DVLA - is this a record???

[dyno-tron]

My son passed his driving test last Tuesday (21st dec) at lunchtime, the examiner asked if we wanted him to do the licence application, errmm “yes, go on then” said I.

It arrived in the post on 24th

Christmas miracle??

 

[tom2207]

Thats great service .

 

[stuvy]

I sent two log book off in November

One came back within 5 days one took 6weeks

Both sent in the same address and both being changed to me

 

[stuvy]

Well done to your lad

 

[dyno-tron]

Well done to your lad

Cheers, it’s taken 12 months of bookings cancelled due to covid, rebooking with cancellation finder app, Rinse/repeat. But finally got there :-)

 

[skotl]

That's interesting. My son turns 17 in July but my driving instructor neighbour recommended applying for his provisional now as it's been taking four months.

I guess it's easier for DVLA to "upgrade" an existing licence than process a new one

Anyways we'll do it soon as for some reason I can't fathom you can have your provisional from age 15 and nine months...

Oh, and congrats to @dyno-tron's boy!

 

[Edward Teach]

Cheers, it’s taken 12 months of bookings cancelled due to covid, rebooking with cancellation finder app, Rinse/repeat. But finally got there :-)

Well done to your son

ps: Would you be able to mention The App you used, to book your cancelations (another minefield to negotiate), Thank you.

 

[Bobupndown]

Anyways we'll do it soon as for some reason I can't fathom you can have your provisional from age 15 and nine months...

Because you can ride a moped, 50cc on a 16yr old provisional license.

 

[Justme]

That's interesting. My son turns 17 in July but my driving instructor neighbour recommended applying for his provisional now as it's been taking four months.

I guess it's easier for DVLA to "upgrade" an existing licence than process a new one

Anyways we'll do it soon as for some reason I can't fathom you can have your provisional from age 15 and nine months...

Oh, and congrats to @dyno-tron's boy!

The new licence after passing is a fully automated system now.
The examiner uses an Ipad to do the test & confirm the results.
That then tells dvla to issue licence.
After that its all still fully auto with printing & posting.

Compared to a first licence when a, its paper based so has to go to an actual person who may or may not be working from home / on limited hours / has covid or on long term sick.
Then security checks need to be done to ensure its a valid application. Again using real people that again may or may not be at home.

They are also giving priority to LGV provisional applications.

So the ADI is rights, get that application in ASAP after all you can apply at 15 & 9 months.

Reason you can apply at 15 & 9 months is for moped licences & some are allowed to drive cars at 16 if the have serous medical issues / life limiting conditions.

 

[Justme]

Well done to your son

ps: Would you be able to mention The App you used, to book your cancelations (another minefield to negotiate), Thank you.

Test finder apps are being coded out of the system as they are reducing the ability for people to book tests. Sounds odd I know but they hoover up every test the micro second its listed. They can hold it for 15 mins without it actually being allocated to some one & then re capture it if it does not get accepted by someone. You also then have people accepting it but not checking if the ADI / car is available. Then as it was booked at short notice the client looses the test fee, the test gets wasted (40k tests this year alone) or even worse they turn up for the test but are not actually ready. No matter what happens next its a bad thing, a, they fail easy enough to see the issue with that but b, they pass is harder to se what is wrong with it. But do you really want your kids put there when they are not actually ready because they got a lucky pass?

 

[Moose McAlpine]

I sent two log book off in November

One came back within 5 days one took 6weeks

Both sent in the same address and both being changed to me

I transferred one online in the middle of November. Paper logbook arrived 2 or 3 days later. Never known it be so quick.

 

[Edward Teach]

Test finder apps are being coded out of the system as they are reducing the ability for people to book tests. Sounds odd I know but they hoover up every test the micro second its listed. They can hold it for 15 mins without it actually being allocated to some one & then re capture it if it does not get accepted by someone. You also then have people accepting it but not checking if the ADI / car is available. Then as it was booked at short notice the client looses the test fee, the test gets wasted (40k tests this year alone) or even worse they turn up for the test but are not actually ready. No matter what happens next its a bad thing, a, they fail easy enough to see the issue with that but b, they pass is harder to se what is wrong with it. But do you really want your kids put there when they are not actually ready because they got a lucky pass?

