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Original poster

DVLA gave DS a 1 year licence

86 replies

user400 · 30/12/2018 12:48

Hi all,

So DS turned 17 at the start of April this year and he applied for his provisional in February. DS has Asperger’s, short sightedness and takes medication (Prozac) but he has not taken it in a few months as he doesn’t need it but his GP doesn’t know this. (He wears glasses for his short sightedness and can drive with them)

He declared all those 3 things on his provisional application form and a few weeks later he was sent a form from the DVLA (something about pschyological conditions) and he had to get his GP to fill that out and return it to the DVLA on his behalf.

So all that was done and his provisional arrived late March just before his 17th birthday.

His provisional was due to expire on 25 March 2019, we thought this was normal as I always thought that provisional licenses lasted one year but we only caught on yesterday that they do in fact last 10 years just like the full licences! So this was never questioned until now!

He passed his driving test last week, his full licence arrived in the post yesterday. The expiry date from the provisional carried over, meaning he will have to renew his driving licence in 3 months! Wtf??

DS said to me That he thought licences lasted 10 years so that’s when it became clear that the DVLA have put him on a short time licence, without even telling him! He has been on a short term provisional as well and we never caught on until now.

All I need to ask is, why have the DVLA put him on a short term licence because of his Asperger’s? It’s obvious they have as that’s what the medical form was about when they sent it when he applied for his provisional.

His Asperger’s doesn’t affect his driving so I can’t understand this. Either the DVLA are being silly or the GP has written something on the letter to make it sound worse than what it is, I will need a copy of this letter to see exactly what was written.

Do you think We can change this and get a new 10 year licence sent to him? I have rheumatoid arthritis in my feet and I told DVLA and they never gave me a short term licence for that, a condition that is more likely to cause problems driving than Asperger’s!

OP posts:
Tulipvase · 30/12/2018 13:37

But surely if the ASD affects his driving, then it affects his driving and a time limit wouldn’t matter? I’m not suggesting it does though.

Original poster
user400 · 30/12/2018 13:37

DS felt he no longer needed medication and I agree with his decision as he is completely fine without it. This is not official though as he has not formally informed his GP so as far as they’re concerned he is still on the medication

OP posts:
Original poster
user400 · 30/12/2018 13:39

Honestly I’ve no idea. I always thought you had to declare a condition no matter what, we know ourselves that his Asperger’s / medication don’t affect his driving but he declared them to be on the safe side

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 30/12/2018 13:40

But he has declared that there is! The uk.gov website says

"Asperger syndrome and driving. You must tell DVLA if you have Asperger syndrome and it affects your driving. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don't tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. ... Ask your doctor if you're not sure if your Asperger syndrome will affect your driving." It says the same about depression.

Did your DS ask his GP if he needed to tell the DVLA? As well as having come off his meds?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 30/12/2018 13:42

I always thought you had to declare a condition no matter what So you didn't read the guidelines or ask a GP?

Maybe, in the new year, you could help your DS put all of that right! Contact the DVLA, ask their advice, talk to his GP, get his advice and see if your son can undo what his initial application did!

ineedtostopbeingsolazy · 30/12/2018 13:43

Mild depression doesn't need to be declared if I remember correctly.
Dd is on fluoxetine (generic Prozac) and declared her medication etc and was given full provisional and then driving licence when she passed.
It depends on what he was given the Prozac for and his dose I would think.

Danglingmod · 30/12/2018 13:46

He doesn't have 2 mental health conditions... Aspergers is not a mental health condition, it's a neurodevelopmental difference.

Bombardier25966 · 30/12/2018 13:46

The problem here is over declaring. He's declared a condition that he didn't need to (as it doesn't affect his driving), and then the GP has been overly cautious in his report as he wouldn't want to be held liable if your son did have an accident. Unfortunately now it is declared it is difficult to backtrack, he's in the system for good now.

Check with them what the earliest is that he can apply for an extension, as medical reviews can take months, and he won't be able to drive once his current licence lapses until the new one is granted.

Corrag · 30/12/2018 13:48

DS felt he no longer needed medication and I agree with his decision as he is completely fine without it. This is not official though as he has not formally informed his GP so as far as they’re concerned he is still on the medication

If he stopped taking it months ago his GP will know he's not taking it as presumably he hasn't collected a prescription for it.

mollyblack · 30/12/2018 13:56

I have a short license due to a medical condition which doesnt affect my driving (but could potentially). Its not a big deal- they send you a medical renewal form in plenty of time, you complete it and send it back and they check out your references (gp/consultant etc) and then you get the new license.

