DVLA Tests

[Yeuclid]

Has anyone else been waiting for a response from the DVLA following a field test. I started my application last April, eventually had the test in mid December.

[Lynne-H]

I did my test in March - the week before lockdown and it was many months before I got my licence back. There was a long delay for licence renewal but during that time there was a 12 month extension on current licences. Not sure whether this is still the case. You can get information on the gov.uk website.

[Timothy_GlaucomaUK in reply to Lynne-H]

Hi Lynne, you're right about the extension to licences. However, licenses that expire after 31 December 2020 are not being extended at this point.

[Timothy_GlaucomaUK]

It seems you are not the only one experiencing delays. Due to COVID, there is a backlog of licences to be processed, and therefore some catching up to do from the DVLA. If you have applied for renewal and are still waiting on the DVLA, you could consider Section 88 of The Road Traffic Act 1988. It means that you may be able to drive in certain circumstances even though your license has expired. The following links are useful in making a decision.

assets.publishing.service.g....

glaucoma.uk/care-support/dr...

[Carer100 in reply to Timothy_GlaucomaUK]

I submitted an application for license renewal in October 2020 and had my Specsavers field test in March 2021, but have heard nothing from DVLA since then. The Section 88 extension works in UK, but the similar arrangement within EU countries probably doesn't cover the UK because of Brexit. So if you an expired license holder it seems you can't drive in the EU. unless our government negotiates a reciprocal extension agreement.I did eventually manage to speak to someone in DVLA in April 2021, who said that he knew that the backlog was more than 3 months following the field test, but he didn't know how much longer.

I suggest anyone with the same issue contacts their MP. Preventing UK citizens from driving abroad is an unreasonable restriction on libery.