How to get your driving license back after a ban
If you’ve been disqualified from driving for any reason and are wondering how to get your driving license back at the end of the ban, this guide will help you find out what you need to do and how. Being excluded from driving a car is tough, but needs to be done if you broke the rules. By following the process accurately, you’ll be able to get back on the road once your disqualification is over.
Are you a high risk offender?
Disqualification from driving can occur for a number of reasons, including dangerous driving, accumulation of points and, most commonly, for drink driving. To work out how to get your driving license back, you’ll need to determine whether you fall into the group known as ‘high risk offenders’, or HRO. You will fall into the HRO category if any of the following apply:
•You were disqualified for drink driving with an alcohol level of more than 87.5mg per 100ml of breath, 200mg per 100ml of blood or 267.5mg per 100ml of urine.
•You have been disqualified twice within the last ten years due to an alcohol related offense.
•You were disqualified because you refused to give a breath, blood or urine sample for testing.
•You were disqualified because you refused to allow analysis of a blood sample to go ahead due to incapacity.
The courts may not have told you if you are a high risk offender, so it’s up to you to determine which category you fall into. This will affect how you get your license back.
Non high risk offenders
If you think you are not in the HRO category of offenders, you should receive notification from DVLA around 56 days before your ban is lifted. This will contain an application to renew your license with them, known as a form D27P. If you do not receive this from DVLA, you can apply through the post office using a form D1, or can request your D27P via theDVLA website.
If you are a photocard holder, you will need to send off your D27P along with the payment required to renew your license. The form should be sent to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB. If you need to renew the photo on your license, there will be notification of this on the D27P form.
IF you are a paper license holder you will need to send in the D27P form as above, but will also need to enclose a passport type photo for your new photocard license. You can use the Post Office ‘Check and Send’ facility before you send it in to make sure everything is correct. Lorry, bus or minibus drivers will need to fill in a form D2 which is available from DVLA or from the Office of Traffic Commissioners.
High risk offenders
If you think you are in the HRO category, there is a bit more work to do in order to get your license back. DVLA require confirmation from a doctor that you are medically fit to drive again. This means you will need to undergo a medical assessment including blood tests before your license will be reissued.
DVLA will send you the application form for reinstating your license around 90 days before your disqualification ends. If you do not receive the form, you can ask at the Post Office for a form D1, or can request your D27P is resent from DVLA directly. Bus, minibus and lorry drivers will need to fill in the form D2 also.
The medical examination for HRO’s
Before DVLA will reissue your license, they need to be sure you are fit and well enough to drive. This means you will have to attend a medical assessment with one of DVLA’s own appointed doctors before you can send in your application. The assessment will usually include:
•Blood tests
•Urine tests
•A physical examination of your health
•A questionnaire about your health, any medical problems you may have had and your use of alcohol in general
There is a fee to pay for this process which needs to be covered by you. If the medical shows dependence or misuse of alcohol to be an ongoing problem, you may not get your license back. If you know you have a problem with alcohol, a medical condition or a mental health issue, you should wait to resolve this before figuring out how to get your license back.
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