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Original poster

DVLA Number that actually gets me a human?

70 replies

Ghoulette · 28/10/2021 11:26

Trying to get DP's provisional sorted (came back from 8 years overseas recently so needed to renew).

0300 790 6801 gives a spiel and then "Goodbye". Webchat is never available.

They said it would take 3 weeks to process. Does anyone have a working number where I can talk to an actual human?

OP posts:
Essentialgarage · 28/10/2021 11:28

Ha ha ha ha ha ha Grin

Singalongsingsong · 28/10/2021 11:31

I think it’s impossible. My daughter has tried calling every day at every time over 3 weeks, she’s messaged, including via Facebook and Twitter and emailed and has not received a single response. It’s utterly ridiculous.

bloodywhitecat · 28/10/2021 11:31

It is taking much longer than that at the moment if you are having to use the postal system. This shows the dates of the forms they are processing now, my licence took about 12 weeks to come back when I had a name change.

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Driving & parking
PheasantsNest · 28/10/2021 12:08

13 weeks is more likely. We've had to do all ours recently. Mine and DH's needed renewing, DC1 passed their test and I applied for DC2 provisional. They are a nightmare.

AdobeWanKenobi · 28/10/2021 12:13

Do you have a ouija board? You may have more success...

ineedsun · 28/10/2021 12:15

This is a great question, my son has learning disabilities and wants to know if he’s allowed to learn to drive. Automated DVLA says speak to GP if you have changes to health (nothing about your first license) GP says nothing to do with me, ask DVLA.

Aposterhasnoname · 28/10/2021 12:20

Try going one number up or one number down, so for 0300 790 6801 try 0300 790 6802 and 0300 790 6800. This is a trick a debt collector taught me, if a person doesn’t answer their phone, one number up or down is often the next desk to them.

Comefromaway · 28/10/2021 12:23

Dh has repeatedly failed to speak to anyone. He is applying for his licence back after voluntarily surrendering it including a change of address from when he last had a licence so had to do it by paper.

Fairyliz · 28/10/2021 12:25

Working from home is such a good idea isn’t it Hmm

Dollartuckedinsidemyshoe · 28/10/2021 12:29

I spoke to them 4 times through August and September chasing my daughters licence.

You have to continually redial, I did it over 100 times in a row each time but got through in the end.

It’s an absolute nightmare and you have to have time on your side.

I genuinely can’t understand how they’re allowed to get away with such an awful service

Mandatorymongoose · 28/10/2021 12:33

I applied for my medical renewal in Feb (3 yearly renewal, licence expired in April). It took them until this week to write to my GP to request medical evidence. I genuinely think S88 might run out before I get my licence back. Also going to be fun renewing my car insurance next month with no licence.

blissfulllife · 28/10/2021 12:34

3rd month waiting for a provisional here. Tried every way possible to get some answers. Nothing. Saw online someone who'd sent off theirs in March and were still waiting! Wonder how this is affecting driving instructors etc.

user1471530109 · 28/10/2021 12:40

@Mandatorymongoose that's appalling!

Mine is also a 3 yr medical restricted license that is now expired. I've been waiting about 5 weeks so far. I'm worried sick in case I get pulled over or in an accident. I had a similar situation about 10-15 years ago and I was told over the phone by them, that not to worry as long as they've got my renewal and are processing. But I have no idea if they've even opened my renewal this time! Why are the media not on this? Ever other fucker is back at work, why are the DVLA getting away with this?!

Mandatorymongoose · 28/10/2021 12:53

@user1471530109

I rang them (many many many times) in about June? After not having heard anything at all and they sent me out a letter acknowledging they had received my application, although not done anything with it, so that if I got pulled over I at least had something to wave at the police.

First thing on a Saturday morning seemed to be a good time to call for some reason, still long waits but didn't just hang up.

I need to drive for work (nurse)but their "special phone number for front line workers" just says if it's medical they can't help. It's ridiculous really.

TeenMinusTests · 28/10/2021 13:13

They are (or at least were) taking industrial action aimed at having maximum impact on the public or something.

Larryyourwaiter · 28/10/2021 13:21

DH sent his medical review back in March. We’re now contacting our MP for help. It’s ridiculous.

Tiggles · 28/10/2021 13:25

They have literally just replied to me from something I posted at the beginning of August. Saying it is out of time and I now need to do something different. The fact it wasn't out of time in August seems to have passed them by.
However that maybe gives the current timelines of where they are up to in dealing with queries.

horrayforharoldlloyd · 28/10/2021 13:36

We applied for my daughters provisional at the end of June and it arrived yesterday

Comefromaway · 28/10/2021 13:42

@Mandatorymongoose

I applied for my medical renewal in Feb (3 yearly renewal, licence expired in April). It took them until this week to write to my GP to request medical evidence. I genuinely think S88 might run out before I get my licence back. Also going to be fun renewing my car insurance next month with no licence.
That's my fear.

Someone ran into the back of dh's car recently whilst he was stationery. She admitted all liability but him driving on Section 88 and not having his licence is causing all manner of issues with the claim, the main one being he cannot get a courtesy car. We recently went to buy a new car for him and he could not test drive it.

user1471530109 · 28/10/2021 14:34

This is so bad. I'm going to have to moan to my MP. Given he's a high profile plonker I'm not going to get very far Sad

user1471530109 · 28/10/2021 14:35

How long does section 88 last for? And do I have to have officially have record of S88 in my possession? I'm so sorry @comefromaway. What a nightmare!

SpunBodgeSquarepants · 28/10/2021 14:38

Was going to ring today as I bought a second hand car in mid August and still not received v5. If waiting times are still that long for licences, would the same go for v5s too...?

Comefromaway · 28/10/2021 14:42

You can drive on Section 88 as long as your application is less than one year old.

JauntyJinty · 28/10/2021 14:47

@SpunBodgeSquarepants

Was going to ring today as I bought a second hand car in mid August and still not received v5. If waiting times are still that long for licences, would the same go for v5s too...?
Not sure how helpful this is, but I bought my car about 3 months ago and had the V5 back in about a week
MrsAvocet · 28/10/2021 14:51

I informed them of a notifiable medical condition in May. My consultant told me that I shouldn't drive until I'd heard from them but in her experience they usually say no driving for 3-6 months after the event. It is now 5 months and I haven't had any response and can't get a human. Emails get automated replies giving a reference number but basically saying "Get lost, because Covid"
I am totally asymptomatic now, discharged from follw up, all follow up tests completely normal, but I still can't drive. And now I am housebound in a rural village with no public transport and my DH very seriously ill in hospital miles away. I am furious/distraught and no idea what to try next. Someone suggested writing to my MP, dont know if that would work but I guess I have nothing to lose.