To think that DVLA is not fit for purpose now - one example being applying for a first Provisional Licence?

[DreadedVehicleLicensingAgency]

I have just tried to apply online via gov.uk for a DC's first Provisional Licence. The information said that the licence should be received after about a week. This was important as the licence was to form part of a joint Christmas and birthday present, and the young person needs to be able to learn to drive as soon as possible, especially with balancing A Levels, part-time work, responsibilities as a Young Carer and living in a rural area.

It was a very straight forward application, or so I thought. For example, the DC was born in England, has lived at the same address all their life, and had valid Passport and National Insurance numbers for identity verification and the photograph. All the details entered were double-checked and correct.

And yet, it did not work. I was redirected to apply via the old online system - there still seemed hope at this point. Here, I had to enter all the same details again, plus mother's maiden name, DC's exact place of birth, phone numbers and email. It took my money. All seemed well.

And then, the last page came up, giving the application number and confirming payment, but saying we still had to submit a paper application as well, which will be delayed because of staff working from home!

There is no legitimate reason why the online application did not work. There is nothing to add to the online application and passport/national insurance number access they have by filling in a paper form! I have heard and read of delays involving weeks and months with the paper applications, and of the inability to talk to an actual person who can or will help. DC cannot even start driving lessons until the licence is received.

What is your recent experience of DVLA, especially with applying for a provisional licence? Any advice or tips for moving this along very welcome!

NC.

It took about 3 months for the licence to arrive, once my teen submitted the form. Don't hold your breath. Sorry.

I applied in April for DS provisional.
It's been returned twice and today was returned again saying un paid. I paid for this in April otherwise we couldn't have got this far and I have proof.

It's a nightmare you cannot speak to a person just a bot.

My daughter applied in June and received her licence in October. They have huge backlogs and had some days of strike action.

My nephew applied in March and still hasnt got his. It got sent back one, money left my sisters account but its AWOL and you cant actually speak to a human being there.

My DD's photo was rejected on her online form as they said her head was too big on her passport photo.

She's got curly hair and it's brown as is her face so we think it all sort of melded into one big mass on the form.

We did a paper one in March and it came back in a few weeks. When she passed in November her actual licence came back really quickly I thought. In about a fortnight.

Getting the licence was an absolute breeze compared to booking a theory test and booking the practicals but I'm sure that all depends on where you live.

Leaving applying for the provisional to three weeks before the date you want it does seem on the reckless side! You can apply a year before they are 17 I think. Something I definitely will be doing for the next dd.

I sent off for a new one after getting married in august with the marriage certificate and have heard nothing back. I’m not holding out hope of getting either my marriage certificate or my licence back

There was a big thread on here just the other day about how long DVLA delays are at the moment.

Gosh my only marriage certificate and driving licence are currently with dvla waiting for an updated licence. Quite concerned now

The DVLA is a travesty. I notified them of a serious health condition in February… 10 months I’ve been waiting for their “decision”.

That their staff are WFH is a nonsense excuse…they should still be doing their jobs! Or perhaps they’re all sat watching Holly & Phil instead of processing paperwork, and in the meantime millions of Brits are having delays to job-starts, delays to driving lessons, and unable to drive for work due to health reviews taking 10 MONTHS!!!

Don’t get me started on this TOTAL SHOWER OF SHIT!!!

Lots of licence expiration dates were extended due to covid and as a result there are huge backlogs. My mum sent her form off to renew her licence in August and received it about a month ago. You may wish to adjust your expectations!

They owe me the application fee from nearly a year ago as they cancelled my sons application for some reason. The online application was ok but we linked the passport to the photo (passport very recent) so it went ok give it take a few hours of my time.

@Kidsaregrim did you send a special delivery envelope with it? I did for my marriage certificate and I also posted it all the same way. Cost me £12 so I'll be mightily pissed off if I don't get it back.

My uncle’s licence renewal took about 7 months.

I don’t think they’ll care that it is important because it is part of a Christmas present!

Don't know if it's relevant to DVLA (not had difficulties with them, equally not had dealings since COVID), but when I had a delayed passport application (and needed it quickly to apply for a visa) I found my MPs office was very helpful. Might be worth shooting off an email there and seeing if they can send a snotty letter that moves you up the waiting list?

Oh op we sent my daughters paper one off after the same issue in March. Still waiting

They’re a load of old shite. Took 4 months for my new driving license to arrive when we moved house. They’re quick enough to send through any penalty notices though 🙄

I did the online application and got the provisional within weeks 🤷‍♀️

So, with only one or two exceptions from pps above so far, we've probably got between three to twelve months waiting time?! Good grief.

We applied for DS' first provisional last month and got it back five days later! Was very pleasantly surprised

The delays are unacceptable, but leaving it this late was always going to end in disappointment.

We applied online

I had my money refunded, but no idea why the application was rejected.

We applied online on September using passport photo, received it just over a week later

And you can't book a theory until you have your licence and they are MONTHS behind and the tests are put out 24 weeks in advance and are booked within minutes.
My dc failed twice and I had to book a text 300 miles away and six months away and then use an app to get a test cancellation for the same week. Which I would only do as she was learning in our car as if you are doing it in the instructor's car they have to be free for the test. The whole thing was ridiculously stressful and at the same time you have to say 'oh, it's completely fine if you don't pass' as to not make it worse!

Applied for DD's license at the end of July, it's been returned once and we sent it off again, still waiting....

Hugely frustrating, especially as they still have her birth certificate and ID card.

DVLA are an absolute disgrace.