Having your driving licence revoked is one of the most frustrating experiences for a driver. If you’re unable to win an appeal, you must re-take the entire driving test (both theory and practical tests)—starting by reapplying for a provisional licence. Of course, this is time-consuming and stressful.
In this blog post, I discuss the possible reasons as to why your driving licence might be revoked, how a driving offence solicitor can help you put forward an appeal, and the frequently asked questions related to the revocation of your licence.
My driving licence has been revoked. Can I still drive?
The DVLA will send you a letter before revoking your licence. The letter also contains what you can do to stop them from revoking your licence, and your option to appeal through the courts. During the appeal, you can still drive unless your licence is also suspended.
If the DVLA revokes your licence, you are not eligible to drive on UK roads until you are issued a new provisional driving licence.
It is best to consult a specialist driving offence solicitor as soon as you receive the letter. You can phone me at 0151 601 3743 for a free initial consultation. I can present your legal options, how you can respond to the letter, and evaluate your chances of success if you choose to appeal.
Reasons why your driving licence can be revoked
Here is a list of the most common grounds for the DVLA to revoke your licence:
Failure to hand over driving licence for endorsement
The DVLA will send you a notice of revocation if you fail to hand over your licence for endorsement. If your licence is lost, you can apply for a duplicate licence. Otherwise, you will be required to surrender your licence for endorsement within 28 days. If you do not act on this, your licence will automatically be revoked after the 28-day deadline.
After receiving your notification, DVLA will decide whether to:
revoke your licence
allow you to retain your licence
issue a short-period licence to allow regular monitoring of the status of your health
require you to adapt your vehicle so you can drive safely considering your medical condition
If your licence is revoked due to medical reasons, you can apply for a new licence after getting certification from your doctor that you meet the necessary standards for driving safely.
Probationary driver accumulating 6 points in 2 years
If you are a new driver and accumulate 6 or more points within your probationary period, your licence will be revoked. You can avoid a revocation by:
Defending the charge against you
Negotiating to attend speed awareness and driver improvement courses instead of penalty points
Negotiating for a period of disqualification from driving in lieu of penalty points
My driving licence has been revoked. How do I get it back?
Filing an appeal is usually through the DVLA. If it fails, you can file it with the Magistrates Court. However, the reason for which your driving licence was revoked will dictate whether or not you can appeal the revocation.
If you accumulate six points on your licence within the first two years of driving—and you accepted the fixed penalty—you cannot appeal the revocation.
An exception to the above would be the penalty points having been awarded in error. I can help you appeal your case to a higher court if a court hearing led to the revocation of your licence.
You can appeal the revocation of your driving licence due to a medical condition by writing to your local Magistrates Court within 6 months. You must provide evidence from a doctor that you are fit to drive.
If your licence was revoked because you failed to hand over your licence for endorsement, I would advise that you appeal the case of the offence that led to the endorsement. It is best to consult a specialist driving offence solicitor to avoid costly mistakes in the process.
Is disqualification the same as revocation?
No. Revocation involves invalidating your licence with no indication of when you will be allowed to drive again. But, you can apply for a provisional licence on the same day of the revocation of your (original) licence.
You can be disqualified for drink driving, drug driving, and speeding that's significantly above the speed limit. However, the most common reason for disqualification is the "totting-up ban" when you accumulate 12 or more points within 3 years after your probationary period.
Get a free initial consultation
Call me at 0151 601 3743 as soon as you receive the letter of revocation or disqualification. In a free initial consultation, I can present your legal options, how you can respond to the letter, and evaluate your chances of success if you choose to appeal.
