70+ DVLA C1 Renewal

[Kontiki]

Last year I got to 70, filled in all the forms, had the medical, did the treadmill test & was given my license for 1 year :mad2: (probably because I only lasted 8.5 mins of the 9mins due to back problems), waiting for the form to come again from the DVLA but as usual can't get any sense or information from them. The question I asked was that as I've had no health issues (apart from minor ailments) what will I have to do this year. Tried ringing on a couple of different days to speak to different people & got conflicting info, one said that I would need to have a medical again then wait for them to decide if I need another treadmill test another said I can self certify myself & just fill the form in.
Has anybody been in a similar situation, unfortunately my birthday is in March (we used to like to going to Spain Jan-March) if I'm faced with having to renew every year then it's a problem. We are also getting a new van in March & need to tell the dealer what to register it at 3.5t or 3.7t. If last year was anything to go by I sent everything off as soon as I could (including the medical) also pushing the DVLA to let me know then finding I had to do the treadmill test (another delay waiting for appointment) then waiting again while they made a decision it was around the middle of April before I got my license. This was despite being told they were 'fast tracking' my application otherwise it would have been May before I found out.

 

[mikigough]

Two men well over 70, in fact one is 81, working for the same company as me, they both take a medical every year to drive 7,5 ton. As far as I know you just get the medical form (I don't know the no of the form at the moment) and send it off to DVLC. I have to do the same for hgv licence. Hope this helps.
Mickey.

 

[Byronic]

I thought med. was every 3 years, and the treadmill test was only for applicants with a notified pre-existing heart ailment or relevant condition.
Glad I've a few years to swat up on this issue.

 

[271]

Although not relevant to the DVLA part of your question, if you have the choice of having your new van plated at 3500kg or 3700kg the lighter option would have a number of benefits.
Firstly it would reduce the problems you describe regarding licence renewal, but more importantly new drivers have been restricted to 3500kg since January 1997, making the youngest of them 37 yrs old. If your van is plated at 3700kg it could significantly reduce the desirability of the van.

 

[jennyp19]

I wonder if you could use doctorsonwheels

 

[Kontiki]

I had a heart attack & triple by-pass about 13 years ago hence the treadmill test, but haven't had any problems since then. As to DVLA mistakes, when we moved house we sent of licenses to change the address, mine cvame back correct the wife finds that now she has a full motorbike license. Even better the date she supposedly passed her test we were in Spain on a 3 month trip (don't remember her popping back to the UK to take a test).

I think last year the DVLA only sent me the D2(under 3.5t) form I had to ask them to send me the D4 medical form which I had to pay the doctor to fill in.

From what I understanding about downplating is I can do it myself as there are no modifications tom the actual van, up plating to 3.7t has to involve SVTECH with the cost of them carrying out a paper exercise. Road tax is cheaper for a PHGV plus the fact I like to be sure we have adequate payload without having to worry about being overweight.