How to defer DVLA test?

[Windflower]

I have a DVLA test arranged for the 24th of this month and I have an appointment at my local SpecSavers as my eye prescription has changed since my last eye test in May. I was due to have my DVLA test last August but contacted the SpecSavers DVLA Team explaining I was having treatment for a corneal ulcer. I was told that they needed the test results by 2nd November or my case would be closed and licence revoked.

Before this ulcer had completely healed, I had an apparently similar problem in the other eye. On Thursday last week a specialist diagnosed Herpes Simplex in both eyes. He is seeing me again in now three weeks when the infection should have cleared with the appropriate medication.

The letter from the DVLA states if you are unable to make/attend the appointment due to the current situation with Covid 19 etc etc your driving licence will revoked or your application will be refused and you will not be able to drive.

Currently I am not driving, but hoping I will be well enough to be taken for my eye test for glasses on Monday and will be well enough to drive for the DVLA test the following week.

I am very stressed. Has anyone any advice or comment? Please. 🙄

[Astilbe]

I am worried as well Windflower.

My licence expires on 6th November.

I was supposed to get the renewal forms (which lead to having to have a fields test at Specsavers) 3 months before licence expiry.

They didn't arrive so I range them 2 months before. They sent out forms which I returned. That was a month ago, nothing yet.

Two weeks after I returned the forms, some more arrived from DVLA. As I had already returned some forms I didn't reply to that.

I am worried that my licence will expire before I even get a letter enabling me to book an appointment at Specsavers.

It seems that once you have lost your licence it is very difficult to get it back again. This is not fair because a lot of it is due to the backlog from DVLA.

I need to get the DVLA test before my cataract gets worse (I am waiting to have an operation for this, it is on an eye that had a trab operation so the consultant has to do it).

It seems as though the DVLA are making things very difficult for us with Glaucoma.

[Windflower in reply to Astilbe]

At least I don’t feel on my own with a DVLA problem. It really is a nightmare. Thank you sooo much for responding. ♥️

[Cornwalleyes in reply to Astilbe]

Hi if it is the DVLA’s fault you haven’t had your test or you are waiting for them to make a decision on your results as long as it’s safe to do so, you can carry on driving and your licence isn’t revoked, it just becomes out of date. If it’s because you haven’t booked an appt or don’t attend an appt then they will revoke your licence and it’s harder to get it back then, but not impossible. So try not to worry too much, but do keep pestering them for the letter that tells you to book the VF test at Specsavers.

[Windflower in reply to Cornwalleyes]

Thanks, Cornwalleyes, for your response. The first part applies to Astilbe as s/he as submitted the “papers” that I take to be the DVLA health questionnaire. I received this after my licence had expired (July). I then got a phone call from DVLA as I hadn’t declared whether or not I had double vision. Then I received the letter from the DVLA SpecSavers Team telling me to make an appointment with a SpecSavers within 8 weeks of receipt of this letter. I was distressed to receive another letter one week later saying as I hadn’t made an appointment as instructed, I was to make one urgently or my licence would be revoked. I phoned them up and was told I had up to November 2nd to get the results to them or the case would ne closed and my licence revoked.

And so, as my initial post stated, the saga goes on.

[Cornwalleyes]

ah so sorry, hope you get it all sorted.

[Windflower in reply to Cornwalleyes]

👍❤️

[goodtotalk]

Email the DVLA at the following address to update them on your situation & the date of your Specsavers DVLA test:

[e-mail]

You then have a record that your test was carried out before 2nd November.

Good luck!

[Windflower in reply to goodtotalk]

Thank you SO much. That is the most helpful information and just what I needed. You have relieved my stress levels so much. Sending. Big cyber hug.

[Windflower]

Well, these things happen. Some times my vision is really good and sometimes it is terrible. Yesterday was a bad day but I went to SpecSavers using taxis to see if I could get glasses that would enable me to take the DVLA test next Monday. No such luck. Couldn’t even prescribe glasses to help with reading. Needless to add I do not meet the required DVLA standard for driving. Bit sad really as I have had my brand new car for less than 5 months. We have to be grateful for what we have and learn to adapt to a different lifestyle. 🙂

[goodtotalk in reply to Windflower]

I’m sorry to hear this, Windflower 🙁 Our independence is everything. You sound positive though and willing to adapt, which is the best attitude to have. Wishing you all the best going forward.

[Windflower in reply to goodtotalk]

Once again, thank you so very much for your health and support. I sent an email to the DVLA using the address you gave to me, to explain my situation and why I would not be taking the DVLA assessment.

As you so rightly say, the only way to move forward is to be positive. I got a reasonable price for my Yaris Excel. The Toyota Garage Sales Manager collected it and saw to all the necessary paperwork. The money I receive will help me to support a family member who really needs to reduce her working hours to help her cope with severe chronic pain. I am going to plan a coach holiday with her to visit the Orkneys or somewhere of her choice next year. A whole new life is opening to me because I no longer have car tax, insurance, servicing, breakdown cover, and fuel to pay for. 😊

All that said, your first response, goodtotalk, gave me the mental strength to manage an unknown situation that was too much for me to contend with. Thanks.

[Windflower]

should be “help and support” not health. That said, I do wish you good health. 😁