Im69 and getting concerned about reapplying for my C1 license .

[Margaux2]

I ve read some horror stories and confusing articles about this process can someone please clarify the following?
Should I have been renewing my C1 every 3 years after age45?
Do I need a consultant or just a GP letter to reapply before I’m 70?
I’ve not seen any treadmill facilities in our GP practise so how would this work
Would Specsavers be an adequate eyesight test?
How much is this likely to cost!
I won’t make the mistake of trying to do this on line as I understand if you do this they wipe the C1 category from your license!
Thanks in anticipation!

 

[PaulW2]

I ve read some horror stories and confusing articles about this process can someone please clarify the following?
Should I have been renewing my C1 every 3 years after age45?

No. If you didn't have grandfather rights, ie you acquired C1 after Jan 97, then your licence category from 45 would only have 5 years validity. You would need a medical every 5 years up to the age of 65, then annually.

If you did have grandfather rights, then 70 is the first renewal which needs the medical.

Do I need a consultant or just a GP letter to reapply before I’m 70?

I've previously used D4D for drivers medicals. This turned out to be much cheaper, quicker and easier than using my GP.

I used the GP once and they sent on a bunch of superfluous information which confused DVLA. This caused a delay until the right sort of specialist who could make sense of what the GP practice had sent on was available.

I’ve not seen any treadmill facilities in our GP practise so how would this work

Would Specsavers be an adequate eyesight test?

I think so. D4D also include an eyesight test.

How much is this likely to cost!

I think +/- £ 60?

I won’t make the mistake of trying to do this on line as I understand if you do this they wipe the C1 category from your license!
Thanks in anticipation!

 

[golly]

I shall be renewing my C1 licence for the third time next month at age 76. Medical taken at Doctors4drivers cost £58. I had an eye test last month at Vision express, shall take that prescription with me, you will still have to do a simple vision test at the medical. Get D2 application form and D4 medical report form from DVLA and fill them in prior to attending for medical. If you have no medical issues it should be straight forward, if you have medical issues, DVLA may require you to undergo further tests (tread mill etc).
Hope that helps

 

[carolyn]

No. If you didn't have grandfather rights, ie you acquired C1 after Jan 97, then your licence category from 45 would only have 5 years validity. You would need a medical every 5 years up to the age of 65, then annually.

If you did have grandfather rights, then 70 is the first renewal which needs the medical.

I've previously used D4D for drivers medicals. This turned out to be much cheaper, quicker and easier than using my GP.

I used the GP once and they sent on a bunch of superfluous information which confused DVLA. This caused a delay until the right sort of specialist who could make sense of what the GP practice had sent on was available.



I think so. D4D also include an eyesight test.

I think +/- £ 60?

That was useful. I didn’t realise the D4D included an eyetest. I thought you had to take an up to date report with you. Nick hits 70 soon so would need his first medical if we decide we need to up plate the van. Thank you.

Back in the dark ages when I did the medicals at the surgery we did a basic one with the Snellen charts. Plus a visual field check. I thought it might be more technical now!

 

[tacr2man]

If you get eyesight test done at opticians they can complete that part of DVLA form for eyesight then medical doesn't have to repeat the eyesight part when I have had HGV licence renewals . This also makes sure eyesight (with or without glasses) wont be a problem at medical, also if you have eyesight problem dont waste Medical cost .

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[carolyn]

I shall be renewing my C1 licence for the third time next month at age 76. Medical taken at Doctors4drivers cost £58. I had an eye test last month at Vision express, shall take that prescription with me, you will still have to do a simple vision test at the medical. Get D2 application form and D4 medical report form from DVLA and fill them in prior to attending for medical. If you have no medical issues it should be straight forward, if you have medical issues, DVLA may require you to undergo further tests (tread mill etc).
Hope that helps

Oh so you do need an up to date eye test as well!

 

[golly]

That was useful. I didn’t realise the D4D included an eyetest.

D4D will only do a snellen test they will need sight of a recent opticians prescription (at least that is my experience )

 

[Solwaybuggier]

If they decide at DVLA that you have to do a treadmill test, they arrange for it with a cardiologist. It's private work for the cardiologist, ie outside their NHS contract. Living in West Cumbria, there was at the time nowhere in the county that did this. I had to travel to Lancaster, about 85 miles each way! I had done plenty of practice in a local gym though.

 

[15isto2]

Oh so you do need an up to date eye test as well!

As I understand it you need to take a copy of your optical prescription if you have one, otherwise its jut a VA and Visual field test.

 

[Dall]

As I understand it you need to take a copy of your optical prescription if you have one, otherwise its jut a VA and Visual field test.

