C1 with a Twist (1 Viewer)

[ian4apenny]

Hi Funsters,
My wife has just received a renewal invite for her driving license at the age of 70. She has never driven our MH, but is insured for it 'just in case' an accident/ill-health should ever happen to me. She's confident she could drive it in an emergency, although she has doubts about applying the Ducato handbrake!
So, we have a conundrum I have never seen addressed:-

a) Does she apply for the C1 extension renewal to her pre-1997 license knowing it will probably never be needed/used?
b) Is there a cost to renew this again in 3 years ie obtaining a doctor's/D4Doctors certificate again to keep C1?
c) Is there likely to be a change in the law soon so that she could drive a 4 Tonne MH without the C1 extension?

I have all this to come in 18 months' time (yes, I'm her Toy Boy) but as the main driver, I have only one option.

 

[GMLS]

I have an admittedly cavalier attitude to some risks.If there is a real emergency, my wife will step in irrespective

 

[Spriddler]

I have an admittedly cavalier attitude to some risks.If there is a real emergency, my wife will step in irrespective

I'd do the same. I doubt that the police would make a big fuss about her not having the appropriate licence which would generate a relatively insignificant fine and a couple of points.
A bit more serious would be the penalty for driving whilst not insured (no licence for that class of vehicle) in the event of an accident as I would think that the insurers would be entitled to decline to cover the costs regardless of who was at 'fault'.

 

[Dave Scadding]

Option “A” don’t worry about 3 years time.

 

[Puddleduck]

I have had to drive ours in a couple of emergency situations. I was glad I had the license and insurance or we would have been stuffed.

At the moment I don't have a license as I had an issue with balance when I had covid.

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[Riverbankannie]

Option A with an extra birthday present of a MH manoeuvring course - treat it as a day out and fun.

 

[Millcourt]

If your Motorhome is registered at over 3,500 kg with the DVLA, it will of course not be legal for your Wife to drive after 70 without a C1 licence entitlement. This will require the usual medical/eyesight approval. This will have to be renewed every 3 years to keep this entitlement. If she drives without this, it is also likely to invalidate your insurance. Only you can decide if these are risks worth taking in the unlikely event of an “emergency”.

Given that the Government has some rather serious issues to deal with at the moment, I doubt there will be a change in the law you mention any time soon, nor the likelihood of getting the necessary international agreement to make such a change valid if driving outwith the UK.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If she has no medical issues just get her to request the D2 and D4 forms from the DVLA ,make an appointment with D4 drivers docs ,at around £55 and apply for the C1. If no medical issues it will be issued fairly quickly. There is no extra cost just the medicals again at the next 3 years if the law changes then it may just affect you in 18 months time, I wouldn't bank on your wife waiting for the change just get her C1 now.

 

[Pilote270]

Hello Ian Penny,
C1 renewal after 70 years of age can be a nightmare.
Medical and eyesight test every three years or if there is an issue it can be every year.

My wife has had to wait 11 months for her license to be issued - and - only for 1 year.
You can drive in the uk when it is being processed under a sect 88 - but not in europe.

I will be de - rating the tonnage to 3.5t soonest.

Travel well and travel safely.

 

[Stealaway]

My wife has never driven our vans and never would. Although she was added to the insurance every year as for some reason it was always cheaper.
She turned 70 three years ago and hasn't renewed her licence. I've not bothered either and we are quite happy with the 3.5 tonnes limit.
I know that if do need to get the van back in an emergency either of my two sons would be happy to come over and drive us back.

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[Pausim]

If someone drives over 3500kg without a C1 they are not only unlicensed but not insured.

 

[Nigel P]

I'd do the same. I doubt that the police would make a big fuss about her not having the appropriate licence which would generate a relatively insignificant fine and a couple of points.
A bit more serious would be the penalty for driving whilst not insured (no licence for that class of vehicle) in the event of an accident as I would think that the insurers would be entitled to decline to cover the costs regardless of who was at 'fault'.

There is also the slightly inconvenient dilemma of walking home after the vehicle is seized for 'no licence'!

 

[Speve]

Your insurance will probably provide a relief driver to get you home if you are incapacitated? We are with LV as my wife can’t drive never has

 

[Reallyretired]

I am the only driver of mine SWMBO decided that she could not drive it, pedals too far away etc so I pay the extra to not have her on the insurance (extra cost as if I am incapacitated they will need to recover/repatriate.)

 

[ian4apenny]

If your Motorhome is registered at over 3,500 kg with the DVLA, it will of course not be legal for your Wife to drive after 70 without a C1 licence entitlement. This will require the usual medical/eyesight approval. This will have to be renewed every 3 years to keep this entitlement. If she drives without this, it is also likely to invalidate your insurance. Only you can decide if these are risks worth taking in the unlikely event of an “emergency”.

