Today I received an email from DVLA (as I must be on their email database) stating that they are not accepting paper applications and all applications should be online. The issue is, as you may know, that you can not renew a restricted licence due to MS online. My renewal isn’t for some months, but this does strike me as unfair. Is there anyone out there that is due to renew their licence shortly? Just wondering if they have given any special instructions when they actually write to you to renew.
I have raised the issue with the MS society in any case.
I know we are not out and about as much as before C19, but I for one am still reliant on my car for shopping and blood monitoring for example.
Definitely not a scam. I checked on the main website after. There was a covid 19 section and it contained the same information, although it was posted in March. They are obviously now only getting round to emailing people, a month later.
Got me slightly worried now. I had my renewal letter through a few weeks ago with all of the paperwork to complete. I completed it and posted it all on the same day. I’m losing track of time so can’t recall if it was two or three weeks ago now.
I’ve heard nothing back as of yet so I was taking that as a good sign and that they were processing it. Mine expires in July.
I applied to renew my driving licence about a year ago - by the timemy application was processed my old licence had expired. The advice from DVLA was that I could continie driving until new licence sorted and I checked with the Car Insurance people who said it was o.k to continue driving.
As I understand that’s on the basis that you have sent the forms in and they are been processed. The issue at the moment is they are not accepting renewals by post. When I also checked on the website I pretty sure they have even stopped issuing driving licences to people who have just passed their test as well.
I have looked on line and can not see anywhere on the DVLA site that says only online applications. So have you double checked the info you have been given? Mind you me not seeing the info wouldn’t be a first
If you go on dvla website, then covid 19 update it says they are only do online applications and no paper ones. In terms of where it tells you that ms can’t be done online it’s renew licences, short term medical licences ( or something like that) and it’s states that you can only renew online for Parkinson’s, diabetics and heart conditions. If you try the online for ms it tells you that you can’t. I only found out as I received an email and then checked it out. However, was speaking to my boss in work about it, I work for a local authority and obviously we have have drivers that need to renew and he was saying by chance this came up in a management meeting this morning and apparently dvla might or possibly have extended licences in the same way as they have extended mot certificates,. I can’t find this on the dvla website but that would make sense.
Delays in issuing licences### Applying for renewing a driving licence with a medical condition
We are currently facing delays in issuing driving licence renewals for drivers with a medical condition.
This is because, with NHS staff rightly focused on the nationwide response to Coronavirus, if you have a health condition requiring further information or examinations, there are likely to be significant delays before NHS doctors, consultants or opticians are able to provide us with the information we need to be able to make a licensing decision and send you a new driving licence.
Providing you have a current driving licence and you have not been told by your doctor or optician that you should not drive, you will be able to drive while DVLA is considering your application.
Road safety is our top priority and by law, all drivers must meet certain minimum medical standards and drivers must ensure they are medically fit to drive. All drivers must notify DVLA of the onset or worsening of a medical condition.
Thank you cheetah, I’m not sure about this, as if you can’t apply atm then dvla aren’t actually considering your application if you see what I mean. I know you said you have recently sent yours off so you are probably ok, but moving forward I’m not sure. will get round to emailing them on the weekend when I’m not in work. I’ve got their email somewhere from the last stressful dealing with them when I first had to inform them. It was only the fact I got an email I even found out, and as I said the email is a month behind there website. I think I’ve found the thing my boss was on about as well - but it only seems to apply to HGV licences.
ive found everything about the advice given in this C19 situation somewhat ambiguous to be honest, even my gp has said things aren’t that clear in general and it’s a grey area for me, as I’m on DMT - but Tecfidera, but then it depends on your lymphocytes and whether you have other conditions. Oh well take a deep breath and carry on.
Ah but you need to send in the renewal though so you are still legal to drive. So send it all in as normal and then sit and wait…
Providing you have a current driving licence and you have not been told by your doctor or optician that you should not drive, you will be able to drive while DVLA is considering your application.
The application is the key word so send it in as normal and sit and wait.
Make sure you send it in by recorded delivery so you are covered as well.
A little off the subject but can anyone advise if we need to return our old licence when we receive a new one? I recently got a new licence, disposed of the letter that came with it and was about to cut up and throw away the card when it occurred to me I should return the old one. I’ve looked online some say yes some say no.
Hi Jan as it’s expired then all you need to do is destroy it. I’m not sure but seem to remember reading amongst the paper work that came with renewal that if it had 3 months to run then no you don’t need to send it back.
