experience of returning licence to dvla?
Discussion
hi,
i have been informed by the doctors that have to return my license on medical grounds ( spread of primary tumour to brain)
its treatable with targetted radiation , starting next week.
dvla seem to indicate it can be returned when treatment is done, but looks like about 6 month's minimum
anybody been through this, got any tips?
i'll keep copies of all documents, send registered post etc, I've told the insurance company as my wife will be driving my car sometimes.
i think ive found the right forms on the dvla website
thanks in advance
m
i have been informed by the doctors that have to return my license on medical grounds ( spread of primary tumour to brain)
its treatable with targetted radiation , starting next week.
dvla seem to indicate it can be returned when treatment is done, but looks like about 6 month's minimum
anybody been through this, got any tips?
i'll keep copies of all documents, send registered post etc, I've told the insurance company as my wife will be driving my car sometimes.
i think ive found the right forms on the dvla website
thanks in advance
m
It is better to ‘surrender’ your licence than have it ‘revoked’.
I am not sure you have to actually physically return the licence, maybe just write to them.
I would write along them lines ‘My doctor has advise me not to drive for 6 months. Please note.’.
You really want to avoid ending up with a 3 year ‘medical condition’ licence. Hopefully your condition/treatment does not mean that.
On a separate note, when I renewed a licence and they had wanted the old on back, I said that I needed to keep it for ID for Probate, and that I would destroy the old licence when the new one arrived, they accepted that.
(Please everyone, change your spell-checker/autofill to U.K. English: license (sic) just grinds my gears, grrrrh).
I am not sure you have to actually physically return the licence, maybe just write to them.
I would write along them lines ‘My doctor has advise me not to drive for 6 months. Please note.’.
You really want to avoid ending up with a 3 year ‘medical condition’ licence. Hopefully your condition/treatment does not mean that.
On a separate note, when I renewed a licence and they had wanted the old on back, I said that I needed to keep it for ID for Probate, and that I would destroy the old licence when the new one arrived, they accepted that.
(Please everyone, change your spell-checker/autofill to U.K. English: license (sic) just grinds my gears, grrrrh).
Edited by Pica-Pica on Monday 30th December 15:00
Hi, sorry to hear about the diagnosis. Just to confirm that it is better to surrender the licence rather than have it revoked by DVLA. In the immediate term it makes little difference as driving has to cease for at least 6 months but more realistically a year. The difference comes when it's time to restart driving.
If, after the licence was surrendered and the observation/treatment period is over and the treating specialist agrees that the medical standards can be met then driving can restart when a valid application is received at DVLA medical and before a final licensing decision is made by DVLA. In the trade this is known as 'Section 88 cover'. I would emphasise that the advising Dr must refer to the published standards -
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/assessing-fitness-to-d... - in your case page 44-45
It's not a case of the GP saying 'I think you're OK', it needs to be someone actively involved in the field. This S88 cover is complex and would really need to be discussed with the Consultant, they in turn often need to discuss it with DVLA themselves. Potentially, it can mean a return to driving soon after the completion of the required observation period.
If the licence was revoked, the situation is very different. After the observation period is over you would have to apply for the licence and await a final licensing decision from DVLA Medical once medical enquiries are completed. As anyone who has dealt with DVLA DM can testify this can be a long time, it can easily add six months plus to an application and final decision.
So, in summary it is a lot more beneficial to surrender the licence voluntarily, you may be able to return to driving a lot quicker.
If, after the licence was surrendered and the observation/treatment period is over and the treating specialist agrees that the medical standards can be met then driving can restart when a valid application is received at DVLA medical and before a final licensing decision is made by DVLA. In the trade this is known as 'Section 88 cover'. I would emphasise that the advising Dr must refer to the published standards -
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/assessing-fitness-to-d... - in your case page 44-45
It's not a case of the GP saying 'I think you're OK', it needs to be someone actively involved in the field. This S88 cover is complex and would really need to be discussed with the Consultant, they in turn often need to discuss it with DVLA themselves. Potentially, it can mean a return to driving soon after the completion of the required observation period.
