70th birthday licence renewal

[Deadsfo]

70th birthday licence renewal

Hi all just come over from the WC site thought I would make a first post about my recent experience of renewing my driving licence having reached 70 ,as most of you probably are aware if you just leave it to the DVLA you will be sent a standard renewal form that will get you a new licence but will drop the right to drive up to 7.5tons ,so you have to send for the relevent forms to fill in to preserve them rights ,these forms require a medical and eye test and a wholes bunch of medical questions ,so having completed the medical and eye test through one of the on line medical companies sent the forms off with ID and s photo for my new licence ,having only had a paper one since 1975 that was rapidly beginning to look like the dead sea scrolls, I was very pleasantly surprised to receive my new licence no more than 3week later.I had included a17 pound fee that I understood was required if the renewal required a photo ,but I must have misunderstood that as Igot it back ,so all in all contrary to exprctations a surprisingly pleasant experience

 

[Campervanannie]

Not something I need to worry about at least for 7 years but most helpful post for the coffin Dodgers ????

 

[teejay]

Not something I need to worry about at least for 7 years but most helpful post for the coffin Dodgers ????

Look out, theres one with your name on it maybe.....

 

[Kontiki]

Congratulations in getting it done without any problems, having had to apply go through the medical & then the treadmill test (had a heart by pass in my late 50's) I got a license for 1 year. Wasn't going to bother again but did it again earlier this year, this time although I filed in all the forms they kept sending me another set of forms pretty much asking all the same questions, then again another set of forms. Also told me I needed a medical every year despite having a letter after the first time saying I needed a medical every 3 years. It took lots of phone calls until I managed to speak to somebody who actually listened then sorted it out for me, I then got my license renewed for 2 years. Not sure if I will bother again because it can be a real pain having to deal with DVLA.

 

[Deadsfo]

Every year would be s pain mines for 3 years and whether or not I do it again will depend on if I keep my present van which is a merc 508 4600 kg ,the only reason I am thinking like this is the mercs lack of power steering ,it's a 1987 ,I guess drivers were tougher in them days, I've had it about 4years and I'm developing muscles in my spit!!trouble is I'm very fond of the big ugly bugger ,and it only has 19870 kilometres on it and a totally rust free body so under other circumstances ie. If I was 10 years younger I'd keep it a long long time

 

[teejay]

Deadsfo- have you at all looked into the possibility of retrofit power steering? There are a few mentions of people doing/having done it and I don't think the costs are prohibitive. Check it out.

 

[Reiverlad]

With regards to having power steering retrofitted, I have just had this done and what a difference it has made !
Can I suggest you have a look at this site, http://www.talbot-express-power-steering-conversions.co.uk/ which indicates he has upgrade some mercs before
Chris is the man to have a chat with.
Well worth investigating

Every year would be s pain mines for 3 years and whether or not I do it again will depend on if I keep my present van which is a merc 508 4600 kg ,the only reason I am thinking like this is the mercs lack of power steering ,it's a 1987 ,I guess drivers were tougher in them days, I've had it about 4years and I'm developing muscles in my spit!!trouble is I'm very fond of the big ugly bugger ,and it only has 19870 kilometres on it and a totally rust free body so under other circumstances ie. If I was 10 years younger I'd keep it a long long time

 

[alwaysared]

Hi all just come over from the WC site thought I would make a first post about my recent experience of renewing my driving licence having reached 70 ,as most of you probably are aware if you just leave it to the DVLA you will be sent a standard renewal form that will get you a new licence but will drop the right to drive up to 7.5tons ,so you have to send for the relevent forms to fill in to preserve them rights ,these forms require a medical and eye test and a wholes bunch of medical questions ,so having completed the medical and eye test through one of the on line medical companies sent the forms off with ID and s photo for my new licence ,having only had a paper one since 1975 that was rapidly beginning to look like the dead sea scrolls, I was very pleasantly surprised to receive my new licence no more than 3week later.I had included a17 pound fee that I understood was required if the renewal required a photo ,but I must have misunderstood that as Igot it back ,so all in all contrary to exprctations a surprisingly pleasant experience

Just wondering are you fit and healthy? Or do you have any medical conditions? No need to go into detail just yes or no will do as I don't want to intrude on your personal situation.

