Group 2 driving licence
Last October we bought a Burster 680G Ixeo fully aware that when I was 70 (March this year) my licence would have to be upgraded to a Group 2 as the kerb weight was 3.85 tonnes and that despite major heart surgery I should have no problem obtaining the necessary licence. Having had triple by-pass and a replacement aortic valve surgery back in December 2014 I would not have believed the hassle I am having in applying for this licence up-grade. The surgery was entirely successful and I was signed off in May 2015 and have had no problems since.
Despite a successful medical as part of the application and submitting all results and cardiac documentation I was given on discharge in 2015 the DVLA insist that I have not submitted enough evidence that I am fit to drive Group 2 vehicles.
At no time during this sorry period has the DVLA suggested that I retake a treadmill ECG and have based their decision on a test carried out in October 2014 which highlighted the heart problems and resulted in my corrective surgery.
I liken my situation to those of us who have been successfully 'cured' but have to pay an expensive premium for travel insurance when others of my age group oblivious to any potential health problems are paying lower - if any - premiums.
Has anyone else been subject to this bureaucratic nonsense?
Comments
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My father suffered from the same idiocy. He tried several times to get his license post 70 and even with doctors reports the DVLA refused, they even revoked his ordinary driving license once, frankly I don't think they understand their own rules.
He unfortunately died before he managed to get it sorted and it all left a bad taste in the mouth. It simply reinforced my view that the DVLA are idiots. I really hope you get yours sorted soon, best of luck.
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Has anyone else been subject to this bureaucratic nonsense?
Yes, it is unbelieveable and it seems they won't even believe what your own doctor reports on the D4. I heard nothing for nearly 6 weeks and I was getting desperate for my licence (I was scheduled to go to Croatia). I phoned them only to be told they were sending me another medical form for completion. (I suspect they had done nothing until I phoned) I tried to speed things up by getting the form online and emailing the completed form as an attachment. I also posted it to them. They still seemed not to believe what it said and insisted on contacting my consultant. I called his secretary and found out all they asked him for was a routine report, not even any amplification on anything I told them! I made at least two complaints via their web site which at least resulted in a phone call being received from the DVLA who assured me they would speed things up. Give them their due they did appear to get a move on and in the end sent me my licence by special delivery for which I was very grateful.
I suspect the older you get the more they are liable to scrutinise applications.
peedee
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Yetiowner, I sympathise and think "there but for the grace of god go I."
But It's not bureaucratic nonsense - they are applying very strict medical conditions for safety reasons - and the brick wall you are facing now will come back every three years from now on.
Faced with a brick wall I don't try to knock it down - I look for a way round it. And that way round it may be for you to switch to a lighter weight motor home, so I hope you can work round the problem in some way.
Good wishes. Stay well.
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Not wanting the hassle is exactly the reason we decided to restrict ourselves to 3500kg.
Hope you get there soon, YO.
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I went down the 3.5T route as well. Who needs hassle at our time of life?
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I realise the payload isn't vast at 3500 kg (380kg minus any extras) but, if all else fails, could you run it at the lower weight?
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sorry, yes I realised that, I was just offering this up as an option...
a dealer (or SV Tech) downplate and a bit of payload management 'might' be a less stressful (and repeating) alternative.
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Wouldn't the 680G have been 3500kg to start with, the uprating being an optional extra?
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yes, it looks like it, but having been upplated, ot needs to be 'formally' returned to 3500 by a dealer or specialist organisation like SVTech, who will liaise with DVLA.
my own van would have been 3500 ex works but the 16" wheels allowed for a 3650 upgrade (Fiat plate fitted) and the Al-Ko chassis allowed for further upgrade to 3850 (an Al-Ko plate fitted).....
however, having weighed the van (and a knowledge of all our 'stuff') I was confident we could easily run at 3500 and decided to get the dealer to replate it....
all docs returned and 3500 on the V5.
i don't have the age/license issues mentioned upthread (yet....) but felt, as the van is compact enough, we wanted a van that could go into any town/village without worrying about the many weight restrictions that are popping up all over the place...
although the above may be an option for the OP, IMHO the first step would be to weigh the van and get an accurate idea of this is doable at 3500.....
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IMHO the first step would be to weigh the van and get an accurate idea of this is doable at 3500..
Sound advice, it is all very well trying to stick with a vehicle under 3.5 tons but you have to be very very careful not to overload it. It is no trifling matter and the consequences can be dire, risk of blow outs, invalid insurance in the event of an accident, hefty fines if caught in a check or at the very least made to lighten the load before you can continue. On the Continent where the majority only have B licences, European police say 8 out of 10 motorhomes/caravans are overloaded. If this is true I am suprised there are not more roadside checks.
peedee
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Peedee, I agree....last week I was parked next to an older Hymer B544 which had a huge scooter slung out back on a chassis extension....
now, I'm not saying the van wasn't upplated beyond 3.5t but upplating does not increase load margins on axles and I'd wager he was miles over on his rear axle...
having got the dealer to weigh 'our van' prior to purchase, and knowing what our 'stuff' weighed, we were able to make an informed decision as to our running weight...
on checking it after loading it in full touring trim, I was withing 20kg of my estimate....(incl bikes, full water, fuel, gas etc)
i also factored in that most important of items......a hefty wine allowance
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oh yes, at a very flattering weight
obviously the wine is the most important thing......after OH
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