If the licence was revoked, the situation is very different. After the observation period is over you would have to apply for the licence and await a final licensing decision from DVLA Medical once medical enquiries are completed. As anyone who has dealt with DVLA DM can testify this can be a long time, it can easily add six months plus to an application and final decision.
So, in summary it is a lot more beneficial to surrender the licence voluntarily, you may be able to return to driving a lot quicker.
Additionally - on a practical level. inform them of surrender by email or by written letter, don't rely on a phone call. I have known notifications of surrender by phone being turned into revocations with loss of s88 cover.
Strictly under the law a licence should be returned to DVLA as it is technically the property of the Government and SoS, in days gone by the Police were sent round to retrieve the licence, most likely in the days of Dixon of Dock Green. These days no one will chase you if you do not send the physical licence back, most kept them for ID purposes. It's the notification that's important.
Strictly under the law a licence should be returned to DVLA as it is technically the property of the Government and SoS, in days gone by the Police were sent round to retrieve the licence, most likely in the days of Dixon of Dock Green. These days no one will chase you if you do not send the physical licence back, most kept them for ID purposes. It's the notification that's important.
https://www.gov.uk/giving-up-your-driving-licence
It's here under "How to voluntarily surrender your driving licence"
Good Luck OP sounds like a tough one. I hope you get all the support you need and more.
I would suggest taking a photo of BOTH sides of your licence so that when the time comes to re apply there's a decent record. Post it Special Delivery too or at least get a a PROOF of postage cert from the Post Office.
It's here under "How to voluntarily surrender your driving licence"
Good Luck OP sounds like a tough one. I hope you get all the support you need and more.
I would suggest taking a photo of BOTH sides of your licence so that when the time comes to re apply there's a decent record. Post it Special Delivery too or at least get a a PROOF of postage cert from the Post Office.
Good advice on the Section 88 (of the Road Traffic Act 1988). If are going to physically surrender your licence and are nearing the end of any statutory ‘time-out’, and your consultant says you meet the fitness to drive criteria, re-apply in advance of the date, and on the day after your ‘time out’ is up, you CAN drive again under the terms of the above mentioned Act and section, even if your licence has not been returned. I had this after (sleep-only) seizures, and back then it was a three year time out!!! - it has since been reduced to one year. All the best.
loskie said:
https://www.gov.uk/giving-up-your-driving-licence
It's here under "How to voluntarily surrender your driving licence"
Good Luck OP sounds like a tough one. I hope you get all the support you need and more.
I would suggest taking a photo of BOTH sides of your licence so that when the time comes to re apply there's a decent record. Post it Special Delivery too or at least get a a PROOF of postage cert from the Post Office.
Just found the same so that looks like the way to go for now.It's here under "How to voluntarily surrender your driving licence"
Good Luck OP sounds like a tough one. I hope you get all the support you need and more.
I would suggest taking a photo of BOTH sides of your licence so that when the time comes to re apply there's a decent record. Post it Special Delivery too or at least get a a PROOF of postage cert from the Post Office.
Other than that, good luck with the treatment OP.
When I had to do that several years ago, I only returned the paper part,, keeping the photo part as id
When, after the 6 months period was up, and I could drive again, I was able to start using the photo part straight away- for holiday car hire etc. it took DVLA several months to get a new photo card to me
When, after the 6 months period was up, and I could drive again, I was able to start using the photo part straight away- for holiday car hire etc. it took DVLA several months to get a new photo card to me
Went through this with my mum a year or so back there is a thread on here . She was informed by her doctor that she should not drive, so she wrote to DVLA and enclosed her licence after 6 months she could re-apply and the form (from post office) was forwarded to her GP and then her consultant as the dvla wanted further assurance . The process did take around 3 months iirc
Her insurance company were very helpful leaving her insured but as me as the driver
Her insurance company were very helpful leaving her insured but as me as the driver
t I’ve been through with this cancer, it’s seems odd that having to surrender my licence has been one of the harder things to process, Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff