Voluntary Surrender of driving licence
Discussion
Hi
I'm new to the forum so please be gentle :-)
Just looking for some help/advice as my first thoughts on my predicament are that this is gonna cost me financially for starters - something we can all do without.
Due to a mental health problem which reared itself in September this year, I was hospitalised for 11days during which time I was given a form to complete and send to DVLA - and was told by the consultant not to drive - assuming he meant after discharge. I completed the form in October and sent it off - I received a letter from DVLA a few days ago saying they suggest I surrender my licence until such time as I am deemed fit to drive and I have to surrender it within 21 days.
The predicament is that I am the owner of our car and the insurance policy is in my name with my partner as a named driver - I haven't driven for the past 2 months (under the medical advice given whilst in hospital). My partner has done all the driving - I can apply for my licence back at some stage. Where will this leave me with our car insurance - will I have to cancel the policy and my partner start a new policy in his name (this will cost us as he has only been passed his test just short of 3 years) or is there an alternative - thank you.
I'm new to the forum so please be gentle :-)
Just looking for some help/advice as my first thoughts on my predicament are that this is gonna cost me financially for starters - something we can all do without.
Due to a mental health problem which reared itself in September this year, I was hospitalised for 11days during which time I was given a form to complete and send to DVLA - and was told by the consultant not to drive - assuming he meant after discharge. I completed the form in October and sent it off - I received a letter from DVLA a few days ago saying they suggest I surrender my licence until such time as I am deemed fit to drive and I have to surrender it within 21 days.
The predicament is that I am the owner of our car and the insurance policy is in my name with my partner as a named driver - I haven't driven for the past 2 months (under the medical advice given whilst in hospital). My partner has done all the driving - I can apply for my licence back at some stage. Where will this leave me with our car insurance - will I have to cancel the policy and my partner start a new policy in his name (this will cost us as he has only been passed his test just short of 3 years) or is there an alternative - thank you.
I'd talk to you insurer as there may be options
As an example many years back my wife was a named driver on my policy and she had to start using the car for business use for which she would be paid a mileage allowance. However a condition of the allowance was that she had to be the policy holder and the policy had to include business usage, This meant she needed additional cover and she had to be the policy holder.
As a driver with no NCB of her own (even though she had several years experience driving on my policy's) the cost of business cover was bloody expensive.
The insurance company agreed that I could transfer my NCB to her, this meant that business cover was just a few quid extra.
I reverted to a named driver on the policy.
It was fine till she walked out taking the car and the dog....
Starting again with no NCB piddled me off and I realy missed the dog.
As an example many years back my wife was a named driver on my policy and she had to start using the car for business use for which she would be paid a mileage allowance. However a condition of the allowance was that she had to be the policy holder and the policy had to include business usage, This meant she needed additional cover and she had to be the policy holder.
As a driver with no NCB of her own (even though she had several years experience driving on my policy's) the cost of business cover was bloody expensive.
The insurance company agreed that I could transfer my NCB to her, this meant that business cover was just a few quid extra.
I reverted to a named driver on the policy.
It was fine till she walked out taking the car and the dog....
Starting again with no NCB piddled me off and I realy missed the dog.
Oh and I'm sure surrender of licence is better than them revoking it but SP & L would be a better place to get that sort of advice but that may stop you from being able to reply
Surrendering your driving licence - GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/giving-up-your-driving-licence
... are advised by your doctor to stop you'll need to tell DVLA and send them your licence. ... of voluntary surrender and send it to DVLA with your driving licence.
Surrendering your driving licence - GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/giving-up-your-driving-licence
... are advised by your doctor to stop you'll need to tell DVLA and send them your licence. ... of voluntary surrender and send it to DVLA with your driving licence.
Edited by B'stard Child on Monday 8th December 20:51
Hi
I had a similar predicament about 8 years ago. After an unexplained fit, my doctor said I should give up my licence. It is awkward and your insurers should offer advice on how to handle the policy. They 'might' offer you the ability to keep the policy you already have. (My insurers did whilst I was awaiting further medical tests and also waiting to sell my car this eventually took about four months! My wife occasionally drove my car to keep it alive....)
Things will turn out for the best... I was banned for about 18 months in total as I had a couple of further fits. It is also worth talking to your doctor to define how long they recommend you do not drive or when you are able to reapply for your licence. (is it 12 months or whilst you are taking some medication, for example?)
Best of luck
Mike
I had a similar predicament about 8 years ago. After an unexplained fit, my doctor said I should give up my licence. It is awkward and your insurers should offer advice on how to handle the policy. They 'might' offer you the ability to keep the policy you already have. (My insurers did whilst I was awaiting further medical tests and also waiting to sell my car this eventually took about four months! My wife occasionally drove my car to keep it alive....)
Things will turn out for the best... I was banned for about 18 months in total as I had a couple of further fits. It is also worth talking to your doctor to define how long they recommend you do not drive or when you are able to reapply for your licence. (is it 12 months or whilst you are taking some medication, for example?)
Best of luck
Mike
Lady Marmalade said:
Thanks all for your advice and experiences - what's SP & L though
There you go: Speed, Plod & the Law
.
- not everyone does when they should Certainly won't apply to all insurers but when I had to surrender my licence, my insurer transferred the insurance to my brother driving. And didn't even cost me a bean.
Do note, unless they've changed the rules, there is no fee for restoring a licence surrendered for medical reasons, so at the end, you'll end up with 10 years of photocard.
Do note, unless they've changed the rules, there is no fee for restoring a licence surrendered for medical reasons, so at the end, you'll end up with 10 years of photocard.
Goldblum, DVLA are already involved in this case and as such the option to self-police is not available.
