Exact steps every driver over 70 should take to avoid vehicle ban under DVLA licence rules

IF drivers over the age of 70 want to avoid the ban on certain vehicles a couple of steps must be taken.

It comes as drivers who hit the milestone are automatically banned from driving two types of vehicle unless they take action.

The little-known DVLA policy means that 70-year-old's have to renew their licence and upon receiving the new one will find that they no longer have C1 or D1 entitlements.

C1 allows users to drive medium-sized vehicles with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of between 3,500kg and 7,500kg.

While D1 means users can drive minibuses with a maximum of 16 passenger seats.

They can only be up to eight metres long and have a maximum trailer weight of 750kg.

All drivers will be contacted by the DVLA 56 days before their driving license expires.

But you can renew the license from 90 days before your 70th birthday.

In order to keep the entitlements to C1 and D1 vehicles, two forms must be filled out.

First is the application for renewal of lorry and bus entitlement known as form D47P.

This document can be ordered here if the DVLA have not sent it out to you in the weeks leading up to the expiration date.

You will then need a doctor to carry out a medical examination and fill out the report form known as D4.

If the doctor is unable to fill out the form in its entirety, you can get a optician or optometrist to do the vision assessment.

The completed forms must then be sent back to the DVLA.

It is a free service that can only be completed by post.

Those living in Northern Ireland should check with the DVLA on how the process differs.

If you have a paper driving licence, drivers must submit original documentation confirming their identity and a passport-style photograph with the two completed forms.

Those who have changed their name will also have to submit original documentation confirmed the name change.

Can I drive while my licence is being renewed?

While your driving license is being renewed, you can continue driving on the roads if:

• You had a valid licence
• You have not been told by a medical professional that you should not drive
• You drive under the conditions of your previous driving license
• Your application is less than a year old
• Your last licence was not revoked or refused for medical reasons
• You are not disqualified
• You were not disqualified as a high risk offender on or after June 1, 2013

Once you turn 70, your driver's licence must be renewed every three years.

This can always be done for free on the GOV.UK website and you will get a reminder three months before it is due to expire.