DVLA - 6 months post meningioma surgery

[Cast_away]

Hello!

I am now six months post meningioma removal and have applied for the reinstatement of my drivers licence from DVLA.

I have not however had any update from DVLA as to the progress of my application and have been advised that they are "working hard to process transactions and answer enquiries as quickly as possible" but they are "unable to provide a timescale"

I have confirmation from both my neurosurgeon that I am fit to drive and my ophthalmic consultant who has confirmed that my sight has been unaffected by my tumour.

I am feeling that my independence continues to be constrained and I am frustrated that I am unable to obtain an update from DVLA.

I would be very grateful if anyone could share their experience of this licence renewal process.

[Lipstick101]

Hi

My husband had his licence revoked for 12 months due to his Tumor grade but didn’t have any seizures and Tumor was fully removed. He did have radiotherapy and still has 1 round of chemo left out of 12 so couldn’t apply for his licence until May 2023 as that would be 12 months after radiotherapy.

Because of how well he did after surgery and he lives life as he did before - working full time, doing his 100km bike rides, I wrote to DVLA with all his letters from the neurosurgeon etc to say tumour removal had been successful.

We got a letter from DVLA around 8 weeks later to say they were writing to his consultant for more information. (His consultant said she had never heard of them giving licence back before the year mark but we needed to try as like you say, the loss of independence is huge)

Anyway, 2 weeks befor Christmas (around another 8 weeks after the letter to say they were writing to his consultant) his licence arrives on our doorstep. No letter or anything, just his full licence back 😊 it is 1 year restricted but Al is good.

Went back out to get a car and no change to insurance despite it’s only valid for a year. He can even pull our caravan like he did before.

Anyway sorry for going on but to answer your question, the DVLA don’t hurry anything but hopefully it will arrive in the post pretty soon.

Good luck 🤞

[Cast_away in reply to Lipstick101]

Hi there!

thank you so much for sharing your and your husband's tumour and DVLA experience - a difficult time for you both and further impacted by loss of driving licence.

Delighted to hear your husband's positive recovery - an inspiration! DVLA response time slow and I understand that this continues to be the case due to lack of staff resource and the impact of the Covid pandemic.

I think that I will continue to chase them and hope that it does indeed arrive in the post soon.

Thanks for your feedback and all the best to you both! 🙏

[BrainBrain]

Was your licence surrendered or revoked? If it was surrendered you can drive using section 88. It's a bit tricky to get insurance, you have to do it on the phone, not online, but it can be done. Section 88 is specifically there for this situation. How long it will.take for your new licence to arrive I don't know - I waited about 9 months then complained to my MP and it happened over night.

[Cast_away in reply to BrainBrain]

Hi there

thanks so much for your reply - really appreciated.

Unfortunately my licence was revoked, therefore not able to continue to drive under Section 88. My insurer is aware, but has not increased premiums for me when I can drive again, so that's good.

Thanks also for the suggestion to contact my MP - this is something I too will do if no progress within the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again 🙏😊

[BrainBrain in reply to Cast_away]

Yes, once you have your licence back you won't have any problems with insurance. Mine was issued for a year and is about to expire - I've sent off the renewal but they've just written to tell me I should use section 88 while they write to my doctor again. Hopefully they give me more than a year this time! I expect that you'll also find yourself getting a year, and there will be a wait while it's renewed, at which point you will be able to use section 88.

The MP complaint definitely helped. It's worth telling them how it's holding you back.

Good luck!

[Henners1]

I applied for my licence to be reinstated in August 2020 and DVLA got the medical information at the end of September, with my licence being reinstated about three weeks after.

I checked my licence status online though and knew it had been reinstated before the actual licence arrived in the post. You need your driving licence number, your NI number and your postcode.

Hope you get it back soon.

[Cast_away in reply to Henners1]

Hi there

glad to hear that your licence was restored.

Good tip to check the status of my licence - I will do that now.

Thanks again - really grateful 🙏😊

[Emz8311]

I had surgery July last year, i had to volintarily surrender my licence for 6 months,Applied for it back in Jan, look into section 88 and ask dvla for a letter confirming they have got ur application and advice u on section 88 you can then drive while they process ur application,aslong as ur doc has said ur ok to drive, u haven't had any seizures, then you should be ok to drive on a section 88, im still waiting for mine to be sorted but I have section 88 letter so I'm legally allowed to drive while they speak to my consultant, I was told they can take up to 12 months to return your licence,

[Cast_away in reply to Emz8311]

Hi

thanks for this reply. Unfortunately, S88 doesn't apply for me as the licence has been revoked due to my tumour (rather than surrendered).

I have contacted DVLA by letter now as email has not been responded to - perhaps this will produce a reply. If not then I will be seeking the support of my local MP.

[OF_codown]

hi I’ve had similar issues with DVA ( Northern Ireland equivalent of DVLA). My paperwork was been with them for over 4 months now & they say due to staff shortages they can’t give me a timescale for getting my license. They have told me verbally I’m ok to drive as long as doctors are happy - so I’m driving away. I’m going to ask for written confirmation of that

[Cast_away in reply to OF_codown]

I can understand why you are asking for written confirmation of being allowed to drive!

Frustrating that this process is so poor!😠

[Trvlr]

I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this. Health care should be seamless for every human in Earth. Please keep us posted.

[Paper2021]

Hi, from the other groups I’m in I understand it can take a while. One person reported 14 months. Don’t quote me on it as I am about to apply for mine after not driving since November 21, I’m going to read up on it. I believe once you have it confirmed you can drive and have applied you are able to drive on a medical licence. Section 88. Please check this information as I will be doing so too.

[Cast_away in reply to Paper2021]

Hi my understanding is that Section 88 does not apply if your licence is revoked due to your condition as was mine.

assets.publishing.service.g...

I hope you do not have to wait too long

DVLA guide INF188/6 “Can I drive while my application is with DVLA?”

[Bananaboy1]

I had so much trouble getting my licence back and know only too well how debilitating that is. I ended up after 13 months writing to my local MP out of desperation. Funnily enough, I got it back within a week! Get writing I say because the DVLA is understaffed and funded and I hope you don't spend months and months like I did being stuck in the system.

Good luck. x

[AJSJ1234]

This is what worries me as I drive for a living and whilst my company will wait for me for six months any longer will result in me loosing my job as I’m a sales rep

[snowleopard41 in reply to AJSJ1234]

I have just received my licence this week. I think Christmas may have slowed progress. My DVLA letter advised applying 8 weeks before the 6 months. The DVLA wrote to the hospital requesting information just before Christmas and the hospital responded towards the end of January. I did phone the consultants secretary to see if they had received the DVLA's letter, the secretary confirmed they had received it and had replied to it.By the end of Feb I still hadn't heard anything so I called the DVLA, I was an hour in call back queue. The agent said my file still needed reviewed by a supervisor and I was being upgraded from priority group 3 to priority group 1.

I found the only way to track the progress or lack of, was to use the points code check part of the DVLA website, you normally use this to get a code and a pdf to give to your employer or hire car firm.

I was so happy when it changed from revoked to full licence, I didn't drive until I had the card in my hand. Getting back on my insurance was a bit of a faff.