Renewing Medical, should I bother?

Renewing Medical, should I bother?

Author
Discussion

Willy Nilly

Original Poster:

12,511 posts

174 months

Sunday 16th September 2018
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I have Class 2. It was just for holiday cover at work but we no longer have a lorry. My medical is about up for renewal and so will my CPC's.

Now, I have no need for this license any more and frankly think driving lorries if a badly paid, over regulated pain in the arse. That said, it may come in handy one day. If I let the medical lapse and needed Class C again, is it just a case of getting the medical and doing my CPC's or once it's gone is that it?

Fanks.

Amused2death

2,502 posts

203 months

Monday 17th September 2018
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I got my Cat C, made use of it for a few years then went into something else. My entitlement became medically expired and I looked into renewing it. Getting the entitlement back was just a case of doing the medical and sending it off. Then if I actually wanted to drive for an employer I'd also need to do the CPC.

I didn't bother for the same reasons you've suggested....More rules, regulations and red tape.

I was led to believe, though I haven't found anything that states this, that you had 10 years from date of medical expiry to renew it or lose the entitlement.

Can anyone confirm if this is correct?

ETA....It was a few years after it had expired that I looked into it, so if your entitlement has only just expired you don't have to rush into whether or not to renew, you could happily leave the idea of renewal on the backburner until such time as needed.

Edited by Amused2death on Monday 17th September 09:47

Willy Nilly

Original Poster:

12,511 posts

174 months

Monday 17th September 2018
quotequote all
Welsh lady at the DVLA said there's no need to renew it but if I ended up needing it in the future just get a new medical and off you go again, CPC's obviously.

StevieSpain

71 posts

77 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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Yes, you can reclaim it whenever you want by getting a medical. CPC and Tacho are required to work for hire or reward.
One thing. Keep a copy of your licence in a safe place, or multiple copies. Do NOT lose them. DVLA has a nasty habit of losing entitlements when you renew it.
Although, to be fair, DVLA did once give a girl who had just passed her test ALL the driving entitlements on there biggrin

Pica-Pica

14,469 posts

91 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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StevieSpain said:
Yes, you can reclaim it whenever you want by getting a medical. CPC and Tacho are required to work for hire or reward.
One thing. Keep a copy of your licence in a safe place, or multiple copies. Do NOT lose them. DVLA has a nasty habit of losing entitlements when you renew it.
Although, to be fair, DVLA did once give a girl who had just passed her test ALL the driving entitlements on there biggrin
I would renew it, just in case. It can’t be that difficult, can it?

Macneil

930 posts

87 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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I guess your employer won't pay as you no longer have a wagon.
So what field are you in? If you have skills that are in demand I guess you wouldn't bother but if you don't you may find that you need to take what you can get should you lose your job.
I would renew, five years from now you might be cursing yourself if you don't, or mildly regretting spending the money if you do and don't need it.

There jobs where you don't drive lgv but the employer still asks for that qualification.

I didn't renew mine, but only because I had moved into a completely different type of work, and even if I lost my job tomorrow, god forbid, I think my experience and skills would get me a similar job in a similar field.




StevieSpain

71 posts

77 months

Sunday 7th October 2018
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Pica-Pica said:
I would renew it, just in case. It can’t be that difficult, can it?
No, not really. To keep it on your licence just takes a medical. That's about 50-60 quid.
To drive for hire or reward will cost you 35 hours CPC refresher course (approx 350 quid) and a tacho card (32 quid, currently)

Edited by StevieSpain on Sunday 7th October 21:51

Willy Nilly

Original Poster:

12,511 posts

174 months

Tuesday 16th October 2018
quotequote all
Macneil said:
I guess your employer won't pay as you no longer have a wagon.
So what field are you in? If you have skills that are in demand I guess you wouldn't bother but if you don't you may find that you need to take what you can get should you lose your job.
I would renew, five years from now you might be cursing yourself if you don't, or mildly regretting spending the money if you do and don't need it.

There jobs where you don't drive lgv but the employer still asks for that qualification.

I didn't renew mine, but only because I had moved into a completely different type of work, and even if I lost my job tomorrow, god forbid, I think my experience and skills would get me a similar job in a similar field.



I work on a farm, so don't need it and really dislike driving lorrys when I am left to my own devices driving machines on the farm, machines that are also nicer to drive.