RomanyRoots · 30/12/2018 14:00

I'm guessing it's the Prozac, better be honest with gp about him not taking them and swot up on DVLA and how they work, it's all on the website, so should be no surprises.

PumpkinPie2016 · 30/12/2018 14:01

He will be able.to renew the licence so shouldn't be an issue.

I would check why he is on the time limited one though but suspect it is his aspergers and/or Prozac use.

Both me and my mum are short sighted and wear glasses all of the time but it has never affected driving licenses so I doubt it's that.

Also, he needs to speak to the GP about not needing the Prozac as the GP will keep putting it on the DVLA form otherwise.

historyrocks · 30/12/2018 14:02

Oddly, him informing the DVLA that he no longer takes medication could go against him, as they have a thing about being ‘compliant’ with treatment.

Original poster
user400 · 30/12/2018 14:07

Yes I suppose that’s where he has made his mistake. We really should have checked with the GP first of all before jumping straight in and writing this on the application form. I just hope there is a way to get the GP to intervene and easily correct this and get him a normal licence

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 30/12/2018 14:10

I'd suggest he contacts the DVLA. He's overdeclared on 3 conditions, all of which he needn't have bothered declaring.

I have all 3 and never occured to me to declare as they don't affect my driving - and I read the DVLA guidance frequently as I often tell people they have to declare stuff and/or can't drive.

SauvignonBlanche · 30/12/2018 14:12

The instructions are quite plain,

You must tell DVLA if you have Asperger syndrome and it affects your driving.

I went through this with DS when he applied for his licence.

I’m on medical restrictions following a brain tumour and they’re the slowest government department I’ve ever had the misfortune to deal with.

Your DS will need to contact them and reapply in plenty of time as they took over 9 months to reissue mine the last 2 times.

niknac1 · 30/12/2018 14:22

They usually do everything promptly, they send forms to your GP after you have given permission and their details. It would be a good idea to speak to your GP to check if his condition needs to be declared.

IceRebel · 30/12/2018 14:27

I just hope there is a way to get the GP to intervene and easily correct this and get him a normal licence

It may be possible to change it but I doubt it will be easy. It would look strange to the DVLA that shortsightedness and Aspergers have drastically changed enough in such a short period of time to warrant a longer license.

SauvignonBlanche · 30/12/2018 14:30

They usually do everything promptly Hmm

My experience over the last 4 years has been quite the opposite along with the other patients I met along the way.

Mintychoc1 · 30/12/2018 14:34

Being on prozac at such a young age is quite unusual. Presumably he saw a psychiatrist ?

Is he still collecting prescriptions for the Prozac?

70sbaubles · 30/12/2018 14:36

Im on a permanent 1 yr license. Bipolar.

CardsforKittens · 30/12/2018 14:39

When I went from medically restricted licences to a full licence I needed a consultant's report. Not sure if that's the case for all conditions or just mine. But to be honest while I was on restricted licences I found the renewal process straightforward and it was fine quickly. The opposite was the case when I went back to a full licence and I ended up with no licence for a year because it took so long!

CardsforKittens · 30/12/2018 14:42

*it was DONE quickly.
In your shoes I'd apply for renewal just now, and then think about how to go about getting the full licence.
He also needs to talk to the GP about the Prozac.

icclemunchy · 30/12/2018 14:48

I have a three year licence. Never found it much of an issue tbh. They send out the forms I send them Back. Sometimes it takes them a while to send my new licence but I can drive in the meantime as long as I have no reason to suspect my licence could be revoked (am diabetic)

Sounds like he's reported when he didn't need to. I'd get the paperwork that was sent with his provisional and his full licence and read it all carefully. It should say why he has a 1yr licence and then you'll have a better idea what to do next

jamimmi · 30/12/2018 14:50

I'd ring the DVLA and ask the reason for resticted licence. Restriction for many medical conditions is comman and there for a reason even if you think it won't affect driving. Not declaring it could lead to much more serious issues. My DH has had to renew his licence every 3 years for the last 30 due to.a medical condition and have it signed off by his consultant and an eye test. He's never had an accident.. You may also want to check other restrictions such as a limit on the type of veichal he can drive.

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