Just curious fella where I work has had is 5 year medical all passed sent licence off to be updated.
Work are saying he can’t drive a truck untill it comes back but he can drive a van in the meantime.
He’s spoke to or looked on DVLA it says the same thing apparently.
Yet another fella who has a yearly medical due to health conditions says under section 8.1 I think your legally allowed to drive while your licence is the post
So who’s right.
Personally if you’ve passed your medical and license is in the post if you ever got stopped by vosa/ DVLA they can soon check up on you.
Just curious now what the procedure is
As far as I know, unless things have changed, in the UK you do not have to have your licence with you when driving, but if stopped you might be given a ‘producer’ which means you have to show it at a police station of your choice within 5 days. So you need to be confident that it will indeed arrive during that time.
In France we have a much more simple life. If you haven’t got your licence with you when stopped, you get a fine and probably a points deduction.
I believe it is the case that the doctor that does the medical doesn’t decide on the pass or fail, he/she just fills the form in and then a final decision is made at the DVLA.
However, on thinking about it, I think the fella would be able to drive as long as certain conditions are met.
My experience of sending off a satisfactory medical form was that it didn’t take long, but I believe the DVLA can spot check medical records and that would take a bit longer.
To properly use Section 88 of the RTA 1988, there’s a couple of things that need to be done before sending the application off
Need a doctor to read Fitness to Drive: A guide for medical practioners and then tell driver he is fit to drive. Best have this in writing, with the surgery stamp on it
Need photocopies of the D4 application and D4 medical
Send by recorded delivery
After a few days check (online) it has been received.
If those are all done and the paperwork can be produced on request, then it doesn’t matter how long it takes to come back in the post. But, simply saying “it’s in the post” won’t cut it if you’re pulled, and the company would be entitled to prevent the driver taking out an HGV if the four-step process hasn’t been followed.
Of course the elephant in the room is why not send off in plenty time?
I know if the DVLA process quickly you lose a few weeks of your previous licence, but still, sending off about 3-4 weeks early is probably best practice.
Yes but say you have your medical early send it off in time…can you still drive.
And if you can’t drive a truck…can you technically drive a car. As say you get pulled over in your car ànd it’s on the post and you have no other id on you?
Yes but say you have your medical early send it off in time…can you still drive.
Yes you can legally drive if your old licence has not expired.
From memory, if your licence has not expired you don’t have to send it in with the new licence application, I can’t remember the exact details but I think you have to agree to destroy the old licence when your new one arrives.
Alternatively you could generate a DVLA code that lets your employer check your licence online until your new licence arrives.
I think with the D4 renewals they are expecting the photocard to be enclosed with the application. The instructions should be on the renewal form that is sent out. A photo may or may not be required because they have 10 year validity rather than 5 I think. They make it clear if I remember correctly.
You do not need to send your photocard with D4. There is a section on the form where you can say that you need your card for ‘training purposes’ and that you MUST send your old card to Swansea once you have received your new card. Done it several times as I am an old codger
@Beaunydel Fair enough, I think I sent mine off and didn’t have one for a few days, which was no issue. I can see how if the timing is awkward, such as having an interview or something, why they would give that option.
