C1/C1+E Licence Renewal. Go or No Go?
Hi,
My present C1 licence (73 years) is due for renewal on 4th April 2022. I am booked to go to Spain by Brittany Ferries on 30 March 2022 (4th re-booking due to Covid). Normally this would not be a problem as I can get my medical in December 2021 and make the application on 4th January 2022 (90 days before expiry). DVLA are currently quoting 10 weeks which would put me outsdie being able to re-book the crossing without penalty. The 12 month extension which operated in 2020 doesn't do so now.
Under Section 88 of RTA, I can continue to drive in the UK while the aplication is in process. BUT their further advice reads:
"I am going abroad and I would like to drive while I am there. Am I covered for this?
Because the Section 88 provision is in UK legislation, it may not be accepted in other
countries. We advise you to check with the relevant licensing authority before you travel.
Has anyone advice as to the "relevant licensing authorities" in France and Spain? Should I just contact the relevant Embassies for them to direct the enquiry?
Comments
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Contact DVLA by e mail and ask if they can give you a prompt licence renewal before you go abroad.
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I would submit the application as soon as you can and then call the DVLA afterwards and advise them you require the licence for travel abroad That is what I did when it was stuck in the system and they did expedite it but this was pre COVID.
peedee
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If you have no medical condition for which they will require further tests then I would go. For the most part driving licence conditions were harmonised across the EU whilst we were still members. When Brexit came about the EU laws / regulations were converted to UK legislation. What DVLA quote is that conversion. As far as I'm aware nothing has changed to cause a divergence over licencing conditions that would affect a person of your age therefore your licence / application should stand.
PS. You can always apply for a replacement licence early. It may cost you a bit more but could be worth it to get rid of the uncertainty.
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I believe it is a requirement to carry your driving licence when in France & Spain. I think I would contact DVLA as suggested above, and the relevant Embassies about Section 88.
The question I would ask myself is What would happen if I had to produce my licence, say for a traffic offence, a random check or an accident?
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Rattle your MP's cage. Point out that the unacceptable delay in the reissue of your driving licence impinges on your '"ooman rites". If HMG decree that we must have various bits of documentation then they should ensure that they have the wherewithal to deliver it.
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Although the driving licence categories are the same throughout the EU, their validity was never harmonised. In Germany, for instance, Category B and BE licences are valid for a lifetime, Category C, CE, C1 and C1E licences issued before 27 December 2016 are valid up to the age of 50 before they are up for renewal, otherwise they are up for renewal every five years.
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Again thanks for that sugestion peedee. The earliest I can apply is 4th January 2022 (90 days in advance). They are quoting 10 weeks which puts me within 10 days of my departure. I have to re-book my Brittany Ferries crossing (delay it) before then so you see my dilemma. Bearing in mind the size of the vehicle, we have over £800 hanging on the issue!! But I will try your idea and hope that they don't spend 4 weeks sending it back asking for a re-application within 90 days!!!!
Isn't life fun with home working...?
HyFy
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Thanks for that "LLM". I don't think that I have any issue that would cause a further test but you never know at our ages!! What I think is no problem, the Dox seem to give it a fancy name and that sounds alarm bells everywhere - especially now that they also seem to appreciate working from home making phone calls!!
Re: the replacement licence. I think that I am trying to apply as early as I can. I lost two months worth of licence last time and am happy to lose the same again as I probably won't keep up the C1+E after this time. We are both getting bored with hauling this huge beast around narrow lanes with a car towed behind. Not exactly stress-free... and I used to be a professional driver and thought that I was "King of the Road."
Thanks.
HyFy
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Thanks for that "Geejay". You are absolutely right about carrying the licence in France and Spain. We used to live in France and whoa betide you if the Gendarmes caught you without a licence in your hand. But they were very nice to you as they slapped a Euros 80 fixed penalty on you. Luckily, I didn't ever actually fall foul and they were always very well mannered and respectfull in their dealings with me but if I hadn't got a licence because of some UK re-interpretation of UK law well I shudder to think!!!
An extra smile maybe as they doubled the penalty!!
Joking aside I will contact the two Embassies as you suggest to see what their views are on RTA Sec.88.
HyFy
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Nice one "cyberyacht". I will definitely give the MP a shot if things get tight. Our MP, Jesse Norman used to be "in Transport" until recently so he would at least know what numbers to call - if they are still speaking to him that is.
Good idea.
