As I am approaching 70, I now need to renew my Driving Licence, and see that I have a decision to make about the additional classes that I will lose, unless I submit the medical form.
Right now the biggest outfit I actually drive is a family car plus small touring caravan. I can't really envisage wanting a motor home, and even if I did, not one over 3.5 tonnes.
How have other seniors dealt with the decision? What does it cost to get the medical form completed?
Chris
I decided that. for me, driving anything over 3.5 tonnes or minibuses was not worth the trouble of getting a medical. Cost of completing the medical form (which needs to be renewed every three years) is a matter for your GP, although the government currently recommends there is no charge.
If the OP is happy to stay at 3.5 tonnes then there is no need for any medical input. I wanted to keep my minibus licence for outings with a pensioner group I am involved with. I think it was ?120 and the laugh was the GP practice was not equipped to take payments. So I had to give them cash. Unfortunately the eye site test for a minibus is the same as for an HGV or a PSV and whereas mine is good enough for a van it's not good enough for a van with 16 seats in. The logic escapes me. So I would say to the OP have a word with your optician first to check your eyesight is good enough.
I just let mine lapse. Very little likelihood of driving a large vehicle now retired.
About £50 if I remember right, at a specialist doctor rather than one's GP who will charge an arm and a lget to do it.
Interestingly, I would fail the eyesight test for driving a minibus, but the CAA are perfectly happy for me to fly a light aircraft with the correction I have.
I thought the eyesight test I took when I reached 70 (I wanted to keep my trailer towing licence in particular) was ridiculous. The test card was only about two or three meters away on the other side of the room so I needed to wear glasses to read it (passed the test with no problems) but if I'd not been able to see things at a greater distance the test wouldn't have detected that at all.
Is this a new procedure? My 70+ friend has no recollection of it.
Has your friend got a photo licence? If so, they expire every ten years (which a number of drivers overlook) or at age 70, after which they expire every three years.
She did renew. She cannot recall any class restriction being imposed. I wondered when this arrangement started.
Yes I had sight, well hearing of some proposed changes to driving licences generally maybe in the next ten years around two things. field of vision and reflex times. I can understand why both are important, but find it a little odd that now in the age of semi autonomous vehicles, that they are worrying about the driver more! Personally I can think of many cyclists who should never be let loose on one. Brian
Not a problem for me - can't drive anything big now I'm monocular!
In article , Scott writes
No your driving licence expires automatically on your 70th birthday. Have a look at it.
Over 4 years ago at least. 2013 I think
Or if you have some notifiable illness, like Parkinsons, the expiry varies. I got three years when diagnosed but 5 after those 3 years.
I will attempt to keep all the classifications I currently hold if I can.
For starters the current caravan and car combination is around 4.5 tonnes. The car is rated to pull 3.5 tonnes (not that I have any plans....).
I also seem to need to drive a 7.5 tonne tail lift lorry every couple of years to help shift stuff (although other options are obviously available).
Mainly, I assume that if you cease the carefully hoarded options on your licence then you will have to take another test if you suddenly find that you need them.
Cheers
Dave R
I guess that is the case, though logistically they could simply ask you to provide the medical certificate. I haven't found a clear statement on this.
I suspect that once your old licence has gone, they don't keep records of what was on it.
Chris
I *think* you may have had to apply for the class covering small trucks etc (which was not tested, just added to your licence) If you never did, you'd not notice any difference.
When I did my car test trailers and up to 7.5 tonnes were automatically covered (also road rollers, IIRC). You didn't have to apply separately.
I had classes C1 C1E D1 and D1E added automatically, as grandfather rights. My first licence was a little booklet. It all depends how long ago the driver passed their test.
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