Given that the Government has some rather serious issues to deal with at the moment, I doubt there will be a change in the law you mention any time soon, nor the likelihood of getting the necessary international agreement to make such a change valid if driving outwith the UK.

If your Motorhome is registered at over 3,500 kg with the DVLA, it will of course not be legal for your Wife to drive after 70 without a C1 licence entitlement. This will require the usual medical/eyesight approval. This will have to be renewed every 3 years to keep this entitlement. If she drives without this, it is also likely to invalidate your insurance. Only you can decide if these are risks worth taking in the unlikely event of an “emergency”.

Given that the Government has some rather serious issues to deal with at the moment, I doubt there will be a change in the law you mention any time soon, nor the likelihood of getting the necessary international agreement to make such a change valid if driving outwith the UK.

Thanks Millcourt, a very helpful reply. We certainly won't risk a fine or non-insurance, so will probably get SWMBO a C1 license and see what has changed in the law (if anything) in 3 years time.

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[ian4apenny]

If she has no medical issues just get her to request the D2 and D4 forms from the DVLA ,make an appointment with D4 drivers docs ,at around £55 and apply for the C1. If no medical issues it will be issued fairly quickly. There is no extra cost just the medicals again at the next 3 years if the law changes then it may just affect you in 18 months time, I wouldn't bank on your wife waiting for the change just get her C1 now.

If she has no medical issues just get her to request the D2 and D4 forms from the DVLA ,make an appointment with D4 drivers docs ,at around £55 and apply for the C1. If no medical issues it will be issued fairly quickly. There is no extra cost just the medicals again at the next 3 years if the law changes then it may just affect you in 18 months time, I wouldn't bank on your wife waiting for the change just get her C1 now.

Thanks a lot. That's a plan then.

 

[ian4apenny]

Hello Ian Penny,
C1 renewal after 70 years of age can be a nightmare.
Medical and eyesight test every three years or if there is an issue it can be every year.

My wife has had to wait 11 months for her license to be issued - and - only for 1 year.
You can drive in the uk when it is being processed under a sect 88 - but not in europe.

I will be de - rating the tonnage to 3.5t soonest.

Travel well and travel safely.

Thanks Pilote 270. Hmmm, de-rating. That's an option.

 

[ian4apenny]

My wife has never driven our vans and never would. Although she was added to the insurance every year as for some reason it was always cheaper.
She turned 70 three years ago and hasn't renewed her licence. I've not bothered either and we are quite happy with the 3.5 tonnes limit.
I know that if do need to get the van back in an emergency either of my two sons would be happy to come over and drive us back.

Thanks. All good, letting our son loose on it might be a bit too far though!

 

[Nanniemate]

I'd do the same. I doubt that the police would make a big fuss about her not having the appropriate licence which would generate a relatively insignificant fine and a couple of points.
A bit more serious would be the penalty for driving whilst not insured (no licence for that class of vehicle) in the event of an accident as I would think that the insurers would be entitled to decline to cover the costs regardless of who was at 'fault'.

If for some reason she was checked and she had no insurance due the category the vehicle can be crushed .....

 

[ian4apenny]

Blimey, can't be having that! I think the C1 route beckons anyway, as I see that it is relatively easy to keep the C1, but so difficult to get back.

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[Minxy]

The first thing that needs to happen is for her to drive it, if she is unhappy about doing so then there's no point in her keeping the C1 entitlement. The last thing you'd want is for her to find this out if there was an emergency and she had to drive it as there was no other option, ie no insurance provided driver due to there being a 'qualified' one already available.

 

[carolyn]

Expecting someone to drive a large motorhome that they have never driven following an emergency event is in my opinion potentially highly dangerous and I don’t understand why people do it. Either get some practice in and keep the licence or give up the licence and change your insurance for all our sakes.

 

[Kayak Kid]

BTW regarding your wife’s difficulty with the Ducati handbrake I assume that it is due to its low position? If so you can get an extension handle for it - which makes it so simple to use. I have one fitted and find it great. Just type in “Ducati Handbreak Extender” into Ebay or Google.

 

[Millcourt]

ian4apenny this might help…….

Rare Spares

Rare Spares

www.functional-products.co.uk

Had one on our previous Ducato based van, which my Wife found helpful. Our recent new van has an electronic handbrake, so we did not need to keep it and sold it a few weeks ago to another Funster who advertised one wanted in the MHFun Classified Ads.

 

[Nanniemate]

If you have problems releasing the handbrake when it is on securely (on a hill) put the vehicle into reverse lift clitche and rock slightly pulling up handbrake and it will release easily. Don't try this with the electric ones

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