DVLA has added an automatic only restriction to my license
Discussion
Not really sure what to do about this. For the past couple of years I noticed that my insurance premiums were rising, for no reason. Today I was looking how much it would cost me to insure a new car and I decided to check my license. It turns out that a couple of years back they have changed it to automatic only! I don't have the driver license pass certificate (sent it out to get the plastic) but I have the original of practical driving test report that says I have passed on a manual. Has anyone had any luck getting this sort of problem sorted out?
Edited by swistak on Tuesday 18th February 20:53
CoreyDog said:
I'm confused...
Do you mean they have set it to automatic only?
If you pass a test in a manual transmission car, that entitles you to drive both auto and manual.
Yes, my bad, they have set it to automatic only indeed. I have updated the OP. Has anyone had to deal with this before? Am I ok to carry on driving?Do you mean they have set it to automatic only?
If you pass a test in a manual transmission car, that entitles you to drive both auto and manual.
update time
I have contacted DVLA, their response was predicably underwhelming. TL;DR
1. Your previous license plastic was also automatic only
2. We have your test pass as automatic only (YIKES)
3. Send us a copy of your test pass paper and hope for the best. We won't give you a timeline or anyone to talk to in person. The only way to contact us is via letter, no phone number or email.
Currently I'm unable to drive any car that I own and don't have a reasonable timeline to resolution, this is not going to be fun
I have contacted DVLA, their response was predicably underwhelming. TL;DR
1. Your previous license plastic was also automatic only
2. We have your test pass as automatic only (YIKES)
3. Send us a copy of your test pass paper and hope for the best. We won't give you a timeline or anyone to talk to in person. The only way to contact us is via letter, no phone number or email.
Currently I'm unable to drive any car that I own and don't have a reasonable timeline to resolution, this is not going to be fun
I have the record of my driving test (the test result paper) with the automatic box unticked and reggo of a MANUAL car I passed it in. I also have a dated photograph of me holding the pass certificate with automatic CROSSED OUT. I think someone at DVLA has fubared data entry as it shows as auto only at least 5 years back!
Oilchange said:
The photocard is just a photocard, it simply states, incorrectly, what his licence allows. His unique driving licence number should show what he can drive and it will be on the dvla records.
It's worse than that. Turns out that my driving license number also says I'm only allowed automatics as of now! You can check what records DVLA hold against your license number online. The license number remains the same throughout. They just change issue number as you go through new photocards. It looks like a clerical error on their part somewhere along the line. I remember I had to personally send out the pass certificate original, so don't have any copies of that, only record I have is the test result and an affidavit from my instructor
M4cruiser said:
There is a fatal flaw with this. You copy the front of your photocard. You turn it over to copy the back, which is where the Auto only would be against category "B".
But you can't prove that the front and back are of the same card, because the driver number on the front doesn't appear on the back. So the DVLA might say that's the back of someone else's licence.
I don't have a single copy of the back of my license, because noone has ever asked me for one!But you can't prove that the front and back are of the same card, because the driver number on the front doesn't appear on the back. So the DVLA might say that's the back of someone else's licence.
10 Days Later...
I have received a reply from DVSA about my licence category. Turns out they keep copies of tests for 5 years only, but they have reviewed the car + test history for examiner/instructor and decided that I have passed my test on a manual. Apparently they have also notified DVLA, but I am yet to hear about that...
Let's see how this unfolds
I have received a reply from DVSA about my licence category. Turns out they keep copies of tests for 5 years only, but they have reviewed the car + test history for examiner/instructor and decided that I have passed my test on a manual. Apparently they have also notified DVLA, but I am yet to hear about that...
Let's see how this unfolds
QuickQuack said:
Great result! 
The fact that you've had to go through this and that it took 6 months is unbelievable though.
It took ~ 1 month (getting DVSA to look into it, then notify DVLA then wait for DVLA to react and update records and notify me, then send a new plastic)The fact that you've had to go through this and that it took 6 months is unbelievable though.
I just remembered about this thread and figured it might come in useful for somebody!
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