Over 70? Need to renew your drivers licence soon?

[Karoq]

There is a lot of panic going around currently about the possible Draconian method of renewing you driving licence.
If you are 70 or over please look at as many of these videos as possible.
Below which I have put the official answer from the Depertment For Transport, Make of it what you will be be aware!!
Please report your experience if you do have to apply for the benefit of all us 'Old Crumblies.'
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Grey+Maters+over+70+driving+licence+renewal
From the horse's mouth!

Sent: 18 September 2025 14:22
To: DUNCAN-JORDAN, Neil (MP) <neil.duncanjordan.mp@parliament.uk>
Subject: Written answer to your WPQ 76792 received from the Department for Transport
 
The Department for Transport has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (76792):
Question:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency plans to renew its contract with Specsavers to provide eye tests for people over 70. (76792)
Tabled on: 11 September 2025
Answer:
Simon Lightwood:
All drivers who notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of an underlying medical condition that may affect their visual field, regardless of age, are required to have a visual field test with the DVLA’s contracted eye test provider. Specsavers. The current contract for this purpose was awarded to Specsavers in February 2025 following a competitive tender exercise.
The contract is for three years with the option to extend for up to another two years.
The answer was submitted on 18 Sep 2025 at 14:21.
 

[Kremmen]

I went through all that Specsavers check 3 years ago

Made the whole process 3 ¹/2 months longer than usual because the DVLA need to assess what you've declared then send you to SS as you say

3 years ago I applied in mid Jun and got the licence in mid Oct

This year I applied in mid July and submitted the paperwork and it's 'in progress'

[Downsizer]

My wife and I have each renewed our licences 5 times without problem. We both wear spectacles but it has just been a tick-box exercise. The new licences came within days. There is a debate about whether this is sufficient, but I’m not aware of any plans to tighten it up.

[NetworkMan]

Surely all this is pretty clear isn't it?  There are some medical conditions which may affect your peripheral vision. The fields test is to determine if you do indeed have impaired peripheral vision.  If you tick any of the boxes which might mean reduced peripheral vision then the DVLA will say you must have a fields test.  If there is an issue here it is probably with the DVLA who are notoriously slow in processing the paperwork.

I myself have had to fill in the form twice but as Downsizer points out it may well be just a box ticking excercise and won't involve the DVLA medical team.

[Kremmen]

I'm on eye drops to control eye pressure

The drops have been working for over 20 years and my eye pressures are within limit but I told them it was to stop glaucoma and they wanted me testing, which I passed

Not too fussed this time round because I no longer drive. Just decided to renew for a proof of ID document

No need to quote section 88 if needed

[ninanina]

My partner lost vision completely in his right eye due to a very bad cycling accident which severed his optic nerve

He had no problems passing the tests involved and has a valid driving licence

[Sean Regan]

I renewed my driving licence in February on-line, so I needn't worry about it until 2028, when I'll be 88, if I'm still around. Now and again, I do check if I can read a number plate at 20 mtrs. which I can.

Back in the day it was "read a number plate at 20 yards."

[Kremmen]

I can still read number plates beyond the requirement and re-reading the conditions on the DVLA site they need to know about I didn't need to tell them as I'm only on eye drops to control pressures

[Karoq]

Kremmen,
Whoops!
Anyone in doubt. If you read the answer from the DFT at the bottom of my OP it would appear that you will only have to go to SS IF you declare a notifiable problem.
As I understand it from a lot of research, theDVLA do, however, have the right on an ad hoc (pin-sticking) basis to demand your medical records from your GP. Which of course is illegal, as they are highly confidential and need a court order to have them disclosed. But apparently this is not the case for our overbearing, dictatorial current government, who can, apparently make up or over-ride the rules as they see fit! 
Sean,
If this means you DO NOT have an annual eye test? You really should! A comprehensive annual
 eye test can also tell a lot about your general health and is FREE!

[HertsHonda]

I was advised by NHS Ophthalmologist to report my eye condition to DVLA.
The DVLA / Specsavers test - Field of Vision, lots of random spots on a white background.
The appointment came through quickly as did the pass results!

[Sean Regan]

Free eye tests under the NHS for most people are only every two years, unless you've developed a problem certified by your GP.

[ColinS]

I started developing cataracts and my optometrist decided that I needed testing every year.  No referral to a doctor, just happened and has been every year since.

[JJazz]

I moved house and changed my address online. New licence arrived within a week

[Karoq]

I am 80 next January and although I have very mild cataracts, that have hardly worsened over 12 years. I have always had free NHS eye tests once I was an OAP.
Although i wear varifocals  and have corrected sight noted on my licence, I can still read the reg number from 20 metres without glasses. I am long sighted.

[Lord Voltermore]

There are rumours that the Government are contemplating  compulsory eye tests for all renewals after 70.  Not just  self certifying.   Fair enough IMO. I think ALL drivers should have periodic eye sight tests.Plenty of younger drivers would fail. 
I had my free NHS eye test at Specsavers and was told verbally I was OK to drive  with uncorrected vision.  It wouldnt be that difficult for this to be recorded by specsavers etc   onto a DVLA database.

Big brother watching? Well at least he can see properly   and is not driving  a lethal weapon.

It used to shock me that the older generation in my family  (probably the same age I am now  )   thought it perfectly acceptable to drive  well past their 'sell by date'  for competence if they restricted themselves to  roads they 'knew well' . (hazards never change ?)

Ideally  there should also be medical checks for other ailments, as is common in other countries , but I doubt the UK health service could cope. Even if you had to pay it for it this still  diverts medically trained staff away from front line services.

On a similar theme. Some countries include first aid training as part of the driving test. If this increases the proportion of the population taught to  give CPR, stop major bleeding  etc  so much the better  .
Some countries also require a first aid kit to be carried in the car ,but I cant see that a few plasters and bandages would save many lives.