DVLA License

Amraam

Amraam

Amraam

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5 Jan 2009
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I'm not the most organised of people at the best of time, but With COVID 19 and working from home, my mind is all over the place with dates. No excuse though.

So,yesterday, I noticed my driving license had expired... two weeks ago. Oops! Thankfully, I've done next to no driving in this time. Of course, the moment I realised I went online and filled in the online application.

Question time... can I drive? I immediately thought not, given the current one has expired and I have a 3 year license being T1 diabetic. After reading up and finding this document, it appears I may be able to drive.

https://assets.publishing.service.g...i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla.pdf

To continue driving under Section 88, you must meet all of the following criteria:
• Your doctor must have told you that you are fit to drive. If your doctor is unsure about how a medical condition affects driving, they should refer to ‘Assessing fitness to drive – a guide for medical professionals’ at www.gov.uk/dvla/fitnesstodrive
• You have held a valid driving licence (see *below) and only drive vehicles you have applied for on your current application and were entitled to drive on your previous licence.
• If you hold a Group 2 (bus or lorry) licence, your entitlement has not been suspended, revoked or refused by a traffic commissioner.
• You meet any conditions that were specified on your previous licence that still apply.
• DVLA has received your correct and complete application within the last 12 months.
• Your last licence was not revoked or refused for medical reasons.
• You are not currently disqualified from driving by a court.
• You were not disqualified as a high risk offender on or after 1 June 2013 (a high risk offender is a driver convicted of a serious drink driving offence).

* this licence can be a full GB licence, a GB provisional licence, a European Community licence, a Northern Ireland licence, a British external/British Forces licence or an exchangeable licence.
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Not that I can go anywhere anyway; I'm asking this because I need to know that if I have to drive anywhere in an emergency etc, I'm doing so legally?

Thanks!
 
Its a bit of a rough read and actually not that obvious as it refers to the application being made and the license expiring while the application is with the DVLA, rather than you letting it expire first.

Id say err on the site of caution and only go out if absolutely essential if nobody else can drive you short term, and if for whatever reason you happen to get pulled or have an incident blame corona delays....
 
kindai said:
Its a bit of a rough read and actually not that obvious as it refers to the application being made and the license expiring while the application is with the DVLA, rather than you letting it expire first.

Id say err on the site of caution and only go out if absolutely essential if nobody else can drive you short term, and if for whatever reason you happen to get pulled or have an incident blame corona delays....
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Yeah it's really hard to take in and properly understand. I've just signed back in to gov UK verify to check my 'status' and its marked as expired and that I have no vehicles I'm entitled to drive. I have a receipt email to confirm my application, but no reference number. I'll not drive at all until it's sorted.
 
Just to be clear is your current one expired for photo or medical reasons? if it is the photo one you should be temporarily covered from the moment of application until the actual new license arrives.
 
Amraam said:
I like how you say "make up your mind". That's a tough read...
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For good reason - I'm not a lawyer, and the .gov.uk website or DVLA issued PDF's are not legal advice. They may have incorrect intepretations or outright errors in them. The legislation is what matters!
 
Rroff said:
Just to be clear is your current one expired for photo or medical reasons? if it is the photo one you should be temporarily covered from the moment of application until the actual new license arrives.
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That's what I thought, and my quoted pdf suggests that too. Under section 88 I meet all criteria. My licensed expired end of march, I forgot about it and applied for the renewal on Thursday night. My medical conditions have not changed.
 
Amraam said:
That's what I thought, and my quoted pdf suggests that too. Under section 88 I meet all criteria. My licensed expired end of march, I forgot about it and applied for the renewal on Thursday night. My medical conditions have not changed.
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Sadly I'm guessing not possible with the current circumstances but if you go down to the post office to renew they will print you off a receipt that is proof you can show if asked to produce by the police, etc. but AFAIK you don't actually need to have it.

As long as your circumstances haven't changed (i.e. wouldn't be disqualified for medical reasons) and it is just the details on the license such as photo being out of date your license itself hasn't been revoked - you might be fined for not having up to date details (which shouldn't be a problem if you can prove you've applied to update them) so you shouldn't have any trouble in that respect - there are no grounds to endorse your license, have your vehicle seized or insurance be invalidated (though you should check your insurance terms and conditions).
 
Rroff said:
Sadly I'm guessing not possible with the current circumstances but if you go down to the post office to renew they will print you off a receipt that is proof you can show if asked to produce by the police, etc. but AFAIK you don't actually need to have it.

As long as your circumstances haven't changed (i.e. wouldn't be disqualified for medical reasons) and it is just the details on the license such as photo being out of date your license itself hasn't been revoked - you might be fined for not having up to date details (which shouldn't be a problem if you can prove you've applied to update them) so you shouldn't have any trouble in that respect - there are no grounds to endorse your license, have your vehicle seized or insurance be invalidated (though you should check your insurance terms and conditions).
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Sorry my phone died right as I was editing my last post. As sonic says it's the legislation that counts and its worded in such a complex way it's hard to get a concrete answer. I meet all the section 88 criteria but checking my license via Gov UK verify I'm not eligible to drive any vehicles. Nothing stopping the girlfriend driving the model 3, she'll just have to describe it when she gets back... Ha.
 
Amraam said:
Sorry my phone died right as I was editing my last post. As sonic says it's the legislation that counts and its worded in such a complex way it's hard to get a concrete answer. I meet all the section 88 criteria but checking my license via Gov UK verify I'm not eligible to drive any vehicles. Nothing stopping the girlfriend driving the model 3, she'll just have to describe it when she gets back... Ha.
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I thought as petrol was so cheap I’d fill it up for you but I couldn’t find the fuel release button thingy, hope that’s ok?
 
I think if it were an emergency you would be fine. Considering you have reapplied. Probably wouldn't just go joyriding around for no reason though.
 
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