Hi Navver, I didn't think the towing category went at 70, I thought it was just that you couldn't drive vehicles over 3.5 ton without a medical. I am the same age and I had a PSV (PCV) licence for which I needed to have an annual medical, but I let it lapse last September. Each time I renewed my PSV they gave me another 3 years on my car licence so I still have a year left on the car licence. I am starting to get asked to move Heritage buses around again, so I am thinking of getting a medical and renewing my PSV. Annoying, as I already have an annual medical for driving trains on a Heritage Railway, I don't have to pay for that one, but the same medical can't be used for road vehicles.
I had the one which let me tow car and trailer over 3500kg but let it go as I didn't have a medical which was required to keep it past 70.
Newer drivers needed to do a towing test to tow car and trailer over 3500kg. That requirement has now been done away with so they can now tow car and trailer over 3500kg.
Does this mean we now don't need the medical.
The DVLA website shows I can tow car and trailer over 3500kg but do I have to replace my licence before driving that class.
Navver you have never needed a medical to drive a car and trailer which relates to a B+E category for us oldies, unless it was on medical grounds but anyone now with just a B category can drive a car and trailer since they dropped the law regarding the +E part and I expect there are a lot of drivers out there that do not have the +E on their plastic licences but they can still tow a trailer.
If anyone wanted to renew a C category licence after the age of 70 they would have to have a medical.
B+E means you can tow with a gtw up to 7500kgs.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 18/5/2022
I had the one which let me tow car and trailer over 3500kg but let it go as I didn't have a medical which was required to keep it past 70.
Newer drivers needed to do a towing test to tow car and trailer over 3500kg. That requirement has now been done away with so they can now tow car and trailer over 3500kg.
Does this mean we now don't need the medical.
The DVLA website shows I can tow car and trailer over 3500kg but do I have to replace my licence before driving that class.
If you have checked your licence on the DVLA website, and you have the category on there, I very much doubt whether you would need the medical. I would imagine that when you next renew, the category will automatically be added to your new card. We very rarely get asked to produce our actual licences these days, I can't remember when I last had to show mine, and this is because the police can check directly with the DVLA.
Quote: Originally posted by Rob and Tina on 18/5/2022
If anyone wanted to renew a C category licence after the age of 70 they would have to have a medical.
Tina
The same applies to anyone wanting to renew a D and/or DE category after the age of 70. It's an annual medical and renewal too.
I've just renewed mine at 73 years of age. I tow a caravan with a 4x4 and combined all up weight is circa 4500kg, well under the circa 8000 ish kg I am entitled to tow. Did the application on line, have a current passport so they could use that photo for the license. Received the new one I three days. No medical or eye test, just a tick box medical questionnaire.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 18/5/2022
I had the one which let me tow car and trailer over 3500kg but let it go as I didn't have a medical which was required to keep it past 70.
Newer drivers needed to do a towing test to tow car and trailer over 3500kg. That requirement has now been done away with so they can now tow car and trailer over 3500kg.
Does this mean we now don't need the medical.
The DVLA website shows I can tow car and trailer over 3500kg but do I have to replace my licence before driving that class.
If you have checked your licence on the DVLA website,
You can look at your own licence on the DVLA?? I didnt know that. Is it easy to navigate to get to it?
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 18/5/2022
I had the one which let me tow car and trailer over 3500kg but let it go as I didn't have a medical which was required to keep it past 70.
Newer drivers needed to do a towing test to tow car and trailer over 3500kg. That requirement has now been done away with so they can now tow car and trailer over 3500kg.
Does this mean we now don't need the medical.
The DVLA website shows I can tow car and trailer over 3500kg but do I have to replace my licence before driving that class.
If you have checked your licence on the DVLA website,
You can look at your own licence on the DVLA?? I didnt know that. Is it easy to navigate to get to it?
Yes, very easy. Go to www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
You need your postcode, your licence number, and your National Insurance number.
I renewed mine last November as I was 70. I did it online so lost the C1 category. I am highly unlikely to wish to drive a truck,or motorhome over 3500kg. I have the B+E which means I can drive a car and trailer combined up to 8.25 tonnes.lots more than our outfit!
At the time I would have needed a medical to retain C1, which meant more hassle. DVSA were taking ages for paper application so I didn't bother. License was back in 4 days. I still have my full bike license too. Not that I use it.
Post last edited on 21/05/2022 11:23:54
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
If you are going to travel in Europe probably worth sending your licence off if it no longer shows B+E. Any police over there will just look at your licence as they can’t/won’t check on the government site.