I did exactly this last week in prep for my C1 renewal, which is due in Early April. It was my first time using D4D, previously I used my GP and opticians for my 5 yearly renewal of my C+E (class 1 HGV)..
You must take your D4 form as well as the opticians prescription and any info on medication that you are taking. My eye prescription was from May 24, which wouldn't be in date for direct submission to the DVLA, (4 months maximum) but was okay for D4D to get the prescription info that they needed to supplement the eye chart test.
Cost was £58 and very efficient.

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[scotzsue]

I had my eye test done at specsavers and they filled in the form, I have 'needs to wear glasses for driving' on my licence so thought it made sense. Gp at that time was easily seen and only a few £ more than DforDrivers and walkable from the house so no travel expenses. Only renewed once and didn't have any problem.
We knew that coming up to next we both needed them at the same time so decided to bite the bullet and downsize to 3500, sometimes wish I hadn't but have never needed it either.
BIL is 80 next birthday, he has had heart surgery, still working full time needs licence for that. Each time he gets sent for a treadmill test, gets there to be told it is not suitable for him, this is despite this information being sent at time of renewel, than has to wait for another appointment for the test he has, only a few places in Scotland he can go to last time he was there 3 other people were in the same situation. Smacks of money for mates to me.

 

[Camdoon]

I don't need specs but went to SpecSavers the week before. The D4D doctor just ignored the results and did the eye test anyway. Bish, bash, bosh - 10 minutes and off you go but advised to double check all fields of the form had been completed before you leave. Great service.

 

[pappajohn]

No. If you didn't have grandfather rights, ie you acquired C1 after Jan 97, then your licence category from 45 would only have 5 years validity. You would need a medical every 5 years up to the age of 65, then annually.

If you did have grandfather rights, then 70 is the first renewal which needs the medical.

Let's correct that........

At 70 You only needed to renew your licence every 3 years UNLESS you use the C1 in a professional capacity.

An HGV C needs renewing every 5 years from 45.

At 65 it needs renewing every year.
Your licence is valid to 70 but renewed every 10 years.

You don't need any medical evidence or tests for your licence if not used for hire or reward.
If you want to retain your C1 category then you need a medical and eye test.

After 70 a normal car licence is renewed every 3 years but its free.

 

[the1andonly]

Having done it last week (Now waiting for DVLA) my experiance is recent
1 My GP practice wont do any DVLA work, ie wont fill in D4 but do respond to DVLA requests
2 There are 2 standards for eyesight tests one for Car and second HGV (C1)
3 Not all Specsavers can/will do the HGV test
4 In September i had my sight tested and was told I passed the DVLA requirement. (I thought this included the 2nd test)
5 D4 Doctor told me I passed car requirement but just failed the HGV so left the eyesight test and said get eyetest and glasses sorted
6 Specsavers branch that did test £25 test charge £15 to fill form.

 

[Nanniemate]

That was useful. I didn’t realise the D4D included an eyetest. I thought you had to take an up to date report with you. Nick hits 70 soon so would need his first medical if we decide we need to up plate the van. Thank you.

Back in the dark ages when I did the medicals at the surgery we did a basic one with the Snellen charts. Plus a visual field check. I thought it might be more technical now!

I had an interesting conversation with a D4D doc

Although I had up to date prescription she thought my eyesight didn't make the requirements

It took her 3 attempts to read the guidance correctly and understand 'corrected vision'

Luckily it was not my first renewal so knew what was correct.

To avoid any issues now I get an eyecheck days before or even same day and the optician completes their section

I'm sure you agree that D4D is not a medical examination but a form filling service.

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[carolyn]

I had an interesting conversation with a D4D doc

Although I had up to date prescription she thought my eyesight didn't make the requirements

It took her 3 attempts to read the guidance correctly and understand 'corrected vision'

Luckily it was not my first renewal so knew what was correct.

To avoid any issues now I get an eyecheck days before or even same day and the optician completes their section

I'm sure you agree that D4D is not a medical examination but a form filling service.

Must admit that’s worrying!

We must get our van weighed. We want one of those fancy swing out tow bar bike racks on our new van. We had tow bar mounted bike racks before and were just under so fingers crossed we can avoid up plating.

When my time comes if we up plate I think I will hopefully just bite the bullet and pay our GP the extra. I take an epilepsy drug but for migraine prophylaxis so without my notes that could be a red flag! I know people winge about the cost of the GP ones but when they’re complicated they used to take ages. We used to hate doing them, the number of times people would forget the forms, “can’t you just do the medical doc and I’ll drop them in another day for you sign” . Aaaah…

 

[Nanniemate]

Must admit that’s worrying!

We must get our van weighed. We want one of those fancy swing out tow bar bike racks on our new van. We had tow bar mounted bike racks before and were just under so fingers crossed we can avoid up plating.

