DVLA medical branch

[DVLAdramas]

Blatantly posting for traffic (second attempt as somehow deleted the first!)

Has anyone recently had to apply for a licence via the DVLA medical branch that could give an idea of how long the process took? We're aware there's a backlog but despite numerous phone calls the DVLA will not give any indication how long processing times currently are.

Section 88 categorically does not apply so despite hospital/consultant being more than happy for the applicant to drive, we're completely stuck until the DVLA process/complete the application. It's been 2 months so far and they've not even written to the hospital/consultant so far.

In case it's relevant this is post brain tumour, surgery and seizure but all well past the 'no driving' timescales now.

Hopeful bump

My daughter has been waiting 10 months and they won’t give her any indication. I think if it goes to a year she’ll have to get the medical information all over again.

I'm very frustrated with them atm - I've filled in the same form and sent a photo 3 times now. I just get back letters telling me they've not received the forms and can I fill this in & return it with photo etc. I sent a form plus photo again today - special delivery, guaranteed to arrive before 1pm. I'm not holding my breath.

i waited a year despite all professionals saying they thought it wasn't needed. i then had to have a special optician assessment and finally a driveability assessment which was miles away and took two hours.

I surrendered my licence in 2018 for medical reasons and section 88 was a bit of a grey area for me and DVLA wouldn't give me an answer so I had to wait. I don't have good news I'm afraid, it took 11 months. After 10 months I put in a official complaint, until then none of my phone calls were any use. After my complaint I received a phone call within a few days and they gave me my licence back. They said the timing was a coincidence! So I would say keep calling and calling, and complain as soon as you possibly can. I seem to remember the website said something about 8 weeks, so possibly complain at that point.

My FIL waited 15 months in total. He got it finally but the DVLA massively dragged their heels with it. The consultant had said yes and wrote to the DVLA within 6-8 weeks but they were just sooooo slow.

Oh god this isn't good news.

I'd vaguely seen something about it being 18 weeks in 'normal times' but know there's a massive backlog which they refuse to discuss.

It's so frustrating as if the applicate had surrendered with the correct form initially they could be driving now under s88 but as it was revoked it sounds like it could be another year.

They haven't sent anything to the hospital yet.

Bloody DVLA!

It took me 10 months. I wrote to my MP in the end, it may have helped because it came a couple of weeks later.

It's just crazy the DVLA can be so opaque on this. The applicant in this case is the main carer for an elderly relative which has been enough of a nightmare the past year without this continuing to drag on.