Regards,
Del

 

[Deadsfo]

Fortunatly I am reasonably healthy with no underlying serious health issues

 

[Deadsfo]

With regards to having power steering retrofitted, I have just had this done and what a difference it has made !
Can I suggest you have a look at this site, http://www.talbot-express-power-steering-conversions.co.uk/ which indicates he has upgrade some mercs before
Chris is the man to have a chat with.
Well worth investigating

I will have a look at this ,hope its not like the electric power steering I had a look at that cost a fortune for a vintage Mini,which beggars the question why would you do that!

 

[Deleted member 132]

I consider myself reasonably fit for my age although I have had restricted vision in one eye since childhood. Before I got to 70 I took the forms to an optician and they gave me the full test including field of vision. I sent this to DVLA medical and they replied if my vision remained as it was I would be OK to drive C1 after 70. I applied and the process went smoothly. At 73 I repeated the process however the doctor thought he heard a heart murmur which was consequently proved to be incorrect but it took 11 months and the intervention of my MP to get my licence renewed. As said by another poster lots of forms asking the same info back and forward to DVLA. The daft thing was I was still able to continue to drive up to 7500kg during this process legally as I had an application pending and had not been disqualified on health grounds. I eventually got my licence for a 3 year period from the date of processing, without any further medical, or paperwork within days of my MPs intervention. As a result I next require to go through the process at 77 instead of 76. DVLAs excuse for the delay was Lack of Staff.

 

[Deadsfo]

I will have a look at this ,hope its not like the electric power steering I had a look at that cost a fortune for a vintage Mini,which beggars the question why would you do that!

Just to round off this topic I contacted this company the prices were reasonable but he was not sure his system was suitable for a max weight 4600kilo truck,shame really as the system did sound good

 

[rayc]

Its all a load of old rubbish of course. They allow automatic retention of BE at 70 without a medical so you can tow a trailer up to 3.5t or more with a 3.5t motorhome presuming the MGTW is capable. What is more dangerous a 7,0t MH or a 3.5t one towing to its maximum capacity?

The Government is currently consulting on raising the B licence weight limit to 4250kg for alternatively fuelled vehicles. When electrically powered motorhomes are the norm then any one who drives one up to 4250kg will be able to do so on their B licence without a medical to renew.

 

[Kontiki]

Interesting about raising the weight limit but why for alternatively fuelled vehicles??? I don't understand why or the logic behind the 3500 kg limit, is it the extra damage a heavier vehicle could cause if so then how it's powered is irrelevant. Electric vehicles for the near future will always have a weight problem due to current batteries, my current vehicle is plated at 3700 kgs but if I had to I could drop it to 3500 kgs, it's the same van which at the most could have an extra 200 kgs if I loaded it fully. A tank full of water is 100 kgs, in reality I am probably running with the van under 3500 kgs.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...b-driving-licence-derogation-consultation.pdf

 

[rayrecrok]

Surrendered my licence at 70 at the end of January this year, still waiting as of this date, got onto the DVLA and they said, anybody say you cant drive if not keep on driving, they sent me a covering letter to that effect, but it is only good for the UK, I am sure I would have got a normal licence but seeing as my Hymer is over 3.5 tons I need the HGV part and my motorcycle part as well, medical eye sight done at the end of January..

I did have a piggy bit nailed on to my heart last year but have been discharged as everything is working, I am waiting for a cataract sorting in my left eye, I have had my right eye done already. Maybe this is the problem, will have to wait and see, at least I can use the van but not in the sun like we usually do during the winter!.

ray.