DVLA Medical - Timescale

Convicted Driver Insurance
It's just a plain old letter on A4 paper saying you are legally entitled to drive from a given date. Sound like a ball ache with your license - hope it cimes through soon for you.
 
Still no driving licence and it is now over a month since my ban ended on 21st of July. To say that I'm pissed off would be an understatement of the year. Got the cover note though and I had to laugh. You were right Gutted to say it's just an A4 page. You should have added that it's also full if crap. It starts with "Thank you for your application...blah blah blah....Your disqualification ends on .....". Well, in my case DVLA haven't even bothered to fill in the date. Should I fill it in myself by hand? Can I also draw a smiley? Or perhaps an angry face would be more appropariate? :mad:

The letter also states: The law allows you to drive while your application is being dealt with, provided that:
  • Your application is valid and you have held a driving licence before kind of obvious, isn't it?
  • You are not disqualified by a Court my ban ended 5 weeks ago - just give me my licence back!
  • You are not stopped from holding a driving licence for medical reasons (if in doubt please speak with your doctor or specialist) now I understand why Mr Clueless was asking me if I spoke to my GP when I called DVLA to get the cover note
  • You drive under the conditions of the driving licence applied for (such as those applicable to provisional licences) whatever this means...
I just haven't got a clue why this is taking so long and how much longer will I need to wait. I was told on the 5 August that it would take about 3-4 weeks from then; 3 weeks have now passed and nothing. I wonder if there is anywhere I could officially complain about the delays and the way my case is being handled clearly through no fault of mine as all the tests and appointments were booked in good time and my case was apparently marked as urgent on the 26th of July (exactly a month ago!). I've not come across anyone on this forum who had to wait this long following a medical. WTF!!!!???? :(:confused::mad:
 
Still no driving licence and it is now over a month since my ban ended on 21st of July. To say that I'm pissed off would be an understatement of the year. Got the cover note though and I had to laugh. You were right Gutted to say it's just an A4 page. You should have added that it's also full if crap. It starts with "Thank you for your application...blah blah blah....Your disqualification ends on .....". Well, in my case DVLA haven't even bothered to fill in the date. Should I fill it in myself by hand? Can I also draw a smiley? Or perhaps an angry face would be more appropariate? :mad:


The letter also states: The law allows you to drive while your application is being dealt with, provided that:
  • Your application is valid and you have held a driving licence before kind of obvious, isn't it?
  • You are not disqualified by a Court my ban ended 5 weeks ago - just give me my licence back!
  • You are not stopped from holding a driving licence for medical reasons (if in doubt please speak with your doctor or specialist) now I understand why Mr Clueless was asking me if I spoke to my GP when I called DVLA to get the cover note
  • You drive under the conditions of the driving licence applied for (such as those applicable to provisional licences) whatever this means...
I just haven't got a clue why this is taking so long and how much longer will I need to wait. I was told on the 5 August that it would take about 3-4 weeks from then; 3 weeks have now passed and nothing. I wonder if there is anywhere I could officially complain about the delays and the way my case is being handled clearly through no fault of mine as all the tests and appointments were booked in good time and my case was apparently marked as urgent on the 26th of July (exactly a month ago!). I've not come across anyone on this forum who had to wait this long following a medical. WTF!!!!???? :(:confused::mad:
hello sillytoo,my ban was up 26 july and im also still waiting.
 
Hi Mr Waiting

I does make me feel a tiiiiiiny little bit better to know that I'm not alone :), but still, it's just not right, is it...?

Can I just ask if you also had to take a medical and how long before the end of ban did you take it? Also, do you know if they wrote to your GP?

BTW, still no licence, it's now becoming such an obvious statement that I shouldn't probably mention it at all.... :rolleyes:
 
Hi Mr Waiting

I does make me feel a tiiiiiiny little bit better to know that I'm not alone :), but still, it's just not right, is it...?

Can I just ask if you also had to take a medical and how long before the end of ban did you take it? Also, do you know if they wrote to your GP?

BTW, still no licence, it's now becoming such an obvious statement that I shouldn't probably mention it at all.... :rolleyes:
ok sillytoo,ye i had my medical 1st july it cost £112,then i received a letter dated 15 july from DVLA to say they had received the results,and"to allow us to progress your application we have now written to your GP for further information.We usually expect to receive a reply within four weeks.When we receive their reply our medical advisor will then considor your fitness to drive.This may take some time but as soon as a decision has been made we will let you know."
Well i rang the DVLA 2 days ago and they said they received the results from my GP on 11 august and that i could expect a reply any day,so its anyones guess what`s gonna happen.
 
DVLA never wrote to me to say that they were going to write my GP, so that's what annoyed me in the first place.

I hope your "any day" turns out to be a bit sooner than mine...Funny they should say that to you though. They told me straight away that it was going to be at least 3-4 weeks from the time I rang them for the first time on 5th of August. My GP's response was received by them on the 20th of July - a day before the end of my ban, so they've now had it for over 5 weeks. If nothing turns up next week I'll give them another call I think cos this is now getting ridiculous! :rolleyes:

Have a nice long weekend! At least the sun is shining - so far so good! :)
 
I was under the impression that the DVLA would contact me to arrange a medical. Do I have to contact them? And if so when do I?
I've mostly done my TTC course, and was led to assume that I would be told when the medical would be done.
 
Just to add my comments. I went for my medical last Monday and rang the DVLA as soon as I was out to ask how long it would take for the results to be processed and also get them to send me the letter to enable me to drive from 05/09.

They said it can take 'several weeks' for the results to be processed and they would send the cover note out that day. This arrived this morning (dated 23/08) and I will keep you posted on any further developments.
 
