Dvla Reviews 1.711

I spent nearly an hour on Monday trying to negotiate the new Gov.uk site to renew my driving licence, and eventually triumphed. Didn’t know if it would work or not, BUT received my new licence this morning, Friday. Brilliant service. (I might have been lucky, because I know other people have failed getting through the system)

The DVLA are in charge of setting the timescales for not driving due to a vast array of medical conditions. My particular condition required surgery. At the decision of DVLA, my surgery meant no driving for 6 months. This was a very big decision to make as it totally interfered with my ability to work and my livelihood and social life. My family live 2-3 hours away, I live in a very remote village with incredibly limited public transport, and I could no longer get to my workplace. The 6 months were very hard and frankly severely depressing at times but come October 2025, there was light at the end of the tunnel as I could apply for my license back 8 weeks prior to the date I can drive again. Which I did.

It got to days before my freedom date in December, and still not a peep from DVLA. I called them and essentially they’d not done anything yet. After my call they made contact with my surgeon for the first time. Their archaic processes mean they contact everyone by second class mail… yep, even in 2026. So when my surgeon eventually got the letter (bearing in mind the letters will then go through a filtering system at the hospital too) it was over a week later. They responded to the request. Then the DVLA decided they wanted more information from the hospital. So this whole process started again. Here’s a wild idea - ask for sufficient information in your questions the first time around? Have an online system for medical condition applicants rather than mail only to assist delays?

Anyway, my hospital replied very quickly to this request. I rang DVLA to ensure that response was added to my file in a timely manner. It got added a week ago now. The “PRIORITY” (laughing) case is still sitting there a week later without being reviewed by anyone.

It has now been 6 weeks longer than agreed without driving. Section 88 doesn’t apply in my case as I need to purchase a new car for which a valid license is required. I also have to have a valid license to do my job.

I am now 7.5 months into what should have been a 6 month ordeal. The mental toll has been significant and I have found myself deeply depressed, anxious and isolated.

DVLA need to do better. Why are those of us with medical backgrounds being treated so poorly, with the slowest processes and systems and no option for online applications for us? Why say 6 months no driving if you know you will never review applications on time?

When you ring the medical line they never know any information. Don’t even bother ask for timescales; they’ve no idea.

I am frustrated that I remain trapped in a remote village unable to work and in a mentally very low state all at the hands of the DVLA. There is just no urgency or care for those of us with medical backgrounds whatsoever. I am absolutely miserable and this is having an incredibly bad impact on my career, life and wellbeing - but they just don’t do anything quickly round here. I fear I still have months ahead of me and I am just not sure I can cope with that. This has been going on since October 2025 - Jan 2026 and still ongoing. I have done a complaint but given DVLA so far, this will probably take a long time to be responded to so was likely a pointless exercise anyway.

How to improve -
Streamline processes, ask enough information the first time around, move medical services online, scrap second class mail communications.

Bunch of lazy clowns

If the service levels provided were replicated by any commercial business it would have shut years ago. Almost impossible to get hold of, then if you do staff unable to take independent actions to resolve issues run with communications tools that seem barely above quill and penny post

My car was unfortunately written off and it had a personal plate. Tried to take it off electronically and was advised it had to be done via post that was the first 3 weeks gone. Bought my new car and applied for the V5C as I couldn't do that online either so sent paperwork in on 15/12/2025 . Here we are another 5 weeks later still with no V5C. Phoned them on 12/01/2026 to be told they had the application and it would be processed by 20/01/2026 that's 6 weeks owning a car and not being able to use it despite it still showing it being taxed. It also causes other problems in terms of ownership of the vehicle.

Because off diabetes I have to renew my licence every 3 year which is a waste of time because never changes tried ringing to see if they have my application as I never hear anything can never get through terrible set up

Applied for a V5 01/12/2025 with proof of posting/dvla receiving 02/12/2025 cost £3.85 post office who act as an agent for DVLA for applications. Have waited just over 5wks no V5. Contacted DVLA web chat today and they are saying have not received application form, gave them proof of posting/delivery. Told me to re apply This will be my third attempt also lost the first application.

DVLA head office, use your brains.
I am very happy with Hull test center but appalled by DVLA's lack of care. We have to wait months to book a test because greedy people buy slots in advance and then sell on. DVLA is complicit in this illegal activity. All they have to do is tweak their booking website so the originally booked tests do not get transferred to a third party. Not rocket science. Please get your act together, there's enough stress paying for driving lessons.

Took 9 months to get a replacement v5 that I never received.
Endless chats on thier online chat.
A typical government agency. A total shit shower.

I have attempted three times to renew my over-70s driving licence online with the DVLA. On two occasions I completed the entire application, only to receive a message at the end stating that “a problem has occurred” and to try again later. This happened all three times.
I then tried to resolve the issue by phone. I called four times in total. On three occasions I was cut off after selecting all the correct options and waiting on hold. On the fourth attempt I finally spoke to someone, who suggested the problem was likely with my iPhone and advised me to use a computer instead. I did so, but this made no difference whatsoever.
The whole process has been extremely frustrating, time-consuming and stressful. For a mandatory service that many older people rely on, the system is clearly not fit for purpose. In the 21st century, renewing a driving licence should be straightforward and achievable, not an endurance test in faulty technology and inaccessible customer support.
This experience has left me with very little confidence in the DVLA’s online systems or their ability to support users when things go wrong.

The staff answering the phones have consistently lied to cover up the chaos obviously ensuing, at Driver's Very Letdown Agency.

Would not let me leave a ‘no star’ review.
I sold my vehicle 10 weeks ago having only just recently renewed my Tax.
I have not yet received any tax refund (approx £300) and having contacted them a couple of times via email my only answer is to wait another 6 weeks! So here I am waiting yet again for another 6 weeks….
I’ve just tried telephoning, but again after being on hold for 30 minutes I gave up! Disgracefull service.

Utterly pathetic customer care. I phoned helpline to be advised very busy and my expected wait was 1.5 hours, then given an option for a call back within 30 minutes. No call back so phoned again for another 1.5 hour wait, went for the call back option but ignored again. I pay £100's of pounds a year for my car's road tax, roads just like DVLA potholed and pathetic. FOR GODS SAKE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Concerning how drivers are allowed to drive on mind bending meds these days. Andover, north Hampshire, test valley im looking at you. No wonder we have had so many deaths lately because of driving. A prescription gives you the right to take the medication, not the right to drug and drive. Hard core meds are dangerous, pregablins especially, as give a euphoric feel according to what I've been told.

I have tried on numerous occasions to renew my driving licence for over 70’s online. The system is absolutely useless , gets to the last stage then rejects the application. Having read other reviews there is obviously something fundamentally wrong . For heavens sake Government get a grip and sort the problem out.

Hope rating right keep receiving dvla demands re car fax
But bothered they are false
Just adding stress
Sent opys to GENUINE DVLA HOPE THEY CAN HELL EVERYONE

AR S

TO THE jobsworth that was silent and only spoke to preach and talk the talk but not actually do anything and then disingenuously claim you're trying to help me without actually DOING anything and then getting all pious on me when I call you out - your job is what AI will do perfectly . you dont deserve a job, good.

Awful, Cant get through on phone. I've been cut off from webchat. I have been told I will get phoned back with no response. Will now have to pay for processing fees for a new log book.

70+ LICENCE RENEWAL IS A JOKE.
I tried to renew my driving licence online but after just over an hour gave up and posted the form off.

To come across what should be a simple administrative procedure that's as complicated and long winded as this one is rare.

The instructions are a nonsense and whoever wrote them should be found other employment.

I can only assume that, having devised this farcical system, whoever did so failed to follow the normal routine of testing it before they declared it fit for purpose. Had they done so, I'm confident that they would have been told, in no uncertain terms, what a load of rubbish it is.

In my 20 years with IBM I designed admin procedures from time to time and I would have been given a day to remember if I had produced a piece of work such as this online renewal procedure.

I totally agree with other comments. My wife wasted over 2 hours trying to renew her Over 70 driving licence online (Windows PC). They wanted lots of details, asked her to create a GOV.UK-One account and then asked for her credit card information (why, there's no charge!). They then wanted to install a separate APP on her mobile phone to check her photograph (why, it's a renewal!). It turns out that the APP only works on Android 10 and above so my wife's Android 9 mobile refused to work. She gave up in total frustration and decided to renew by post. I found out that the DVLA website still lets you do it online so that's what she did. Driver number and Passport number was all that was required - painless and easy.
The GOV.UK site for online over 70 licence renewal is an absolute disaster and NOT recommended.