridge and be reclassified because he is 70 (load of bull ?)
If he wants to continue driving the motorhome when he is 70 he must make sure he arranges a medical etc before he renews his licence.
He can have the C category restored but it is esaier to do it at renewal
saxo1
The latest is that a medical is not currently required for D4 applications, due to Covid-19. This may change, of course. Hope this helps. https://www.gov.uk/renew-lorry-bus-coach-licence/45-or-over
I have just checked my driving licence online from the DVLA website and My PCV licence, which I no longer use because I have no drivers' CPC, runs out tomorrow. However, my category B, BE, C1, and C1E are still valid until June 2022. I am 71 at the end of this month.
Presumably when I renew in 2022 I will be renewing all but my PCV licence, as I passed my car test in 1966.
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 03/6/2020
When you renew in 2022 you will need a medical to retain your C1 entitlement.
saxo1
Yes I am half-expecting that one. However, if it ever reopens I volunteer on a Heritage Railway where I drive diesel trains, and I have to have an annual medical for that anyway. I would imagine I could combine the two if I have a word with the railway's medical officer. She could probably sign my forms. The two medicals are very similar, not like the ones I used to have when I drove on the mainline. That one was much more comprehensive and took three times as long.
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 03/6/2020
The eyesight requirements are a lot more stringent than the normal check.
saxo1
Absolutely! I have had numerous PSV medicals over the years, and the one I have every year for the railway is every bit as stringent. The railway one also includes hearing and colour blindness, as unlike traffic lights some older railway signals have just one lens that changes colour. You can get a licence to drive on the road if you are colour-blind but you would never be allowed to drive a train.
When I applied to carry on with being able to drive up to 7.5,but giving up my HGV entitlement,it took so long(over 4 months) and I had to jump through so many hoops,I gave up and just applied for the restricted licence,I had a medical, eyesight test signed by optician,had to prove twice daily testing for diabetes type two,had to prove recent scan for AAA,the final straw was having to go for an ECG(never had heart problems)needed to do this every three years so said stuff it,can now apply to renew my restricted licence online with no problems.
Quote: Originally posted by AL53HX on 06/6/2020
When I applied to carry on with being able to drive up to 7.5,but giving up my HGV entitlement,it took so long(over 4 months) and I had to jump through so many hoops,I gave up and just applied for the restricted licence,I had a medical, eyesight test signed by optician,had to prove twice daily testing for diabetes type two,had to prove recent scan for AAA,the final straw was having to go for an ECG(never had heart problems)needed to do this every three years so said stuff it,can now apply to renew my restricted licence online with no problems.
Four months is good! When I renewed my PCV licence a couple of years back it took nearly a year. I was only about 3 weeks away from having to renew it again. I'd had suspected heart problems a couple of years previously, and been sent for an angiogram which came back fine. It was just the fact that I had been sent for the test that did it, they didn't seem interested in the result on the form. Letters went back and forth between the DVLA, my GP, and the Cardiologist, and I had to go for a stress-echo test, but the silly thing is that in all this time I was able to keep driving. Suppose I did have a problem!
When I did eventually get my licence back they had renewed my PCV for a further year and my car licence for 3 years, including my C1 licence which now runs out in 2022. I have just got another form yesterday to renew my PCV licence which actually ran out on 4th. Not sure whether to bother as I can't carry more than 8 passengers without a CPC anyway.
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