The OP will have received a letter from DVLA which gives her two options. She now has a decision to make which is surrender her licence or have DVLA conduct a medical investigation.
In simple terms, surrender your licence because:
1. It's easier to get back in three months; when your doctor says you're ok to drive you can reapply and under s.88 Road Traffic Act you have the right to drive as soon as DVLA receive your application (the DVLA will then investigate which takes a couple of months).
2. You won't lose your rights under s.88 Road Traffic Act (some of these rights are of benefit to you right now, above in bold text), which you do lose forever in the event that don't surrender your licence and it is revoked for medical reasons. The implication of having a medical revocation is that your licence can be instantly revoked if there is ever a report of a medical issue that might affect driving in the future (doesn't have to be related to the original medical problem).
3. If you don't surrender it, the DVLA will investigate and write to your doctor for details and, if your doctor says you're not fit to drive, I can guarantee the DVLA medical team will conclude you aren't fit to drive either. They then revoke the licence (as above in 2).
I went through all this and didn't realise the implications of not surrendering my licence until it was too late. It wouldn't have made a jot of difference to me as I'd accepting giving up driving for a while and had sold my car by the time I got the DVLA letter, I just didn't realise the long-term potential implications of asking for the investigation.
Whenever I see posts like this I try to help by explaining to people the consequences of deciding not to surrender the licence.
Good luck and you will probably be entitled to a free bus pass from your local authority if you have that letter saying you can't drive, so get that sorted out. Small consolation, I know.
The OP will have received a letter from DVLA which gives her two options. She now has a decision to make which is surrender her licence or have DVLA conduct a medical investigation.
In simple terms, surrender your licence because:
1. It's easier to get back in three months; when your doctor says you're ok to drive you can reapply and under s.88 Road Traffic Act you have the right to drive as soon as DVLA receive your application (the DVLA will then investigate which takes a couple of months).
2. You won't lose your rights under s.88 Road Traffic Act (some of these rights are of benefit to you right now, above in bold text), which you do lose forever in the event that don't surrender your licence and it is revoked for medical reasons. The implication of having a medical revocation is that your licence can be instantly revoked if there is ever a report of a medical issue that might affect driving in the future (doesn't have to be related to the original medical problem).
3. If you don't surrender it, the DVLA will investigate and write to your doctor for details and, if your doctor says you're not fit to drive, I can guarantee the DVLA medical team will conclude you aren't fit to drive either. They then revoke the licence (as above in 2).
I went through all this and didn't realise the implications of not surrendering my licence until it was too late. It wouldn't have made a jot of difference to me as I'd accepting giving up driving for a while and had sold my car by the time I got the DVLA letter, I just didn't realise the long-term potential implications of asking for the investigation.
Whenever I see posts like this I try to help by explaining to people the consequences of deciding not to surrender the licence.
Good luck and you will probably be entitled to a free bus pass from your local authority if you have that letter saying you can't drive, so get that sorted out. Small consolation, I know.
Edited by texasjohn on Saturday 13th December 22:01
texasjohn said:
In simple terms, surrender your licence because:
3. If you don't surrender it, the DVLA will investigate and write to your doctor for details and likely conclude you aren't fit to drive. They then revoke the licence (as above in 2).
Balderdash.3. If you don't surrender it, the DVLA will investigate and write to your doctor for details and likely conclude you aren't fit to drive. They then revoke the licence (as above in 2).
The DVLA will investigate what, exactly?
goldblum said:
texasjohn said:
In simple terms, surrender your licence because:
3. If you don't surrender it, the DVLA will investigate and write to your doctor for details and likely conclude you aren't fit to drive. They then revoke the licence (as above in 2).
Balderdash.3. If you don't surrender it, the DVLA will investigate and write to your doctor for details and likely conclude you aren't fit to drive. They then revoke the licence (as above in 2).
The DVLA will investigate what, exactly?
They will investigate the medical problem and decide if OP is fit to drive in line with their guidelines. See PDF https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/at-a-gl...
The letter she will have received is as a result of whatever form she filled in and sent off to DVLA.
Edited by texasjohn on Saturday 13th December 22:06
goldblum said:
texasjohn said:
In simple terms, surrender your licence because:
3. If you don't surrender it, the DVLA will investigate and write to your doctor for details and likely conclude you aren't fit to drive. They then revoke the licence (as above in 2).
Balderdash.3. If you don't surrender it, the DVLA will investigate and write to your doctor for details and likely conclude you aren't fit to drive. They then revoke the licence (as above in 2).
The DVLA will investigate what, exactly?
they also publish guidance to Health professionals about what advice to give to patients and the few situations where mandatory reporting is required.
Edited by mph1977 on Saturday 13th December 22:16
mph1977 said:
the DVLA has a medical department staffed with actual health professionals who undertake these investigations and gather evidence from medical records.
Yes, when I say the DVLA will investigate and make a decision I mean the DVLA Medical Advisory Branch. They have doctors that review the case and make the decision.mph1977 said:
the DVLA has a medical department staffed with actual health professionals who undertake these investigations and gather evidence from medical records, investigations performed at their request by your GP/ consultant / Optometrist and undertakea risk assessment.
they also publish guidance ot Health professionals about what advice to give to patients and the few situations wheremandatory reporting is required.
Mandatory? Such as? And how often would these mandatory conditions apply when a person had only been 'advised' to inform the DVLA by their doctor? Not often I bet.they also publish guidance ot Health professionals about what advice to give to patients and the few situations wheremandatory reporting is required.
s p a c e m a n said:
texasjohn said:
The letter she will have received is as a result of whatever form she filled in and sent off to DVLA.
Anyone know what would happen if she had refused to complete and sign that form, would the doctor have informed the DVLA?Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff