DVLA Licence Renewal

[richard tudor]

Does anyone have the same problem.  I am 79 and have sent my licence renewal form to the DVLA on the 21st October 20 which they have received.

I have just received a letter from them them dated 22 December 2025 today saying my licence is with their Drivers Medal Department and will be processed as soon as possible. This follows my telephone call to them after three weeks  from the October date as I had not received my licence back as per their time frame. I also followed this up mid December after finally getting through but did not get any confirmation as to what the situation was. Is this normal practice? On the 7 January 2026 I will be unable to drive as my licence has not been sent back.

I have no medical issues and meet all the requirements with no problem as per previous renewals in fact nothing has changed health wise.Their the letter states if they need any more details from me, they will contact me directly. Why has it taken 2 and a half months get get this far?

Is this some sort of ploy to get older drivers to finally give up their driving by making life difficult as possible. 

Has anyone else experienced this.

Read Medical not Medal.

[Sue]

Surely you are still covered under these circumstances even if you don't have the physical licence?

I can't believe you would be prevented from driving? That would be a ridiculous system.

I don't recall any delays   when mine was renewed.

Why would their medical department be involved if you have no medical issues? Could someone have made some admin mistake somewhere along the line?

[Spartacus]

If your application is with the DVLA and you haven't been advised by a medical professional not to drive, then you are normally covered by section 88 of the road traffic act.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla

But read it carefully to make sure you.are covered 

[Pugwash]

I had to renew my licence - took photocopy of my current licence and also my renewal application and posted everything off. Within 10 days received my new licence. My old licence was due to run out in January so I submitted the renewal early December.