My licence has expired, but can I still drive?

Iam80 years old and applied for an over-70s licence renewal earlier this year, because my licence was due to expire in May.

I received a letter from the DVLA a month later stating that I needed to have a visual fields eye test done, because I suffer from glaucoma. However, the letter stated that there was currently a delay in getting this done, but that I would be notified when I could have the test. My licence has now expired and I’ve still not heard anything about the test.

Am I allowed to carry on driving without a current licence? Should I get the test done myself at an optician’s and send the results to the DVLA, or should I carry on waiting? Peter Hill

WHAT CAR? SAYS…

Around one in 20 people aged 80 or over develop glaucoma, but only 12% of those affected have to give up driving because of the condition.

If you develop glaucoma in both eyes, as part of the process of renewing your licence you are required to have a visual fields eye test at a branch of Specsavers – the company the DVLA has partnered with to do the tests. If the glaucoma only affects one eye, you don’t need to tell the DVLA about it or have the eye test.

The glaucoma eye tests have been put on hold during the past year due to the pandemic, but appointments are now being sent out to people who need them.

Section 88 of The Road Traffic Act 1988 states that if you have applied to the DVLA to renew your licence but it expires while it is processing the application, you can carry on driving provided you meet these criteria:

● You have been told by your doctor that you’re fit to drive.

● You meet any conditions that were specified on your previous driving licence and still apply.

● You sent your licence renewal application to the DVLA within the past 12 months.

● You have not been disqualified from driving by a court.