C1 Licence and ripping off the "oldies"

[Guest Tony Norton]

Hello all you over 70's, Have just discovered that, after an expensive medical and licence re-application, that the addition of C1 category to an "over 70"'s driving licence (necessary for a motorhome over 3500Kg) is only valid for 1 year, unlike the other categories which last for 3 years. Has anyone sorted a cost effective method of keeping a C1 licence up to date? Please don't say "get a camper under 3500Kg" we like the space available in the larger vehicle. To me it seems just another expample of "rip-off Britain"! Cheers Tony N

[Guest David Powell]

Yes Tony. it is "rip off britain" I go along with that. I am way over 70 now, luckily I am happy with our little 3000Kg as we like travelling on "A" & "B" roads with the more interesting scenery. Why is it that if we are under 70 we can drive a H.G.V. size motor home on a car licence, but if we are over 70 we have restrictions put on us by D.V.L.A. [which I can see from our front windows] when at the same time insurance companies reduce our premiums as us oldies are considered less risk? Insurance companies must know best! They have all the facts! D.V.L.A. have nothing but a money grabbing policy. At least the licence renewal is now free, not £3 like it used to be. not that that is any consolation to anyone who wants to keep there bigger 'van.

[Guest Mike C]

Hello Tony, The DVLA are not putting a restriction on the over 70's because of age but to ensure that the drivers of large vehicles are in fact fit enough to be on the road. I realise that this is a controversial point and accept the arguments for older drivers being more experienced, why 70 why not 60?, the difference between a 3400kg and 3501 kg vehicle etc., but I suppose the government have to draw a line somewhere and 3500 kgs and age 70 is the line. Personally I think that medical tests should be done on all drivers at say 10 year intervals as there are young drivers on the road with eyesight and medical problems etc., who are probably much more of a danger than a fit 70 year old. One of the reasons insurance companies reduce premiums for the older drivers is that in the case of 3500/70 the driver has had to have a medical to prove fitness to drive apart from having a good driving record. Perhaps insurance companies could offer reduced premiums to those of any age who would be willing to have regular medical checks. Regards, Mike C (3400kg and 63 years old).

[Guest annie]

I became 70 last November and obtained a new Licence to drive Category C1 vehicles after having the full medical required. My new Licence clearly shows that it is valid for 3 years. My friend obtained her new Licence in May of this year on reaching 70 and her C1 Licence also shows that it is valid until May 2008. May it be affected by the number of years we have held our Licences? We have both held Licences since before 1976. Annie

[Guest Tony Norton]

Hello Annie Could you do me a favour please and double check your paper counterpart. The one I am looking at shows expiry for C1 and D1 2 years earlier than for other groups, but this is a licence to which C1 and D1 were added back a year or so after the holder's 70th birthday. The original licence was first issued in Sept '76 (I think they all show that now when the test was passed at an earlier date) and had C1 & D1 entitlement originally. Reading this paper counterpart would imply that C1 & D1 entitlement has only been held since July 04. Did you and your friend perhaps apply to retain C1 and D1 at your 70th birthdays? Thank you Tony N

[Guest Mike C]

Hello Tony, According to the DVLA a licence for a person over 70 years of age for a C1 vehicle over 3500 kgs and up to 7500 kgs and Minibuses 9 to 16 passenger seats, category D1 is renewable at 3 year intervals. The 1 year renewal relates to HGV licences for those over 65. in both these cases a medical examination is required as a condition of renewal. Your C1 and D1 licence should therefore be for 3 years. Regards, Mike C

[Guest Tony Norton]

Thanks for that Mike, I think the DVLA have cocked-up on this occasion. Cheers Tony N

[Guest annie]

Looks like Mike's has come up with the explanation. Hope you get yours "sorted" soon. Regards, Annie

[Guest Sylvia A Burman-Hunt]

Picking up on Mike C's comment re younger people suffering eyesight and other health problems, my friend aged just 59 years has suffered from severe sight problems in one eye since birth. Last year she developed glaucoma and had a bleed in the other eye. She persisted in driving in spite of these problems and swore that she could see perfectly well. Neither her GP nor her Ophthalmologist told her that she should not be driving. She had two accidents, both fortunately minor, and finally her boss took her to her GP because she drove a tractor off a country lane and up a bank trying to avoid her! Her GP forbad her to drive because of confusion, and she has now been diagnosed with early alzheimers and is now registered partially sighted. Why didn't her Eye specialist and her GP take the responsibility of stopping her driving at least a year ago when her eyes were not up to the job??? Would her insurance have paid out? How many people could she have killed or injured? It just doesn't bear thinking about. I didn't know about the situation until November so didn't have much to do with preventing her driving, so thank God for her boss who had a sense of responsibility about it.

[Guest Jeff T]

Hi. You think you are being ripped off. I am apart from being a motorhome nut (22ft Ducato). I am also a professional HGV 1 driver and and to keep my job I have had to buy a new licence every three years, and pay for a medical checkup. Tell me another job/profession that has to do that. But I could go and buy a thundering great 16 tonne American RV and run people down with that and not need a HGV licence to do it.

[Guest PeteC]

Its not only ripoff Britain Having just come back over the water, we have spoken to several people on the other side from several countries. and they have the same rules Blame the European Parlement not just the UK