Drivers over 70 are losing two key freedoms when they reach the milestone age, it has been warned. Under UK road laws, drivers who turn 70 can no longer automatically retain their DVLA C1 and D1 driving licence entitlements.
What the Older Drivers' Forum Says
The Older Drivers' Forum warns: "When you renew your licence at 70, many of the other entitlements to drive vehicles of other categories will be lost unless you apply for them."
"If you use the standard D1 or online renewal procedure your C1 entitlement will be suspended and you will no longer be able to drive motorhomes between 3,500kg and 7,500kg until you have passed a medical."
Medical Examination Requirements
MoneySuperMarket said: "If you use the standard form, you'll lose your entitlements. To retain these, you'll need to have a D4 medical examination report every three years."
"The D4 form has to be filled in by a doctor. This could be your GP (although an optician might need to fill in the section about your eyesight), or a private firm specialising in drivers' medical exams. Be aware that your doctor, optician or a private firm can charge you."
Additional Advice from APH
APH add: "If you have a C1 or D1 licence entitlement (these are categories for medium-sized trucks or minibuses, often automatically held by drivers who got their licence before 1997), you cannot renew those online, you must use a postal application and you will be required to meet higher medical standards (including submitting a D4 medical examination report signed by a doctor)."
The DVLA will provide instructions for this if it applies to you. If you choose not to renew the C1/D1 categories (for example, you no longer need to drive larger vehicles and don't want the bother of a medical exam), your new licence at 70 will simply omit those categories.
"All your standard car and light vehicle categories will remain."
