Anyone see Watchdog with the story about DVLA losing drivers’ entitlements?
At some point I’ll get round to chasing them about my license - when I completed my medical, I wasn’t sure whether I needed my glasses to pass the eyesight standard (I had the numbers but I don’t understand the Snellen scale) so I ticked the “required for LGV/PCV” box, but having been to the optician, I contacted the DVLA to say that I’m actually legal to drive without glasses.
When I passed my test, they added my C+E without glasses required, but they also added the “01” endorsement to every other category - i.e. I need to wear my glasses to drive a car, a rigid LGV or a minibus, but not an artic HGV.
I need glasses to drive an 18t, but stick a trailer on the back to turn it into a wagon + drag, and I can take my glasses off
I really need to get a photocard licence. I’ve decided, after that article, that I’m going to apply for a replacement for a “lost” licence. It’ll cost me the same as changing anyway, but I’m going to hang on to the old paper one as proof. It’s obvious they don’t regard a years worth of tachos, letters from employers, a photocopy of your old licence and a sworn statement from a solicitor as proof. Not quite sure what else you could do.
I find it completely unbelievable that it can happen. They’re computerised records. They can hold shedloads of info yet it seems they don’t.
What i didnt get with that article was the bloke who didnt have his LGV and PCV entitlements on his licence and he reckons it cost him over £2000 to retake his tests?
Now OK it’s wrong that he had to retake his test, but where in the hell did he spend £2k?
I mean You can get a medical for £30, theory test is £21 and the pratical tests are £85
So for his PCV and LGV Rigid and Artic i make it £357 in test fees, OK so if his employer wouldnt lend him a vehicle with a qualified mate to go with him for the test he’d have to hire one from a driving school or what ever, but what driving school is going to charge £547 for about 2 hours? I mean i think i’m paying about £30 P/h!
I suspect the “over £2000” was for a full course of lessons, but if he was already qualified/experienced he shouldnt have needed lessons? You can just go and take a test, nothing says you have to have lessons!
had my medical 2 years ago after reaching the age of 45 and needed to renew the licence, the doctor said to me " can you read the letters on that board" i replied yes, he said good your eyes are fine…
seemed a complete joke, but expensive joke £75 for a medical that took less than 5 minutes
dennisw1:
I suspect the “over £2000” was for a full course of lessons, but if he was already qualified/experienced he shouldnt have needed lessons? You can just go and take a test, nothing says you have to have lessons!
I suspect that if you’ve been driving HGVs for over 20 years (as the guy claimed to have done), then at least one or two lessons would probably be a good idea - to make sure you’re up-to-date on what the examiner is looking for, and have the bad habits you’ve picked up drummed out of you…
dennisw1:
I suspect the “over £2000” was for a full course of lessons, but if he was already qualified/experienced he shouldnt have needed lessons? You can just go and take a test, nothing says you have to have lessons!
I suspect that if you’ve been driving HGVs for over 20 years (as the guy claimed to have done), then at least one or two lessons would probably be a good idea - to make sure you’re up-to-date on what the examiner is looking for, and have the bad habits you’ve picked up drummed out of you…