Its not for an inexperienced child,

 

[bump]

There is also the provisional at 16 for agricultural machinery. I'd like to see tractors having their own proper test, rather than you've passed your car test, now go and take 20 tons of grain 10 miles down the road for me.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Neighbour is a care worker so originally classed as a priority case for driving test, since the very start of the pandemic, but it's been cancelled several times and now has been told it'll probably be yet another year. In mean time it's taxi's or getting mother & sister to take and collect her from the nursing home where she works

 

[Justme]

There is also the provisional at 16 for agricultural machinery. I'd like to see tractors having their own proper test, rather than you've passed your car test, now go and take 20 tons of grain 10 miles down the road for me.

Tractors do have their own test.
Or you can wait till you pass the car test.

 

[dyno-tron]

The issue with the tests was that they were in short supply, the first one we could get was 4 months away (our older son got his pre-covid test within 3 weeks). So - 2 days to go and it got kicked 6 months down the road “tester not available”, as lots of people use the apps it became the only way to get a cancellation.

For the cancellations we used https://www.driving-test-cancellations-4all.co.uk/

(No affiliation to me!!)

 

[Johnnybravo]

My son recently got his drivers. Was a total farce. His test had either been cancelled or postponed THIRTEEN times. Testers too precious to be in a car to conduct a test,but thought nothing of putting my sons health at risk for over a year of having to catch buses because they couldnt be arsed to test him….
And every time they cancelled,it was up to him to try and rebook.

 

[Justme]

The whole test booking system is a joke currently.

HOWEVER learners are not helping.
Like I said 40k just did not turn up for their tests.
No call, no cancelation so someone else could use it.
Turning up with no car thinking the DVSA provide one, or with no licence.

I am getting calls every week re taking people I have never seen to test in a few days time.
Virtually every time they have been told by their instructor that they are not ready & to cancel well before the cut off date.
Either way most instructors wont just take them to test.
They need to see them drive in lots of differing conditions before presenting them to test.
Firstly due to the risk to the car followed by a duty of care to the learner, examiner & public.
Then the DVSA moved the goal posts re our continual assessment linking it to how our presented clients do on test.
If you fail it goes on my record, if you fail badly I get pulled for it, if you get too many driver faults even if you pass I get pulled for it.
Once I get too many marks I have to retake my qualification test.
Basically they have passed the problem to the trainer.
We should according to the DVSA only be putting "bankers" into test or we get penalised.
They (the DVSA) dont understand that the client we train is not always the one they see on test especially when they are under the extra pressure of a fail meaning a 6 month+ wait to get another test. They can drive fine for us for weeks & then fall apart on the test.

Lots of instructors are binning weak clients or those that have failed.
I can see this getting worse as this problem goes on.

I virtually only do those sorts of clients for cars. (my other driver training work is different)
Very rare I take someone from never having driven before.
Some have had a string of instructors or fails prior to coming to me.
Most are on the point of giving up.

The issue is also getting worse because examiners are leaving faster than they can replace them.
My local TC has gone from 2 examiners to 1.
The next closest has had 7 at its peak & now has 2.
Add in to that we get test tourist (trying to) coming here because they think the test is easier due to location.

I fully expect it will be two more years before things get close to normal & thats if we have no more test restrictions.

 

[Justme]

My son recently got his drivers. Was a total farce. His test had either been cancelled or postponed THIRTEEN times. Testers too precious to be in a car to conduct a test,but thought nothing of putting my sons health at risk for over a year of having to catch buses because they couldnt be arsed to test him….
And every time they cancelled,it was up to him to try and rebook.

This is so right.

Its ok for them to sit in my car to test me with a real client but I cant sit in the car with them whilst on the clients test as its too much covid risk.

 

[Rannsachair]

My wife posted off her driving license in June to update her name after getting married last year. About a month ago she got a letter to say that the name change was processed but now passed over to check medical approval. She has epilepsy but it has been under control for over 5 years without a siezure, so no idea what they are doing or how long it will take!