When my time comes if we up plate I think I will hopefully just bite the bullet and pay our GP the extra. I take an epilepsy drug but for migraine prophylaxis so without my notes that could be a red flag! I know people winge about the cost of the GP ones but when they’re complicated they used to take ages. We used to hate doing them, the number of times people would forget the forms, “can’t you just do the medical doc and I’ll drop them in another day for you sign” . Aaaah…

Got to admit first time my doctor did it free
Move on a few years and a new doc wanted £120 per licence even though it was the same form

Hence my use of the service. But at least the doc get to see me once every 5 years beforehand

I looked at the swing out tow bar but decided against it due to weight and cost

I invested in a 16kg ebike I can lift easily onto the bike rack

 

[Dall]

I'm sure you agree that D4D is not a medical examination but a form filling service.

The D4 examination is the same for all classes of HGV drivers. I could ask for my C+E to be reinstated along with my C1 using this examination.
I guess most of the D4D customers (certainly from what I could see from the waiting area on the day of my test) are professional HGV drivers, who are working, likely away from home a lot ,or unsocial hours and may not have the time or funds to see their own GP/Optician.
So a quick "form filling exercise" by a qualified doctor for a (mostly) younger (starts at 45) driver, that meets the DVLA requirements is what they need.
We at MHF are mostly older and retired people, and dare I say it ~ possibly not as healthy as when we were spring chicken drivers. We want to drive a 4/5t toy, we have the time, and possibly the funds to make the choice if we want to choose a GP, Opticians and or D4D.......
So please don't knock D4D, as a healthy 69 year old, D4D worked well for me!

 

[Nanniemate]

I'm sure you agree that D4D is not a medical examination but a form filling service.

The D4 examination is the same for all classes of HGV drivers. I could ask for my C+E to be reinstated along with my C1 using this examination.
I guess most of the D4D customers (certainly from what I could see from the waiting area on the day of my test) are professional HGV drivers, who are working, likely away from home a lot ,or unsocial hours and may not have the time or funds to see their own GP/Optician.
So a quick "form filling exercise" by a qualified doctor for a (mostly) younger (starts at 45) driver, that meets the DVLA requirements is what they need.
We at MHF are mostly older and retired people, and dare I say it ~ possibly not as healthy as when we were spring chicken drivers. We want to drive a 4/5t toy, we have the time, and possibly the funds to make the choice if we want to choose a GP, Opticians and or D4D.......
So please don't knock D4D, as a healthy 69 year old, D4D worked well for me!

It should be clear what it is and that there can be delays
They don't even do a basic pee test these days
You pay your money you make the choice
But some people are not aware that delays are possible if there a tick in a box that needs further investigation

The application is then referred back

Although the testing for professional drivers starts at 45 it continues throughout their driving career some choose to keep working well into their 70s & 80s If fit to do so

Just being clear what you are paying for and it is for filling out the forms Not a medical

 

[Gellyneck]

It should be clear what it is and that there can be delays
They don't even do a basic pee test these days
You pay your money you make the choice
But some people are not aware that delays are possible if there a tick in a box that needs further investigation

The application is then referred back

Although the testing for professional drivers starts at 45 it continues throughout their driving career some choose to keep working well into their 70s & 80s If fit to do so

Just being clear what you are paying for and it is for filling out the forms Not a medical

To ensure no chance of issues "grandfather rights retention"

• eye test done and page on D4 completed by our local optician as part of regular two year check
• medical by doctor and D4 completed by GP at specific appointment
• total cost £100

Forms posted and licence with all existing classes returned around 2/3 weeks later.

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[Dall]

To ensure no chance of issues "grandfather rights retention"

• eye test done and page on D4 completed by our local optician as part of regular two year check
• medical by doctor and D4 completed by GP at specific appointment
• total cost £100

Forms posted and licence with all existing classes returned around 2/3 weeks later.

I agree that this option is a good route to use, but it needs some careful planning.
As the D4 is required every three years and the eye tests are every two, things quickly go out of sequence. Your D4 medical and eye test cannot be older than 4 months for the licence application and I can tell you from experience that your licence application will be returned if the eye test is over 4 months old.

 

[Steve and Denise]

That was useful. I didn’t realise the D4D included an eyetest. I thought you had to take an up to date report with you. Nick hits 70 soon so would need his first medical if we decide we need to up plate the van. Thank you.

Back in the dark ages when I did the medicals at the surgery we did a basic one with the Snellen charts. Plus a visual field check. I thought it might be more technical now!

Do you know of a doctor Carolyn

 

[Gellyneck]

I agree that this option is a good route to use, but it needs some careful planning.
As the D4 is required every three years and the eye tests are every two, things quickly go out of sequence. Your D4 medical and eye test cannot be older than 4 months for the licence application and I can tell you from experience that your licence application will be returned if the eye test is over 4 months old.

