Motorists who reach a certain milestone age will find themselves prohibited from driving motorhomes and minibuses. The Older Drivers Forum has highlighted that upon renewing your licence at the age of 70, you’ll no longer have the C1 (Medium sized vehicles between 3500kg and 7500kg) and D1 (Minibuses) categories included on your licence.
To retain these categories, you must fill out a D2 (Application Form) and undergo a D4 (Medical Examination Report). Additionally, once you hit 70, the C category will disappear from your licence unless you opt to retake the test.
For those who had a B+E licence before their licence expired at 70, they can still operate a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes with a trailer, as long as the combined weight doesn’t exceed 8.25 tonnes after renewal. The forum stated: “As we get older, many of us take up voluntary work, like driving minibuses to help others get around. Your standard licence will not cover you to do this when you renew your licence at 70, unless you renew your minibus entitlement.”
The advice for septuagenarians or those approaching the age is clear: “If you’re 70 or over (or soon will be) and are renewing your driving licence, you need to order a D2 application form or download a D4 medical examination report – this must be filled in by a doctor. You should send both forms to the address in section F of the D2.”
If you wish to continue driving a minibus, it’s mandatory to pass a full PCV medical, identical to that required for professional bus and lorry drivers. Even if you only possess B entitlement, passing a PCV medical is still necessary to continue driving minibuses, reports Birmingham Live.
If you opt for the standard D1 or online renewal procedure, your C1 entitlement will be suspended, preventing you from driving motorhomes between 3,500kg and 7,500kg until you have successfully passed a medical.