HyFy
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Exactly. The application of validity by individual countries do vary but the categories are the same. Therefore as long as a licence shows a particular entitlement and it is in date the holder is entitled to drive that category in any EU country. Sadly we are now a third country and overtime this could change but as yet it has not done so. The OP may also find it helpful to carry an IDP if he decides to go particularly for Spain.
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From uk government website with reference to DVLA and dated 25 0ctober 2021, “our on line services are operating normally without delay.”
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@eurotraveller. I believe the class of licence, C1 etc, needs to be applied for by post and not online.
@HyFy Thanks for replying to all the suggestions. All very informative.
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Slightly different problem. My current van is under 3.5t and I did not keep my C1 entitlement when I reached 70. I have recently renewed at 73, but an now thinking of changing my van. The preferred one is 3.85t.
Has anyone been able to get the C1 back after such a time lapse? I emailed the DVLA and they have sent me the forms for a medical, however I do not feel confident that they actually read my query properly and just sent the renewing at 70 reply.
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I don't know about your particular question but the sideways look at is that I once owned an Adria of that weight. It didn't worry me at the time because I was under 70 years but I made sure that I had all of the "plates" and documents to be able to revert the weight to its original 3.5 tonnes. I didn't actually make the change as I sold it before I was 70 and bought a 4.5 toinner!! You could research the option of reducing the plated weight.
Otherwise - maybe you persist with the email and ask them the direct question in words of one syllable. Similarly you try to find a telephone number; if they still operate one. The snag is that everyone in such organisations is reading from a script and if the script writer hasn't thought of your question, they are given the next closest, at best. Which is usually a meaningless process.
HyFy
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BM, what van is it...?
is it possible that it could be viable at 3.5t?
my van came plated with 3500 Fiat plate, then Carthago 3650 (ALKO chassis) and then Carthago 3850 as it has the larger 16" wheels/tyres...
however, I wanted to run it at 3500 (continental speed limits and travel into weight restricted villages) and this was a simple paperwork change for the dealer, no charge.
you could easily do the same if the payload is adequate..
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Hi again - Biggermac. Are you buying a new vehicle? If not it's likely to be a bit more complicated to retropesctively re-plate it to a lower weight. If it's not new, do you have the original 3.5 tonne certificate of conformity, for example?
HyFy
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Over the years I have heard all sorts of stories on this blog about long delays when renewing a C1 licence. I have renewed mine twice in the last four years and both times I had my new licence back within 10 days.
BillC
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Er - during covid - working from home regime? Even they are quoting 10 weeks. My last one came back in 2019 in 4 weeks but my wife's last licence renewal took 15 weeks but we didn't have the pressure needing to drive abroad.
...and of course it all depends on what issues they determine to check/have further tests done!
I will let you all know whether I make the ferry or it gets postponed yet again (that will be the fourth time).
HyFy
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Different issue, but my nephew lost his licence *(as in physically mislaid it rather than had it taken off him for an offence) in July - and tried to replace it on line. He can't, and has to phone them. For three months nobody at all has answered his calls. As a result, when he started to apply for work placements for his university course, he wasn't able to drive and lost out. He's written to his MP several times since - result zero - and he's written to the Minister of Transport - stock reply of no help whatsoever. There really ought to be a sort of Ombudsman for these government services which aren't providing a service 'due to home-working because of Covid'.
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Hi,
Has anyone from the Club ever approached the DVLA and asked them why on earth would a motorhomer (4.500kgs) have to go through the same renewal process as a truck or bus driver on reaching 70yrs.
The motorhome is an extension of the family car and as such used privately, and not for hire & reward as with a truck or bus.
Is it not about time we campaigned to get the DVLA to revise this category to be included in their Category BE.
This is an absolute nonsense; there are many good motorhomers paying top money using the roads and motoways/services/facilities, etc, etc.
Suzz.
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Interesting point, SUZVAN but I think that I'm right in saying that you can't use an "Over 70's" 7,500 licence for hire and reward. Yes to hire your own 7,500 van or drive a minibus for a charity as a volunteer but not, I think, for payment.
HyFy
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I don’t think it is nonsense for someone to be checked for medical fitness before they’re allowed on our roads where they can wield a hefty weapon with the potential to cause severe damage to life and limb.
There is no separate licence category for motorhomes. It’s the weight of the vehicle and your fitness to drive that matters, irrespective of whether it has bed and sink aboard, and not how much you pay.
I think you will find there is already noise being made about raising the B limit to 4250kg.
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