It was first application and agree 2 and 3 years will make them out of sync however I'll just get an "additional" eye test to enable submission for next application within the 90 and 56 day window.

 

[Pausim]

At 70 You only needed to renew your licence every 3 years UNLESS you use the C1 in a professional capacity.

I was only given 2 years on my last renewal because my stress test would have been more than 3 years old by 3 years. If you have health issues they may give you 0,1,2 or 3 years.

 

[rod_vw]

Worth remembering where ever you go for the medical. Double or treble check the D4 form after the medic has completed it and BEFORE you leave the consulting room.

At my D4D medical the medic double checked his own form filling then asked me to check again to make sure that he hadn't missed anything. That all went through the DVLA without a problem.

When Mrs R had her medical the medic didn't check and I'd forgotten to remind her to double check everything. That resulted in two errors on the form which needed a return to D4D and then the second item was a rejection from the DVLA which luckily was quickly resolved by D4D but did need another visit to them.

Luckily D4D head office is less than three miles from our home.

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[Nigel P]

I had an interesting conversation with a D4D doc

Although I had up to date prescription she thought my eyesight didn't make the requirements

It took her 3 attempts to read the guidance correctly and understand 'corrected vision'

Luckily it was not my first renewal so knew what was correct.

To avoid any issues now I get an eyecheck days before or even same day and the optician completes their section

I'm sure you agree that D4D is not a medical examination but a form filling service.

I am not quite sure what the issue is, it is the same form whether D4D fil it in, your own doctor or the Pope. It is all based on information you provide and is designed by DVLA for that purpose. Works well for countless thousands every year. (me included)

 

[Nanniemate]

I am not quite sure what the issue is, it is the same form whether D4D fil it in, your own doctor or the Pope. It is all based on information you provide and is designed by DVLA for that purpose. Works well for countless thousands every year. (me included)

I agree it works for thousands as a tick box exercise
But Not as a medical
As thousands are also referred every year
As stated as long as you understand what your paying for and the implications of a referral
until your application is referred
It's not an issue.
Referral becomes costly in both time and financially
Reiterating, pay your money you make your choice

Does the pope do them what does he charge

 

[Nigel P]

I agree it works for thousands as a tick box exercise
But Not as a medical
As thousands are also referred every year
As stated as long as you understand what your paying for and the implications of a referral
until your application is referred
It's not an issue.
Referral becomes costly in both time and financially
Reiterating, pay your money you make your choice

Does the pope do them what does he charge

I take your point but where people are not applying for the first time there is a tick box on the application which asks the question 'have you informed us previously about the medical history' followed by the box' has it got any worse?' If the answers are yes then no there should be no referral process to worry about as the conditions for the previous licence issue have not changed. As for the Pope, I must confess I forgot to ask him when I saw him last! I fully accept that those with more complex health issues may need a more comprehensive assessment, but it still goes on the same form. I am sure the D4D docs are more than capable of filling in the various boxes with the info I provide at a third of the cost of my GP.
In my view if there are no changes to previously documented circumstances on the D4/D2 forms there should be no need to divert them through the medical branch scrutiny and should be processed as a routine application. In principle that should ease the burden on the medical dept at DVLA and speed up the process for those whose applications do need to be scrutinised. In a similar vein to post 70 renewals, in essence you self-certify a fitness to continue driving, acknowledging the obligation to inform DVLA if that changes. I am sure that if DVLA were not happy with the process the various companies offering the service would not be acceptable.

 

[Nanniemate]

I take your point but where people are not applying for the first time there is a tick box on the application which asks the question 'have you informed us previously about the medical history' followed by the box' has it got any worse?' If the answers are yes then no there should be no referral process to worry about as the conditions for the previous licence issue have not changed. As for the Pope, I must confess I forgot to ask him when I saw him last! I fully accept that those with more complex health issues may need a more comprehensive assessment, but it still goes on the same form. I am sure the D4D docs are more than capable of filling in the various boxes with the info I provide at a third of the cost of my GP.
In my view if there are no changes to previously documented circumstances on the D4/D2 forms there should be no need to divert them through the medical branch scrutiny and should be processed as a routine application. In principle that should ease the burden on the medical dept at DVLA and speed up the process for those whose applications do need to be scrutinised. In a similar vein to post 70 renewals, in essence you self-certify a fitness to continue driving, acknowledging the obligation to inform DVLA if that changes. I am sure that if DVLA were not happy with the process the various companies offering the service would not be acceptable.

That's why the closed a few

 

[the1andonly]

I think many have missed the fact that not all GP's offer this service no matter the price, as in my case and some may still be working to rule as reported to here. It may be a tick box but the D4 Doc seem to understand what the DVLA needed and what they didnt need to know. Whether its all correct and tickity boo will be proved when my new licience turns up in 10 days.