Anothersillyfool - yes DVLA is going to contact you to arrange the medical, so you don't need to do a thing, just wait and if it doesn't arrive a couple of months before the end of your ban, give them a call. They will also assign a doctor you need to see.

The moral from this forum is however to start the process early because it can take ages between the medical until they eventually return your licence. DVLA have now introduced a new procedure whereby they contact your GP for further information before returning your licence. My ban ended 5 weeks ago and I'm still waiting for my licence, although same as StuPidIdiot have a cover note allowing me to drive. Shame I can't use it cos I don't have a car and am desperately waiting for the proper licence to buy one. Mr Waiting is also still waiting although his ban ended a month ago...

BTW StuPidIdiot - does your cover note state the end date of your ban, because mine doesn't...?
 
Yeah it says my period of disqualification ends on 04/09/2010. Everything is ok for me insurance, MOT and tax on Saturday. I'm planning on going out at the stroke of midnight and driving for the hell of it :D

Anothersillyfool - I would get your application sent off to the DVLA and chase them for it, didn't hear a thing until 6 weeks before my ban ends and when I called them they said a letter regarding the Medical had been sent that morning (probably a coincidence :rolleyes:)

Sillytoo - is it a standard practice now where they write to your own GP? I asked the quack who did my medical and he said they only would if there was something flagged up in the results. I forgot to ask the DVLA when I rang them.
 
Well I have just phoned the DVLA medical department. I sent my application off on 9th August, they said they have received it and will send a letter out 'soon', although they had no idea when that would be. Once I got the letter, I would need to arrange the appointment for the medical, they also said they might get in touch with my doctor depending on the results.

The person I spoke to on the phone said the whole process takes approximately 4 months and if it wasnt completed by the time my ban had expired I would be issued with a temporary cover note. Well why the hell do they state that if you are a high risk offender you can apply for your licence up to 3 months before your ban expires if they say it can take 4 months for the whole process to be complete??

My life feels like its on hold at the moment. It feels horrible the power they have over you, I dont want to spend thousands getting a car and insurance etc with only a temporary cover note, knowing that they have the power to not give me my licence back. Im confident I will pass the medical as Im not a heavy and regular drinker, leading up to this medical I have been practically t-total too, just to be on the safe side, which is another reason my life feels like its on hold as I dont even feel comfortable going out for a few social drinks, just in case it screws things up. :mad:

I will keep you updated.
 
StuPidIdiot - DVLA told me over the phone that this was a new procedure they introduced recently i.e. writing to everybody's GP, so it's likely the quack who did your medical didn't know as his role ends once you're out of that door. :confused:

One more question - is the date of your ban hand-written or printed, cos my letter doesn't contain the date at all. I've quoted parts of the letter in this thread previously, would you say it's the same letter?

What shambles it all is!!!! :mad:

Coursecomplete - get ready for a long wait, although it might be just me and the fact that my results were crap but DVLA won't give me a straight answer. It's 6 weeks since my ban ended today and no licence so far. Why did I bother to do the rehab course? It's all a con - they should be giving me a refund soon! :cool:
 
Sillytoo - the date is printed with the rest of the letter and it's word for word the same as the parts you quoted.

Is there a reason why it takes the DVLA so long or is it just incompetence? There can't be that many medical cases to process can there?!
 
If I knew the answer to your question StuPidIdiot, I wouldn't be still posting my frustrated emails here...:mad:

But like I said before, I'll give them this week and will then give them call. This time though I won't hang up until I speak to a supervisor who should be able to give me some answers or tell me what their complaint procedure is. Surely there must be one! Just because I have a criminal conviction doesn't mean I should be getting this rubbish treatment! I've paid my dues for the mistakes I've made. Somebody should answer for their mistakes and incompetence too!
 
Thanks for your replies. I'll hang fire for a week. I've got the last day of TTC course tomorrow (correction, today) (Whoop!)

I did just want to say, that this site has been invaluable to me.
I'm only sorry that I've been more on the needy rather than the reassuring side.

Please can we have updates?

Wishing you all the very best
 
Hi. I was banned for drink driving for 12 months. I have got my medical tomorrow which is the 9/9/10. my licence is due back on the 11/9/10 can you tell me whether i have to wait for a cover note to drive or i am covered without it when my ban ends. i will be phoning them straight after my ban. can anyone help? please i am worried about not being able to drive the day my ban ends thanks
 
Soconfused - the letter I received said 'if you decide to drive before receiving your license and are asked by the police to produce it you may show them this letter instead'.

I rang to request this letter as soon as I'd had my medical and it arrived a week later but it was dated on the date I requested it. My ban ended on Sunday 5' Sept and I have passed at least 2 ANPR cars and not been pulled over.

Probably best to check when you speak to them when you call tomorrow. Remember to keep posting updates regarding getting your license back and good luck!
 
hiya. thanks for the reply as i am getting really worried now i phoned up dvla and spoke to someone who clearly didnt have a clue as he said that i couldnt drive until i have my actual licence!! did you drive before you recieved your cover note then?? :rolleyes:
 
hiya. thanks for the reply as i am getting really worried now i phoned up dvla and spoke to someone who clearly didnt have a clue as he said that i couldnt drive until i have my actual licence!! did you drive before you recieved your cover note then?? :rolleyes:
Hiya thanks for the reply i have just rang dvla and spoke to someone who didnt have a clue about cover notes and had never heard of them!! never right lol! anyways did you drive before you recieved your cover note then as i dont want to wait a week after my ban ends before i can drive again as been waiting 12 months already lol! and will of course keep you posted x
 
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