C1 driving licence renewal problems
Hi
My hubby will be 70 in May and he has to renew his driving licence with C1 entitlement. Because of the coronavirus he is having problems getting an appointment with his GP to get the medical form done and signed. It is difficult as we all realise that with the emergency situation we now have, his medical form is low down the list of importance for our GPs, but he doesn't know how he will be placed if he can't renew this licence in time and will then not be able to drive our motorhome out just to keep the batteries topped up. It is currently kept in a compound. He doesn't want to lose hisC1 entitlement. He rang the DVLA but they are difficult to get hold of and no-one seems able to give him advice when he does get through. Has anyone had similar problems?
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You need to contact DVLA for advice.
Incidentally, I have given up the idea of taking my MH for a run just to keep it moving as it has become clear it would be classed as non-essential travel. I will, though, use it on an essential food shopping trip one day but, as it's parked outside my door, I won't be undertaking an unnecessary journey to fetch it.
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Hi Tinwheeler
We have rung DVLA twice but they are not helpful and more or less say that if he can't get the medical form signed then he will just have to resort to renewing his ordinary licence. Its so frustrating. We have thought of downplating the motorhome but we don't want to have to do that.
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Add this to the list of 'Dear Boris, Here's another one for the 'List of Things We Never Thought About when we announced the Lockdown'?
There must be such a List; after all, the MOT deferral and Commercial Vehicles regs were changed quite quickly, but they were probably higher in both the Trade Body, General Public and Civil Servants' consciousness.
There must be a route for the lesser known problems such as C1 Licences to be dealt with. Perhaps an email to the Guardian or to your newspaper of choice [I know the Guardian is quite quick to pick this kind of issue up and its 'Politics Live' Editor attends the daily Government Lobby Briefing so might be able to get a quick answer?].
Alternatively, is this problem something that Rowena might be able to raise under the Club Banner?
Steve
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I am in the same situation - being 70 in June and am more or less resigned to the fact that there is no way in the present climate that I will be able to renew my C1 licence. It's perhaps not so critical for me, being a caravanner, but I do have in the back of my mind that at some future time, I might switch to a MH and want to keep that additional facility on my licence.
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Does anyone know if the various online/mobile doctors who provide this service are functioning at this time? I suspect not.
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Hi all
You have to go face to face with the doctor as he needs to take blood pressure, look at health notes and ensure that health questions are answered, and also do a sight test. We have knowledge of this already!
It appears that it is not only us motorhomers/caravaners who are affected as HGV drivers are experiencing the same problem.
Regarding davetommo's post, taking the van out for a run is not just a question of moving the wheels around but charging up the batteries which if left to run down completely will need replacing. Costly!!!!
We are not fortunately affected by site closures regarding storage as we keep it in a secure CASSOA compound which we have access to 24/7.
I am not sure about the online doctors (assume you mean mobile) as the DVLA seem to be clamping down on these.
I think we will end up renewing the car licence type, notifying the DVLA when applying by letter of the problem and hoping that he can apply to get the C1 part without any problems.
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Hi peedee
Yes, he had an appointment for last Monday but it was cancelled and when he called the surgery they said the doctor who does these type of appointments (private) was not in until Friday. So today my hubby called them again and was told the doctor would call back. We are still waiting. We don't want to badger them as there are more serious things for them to deal with but we would like to know whether or not they are prepared to deal with his medical.
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To be fair, the Government [as are most of their counterparts around the world] are having to deal with a crisis that is growing faster, lasting longer ['12 weeks' anybody?] and going deeper than was originally envisaged. As a consequence, original instructions, laws and plans are having to be revised 'on the fly' as the Law of Unintended Consequences takes hold.
Flagging up the problem is likely [if the relaxation on MOTs and Commercial Vehicle Regs is a benchmark] is likely to result in a temporary continuation of the Licence Entitlement until what passes for normality returns. You can't use the MH anyway, unless it's your only vehicle [and you be getting Food Deliveries to your door shortly] for essential travel, so the issue seems to be preserving category eligibility, subject to the necessary Medical Tests when the NHS is not being pummelled to bits.
Raising the issue via an email to DVLA and your MP might well be the best option.
Steve
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It’s metaphorically speaking, VV. I think Steve was asking for the club to raise the issue with the Govt. I don’t think it’s within Rowena's personal remit and the club isn’t renowned for leading the way in such matters.
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TW,
Takes us back to your previous question of whether we have crossed paths previously; as in ...
Metaphor = 'I know your face from somewhere ...'
Steve
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I've just checked one of them - and they're not. No new appointments and forthcoming ones cancelled.
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That’s no surprise really. Another avenue explored but resulting in a dead end.
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Your face has many doubles on this forum. 😄
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Not strictly 2 faced. I tend to use the second for sitting on ... And occasionally for talking out of, especially when I feel the need for more more bass, or indeed a full report in preference to a brief comment ...
I did post on Caravan Talk and have posted on other online Forums such as C&CC, Guardian, Independent, Telegraph and some Scotland-specific sites. Any common ground in that lot?
Steve
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No, I don’t think so. It was someone on here.
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Regarding davetommo's post, taking the van out for a run is not just a question of moving the wheels around but charging up the batteries which if left to run down completely will need replacing. Costly!!!!
You can charge the battery with just the engine running, various ways brick on accelerator piece of wood wedged.
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" Doctors on Wheels" are the organisation,BUT as said earlier ,,they may not be working AT THIS TIME ,,,or the government is trying to outlaw them!! I had to use my Doctor this year, blood preasure eye test health record,height & weight ,alcohol use,etc but previously used D o W's. which was a fraction of the cost !! 
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That was the one I checked - no new appointments at the moment.
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I have full lorry and bus entitlement and found a problem with renewal last year in getting the medical completed, so I phoned and spoke to the DVLA (expensive rates!).
Their advice was that should I not have submitted the medical form before the renewal date my "extra" entitlements would lapse, and my "ordinary" entitlements continue until the expiriy date on my licence. I could then submit the form and have the "extra" entitlements restored.
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I am very interested in the outcome of this thread. Coming up to the 'Golden Age' myself in two years so not soon enough to need to see my GP yet. What do they actually check for, I have seen blood pressure, eye tests, health record, height & weight, alcohol use etc mentioned above but are there any other significant checks?
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I doubt we'll hear, Dellers, as it was 6 months ago.
Unless you need the C1 licence (over 3500kg laden) you won’t need to bother with the medical at all but I expect you'll find the answer to your question by Googling.
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