Dvla Reviews 

Total shambles of a company I would have been sacked if I couldn’t do my job ,now 50 working days to have a complaint answered ignoring local mp emails kept my fee and telling me it would be refunded within 3/6 weeks now at week 10 disgusting way to treat people verging on fraud or misrepresentation as taking money for a service they aren’t supplying a 12 months ban now at 30 months what a joke

I received an e mail saying that my licence expired in 90 days and that I could renew it now. I tried several times but the message came up that I could not renew my drivers licence. No explanation. I called them and they told me that there was no reason for me not to renew my licence and that I had been told too early and to try again in a few weeks.

absolute joke. made a mistake and rang asking for a refund since i had already paid before and they kept the money the greedy pigs

The Examiners in charge are using the test as cash cow. There is nothing special about the test that one cannot pass. I’ve hold EU license for past 19 years and driven the whole Europe with ease but was not changed here because the licence was obtained in Africa and converted to EU.

Absolute joke of a an org, where are these people working from home oe the street I’ve just had the pleasure of speaking to someone who sounded like they’re in the high st as I could hear the wind blowing what an absolute joke how are these people hired I commented on the lack of sound but wind and she hung up in what a prized pig !!

Still nothing should've had my car license back in October of last year it is now June 2026 my HGV should've had it back in April of this year 2026 now they are telling me they have not received the paperwork for my HGV that was stamped by my consultant won't even reply to my calls even though I was in the queue for 10 minutes this was at 9 this morning it now 12-20 in the afternoon could possibly lose my job over this they don't care they are on a salary mental health through the roof thank you DVLA for being helpful

Even manifesting isn't working for me right now. My licence got revoked for 1 year which ended on 30.03.26. I applied to get my licence back 8 weeks before filling out the correct forms. Eventually got sent more forms mid April to fill out which I sent back the same day and they still haven't even written to my Oncologist for confirmation.
If I had lost my licence due to drink driving or something other criminal offence I'd have had it re issued by now, where is the fairness in that.
DVLA it is 2026, do better!!!

Extremely long wait times on telephone plus difficulty reaching right person.
Unhelpful staff, unable to give any useful information. I presume this is due to a medical condition even though this had previously been approved.

Need to renew licence due to age. Applied in April, still not received and runs out on Friday. They claim the problem is my passport number, which did not expire until end June. I have now renewed passport (easily!) and they have sent new form for me to fill in new passport number, why can’t they speak to another government department to check. I sent it back registered post and had it signed for two weeks ago. Called them again today and still not processed. Emailed also and was told they could not identify me because passport has expired! What a shambles, asked to speak to a manager and was informed that I could not do this. Someone should be accountable for this bunch of incompetent fools and all civil servants should be back working from an office not home!

Can’t give zero!
I was told by the robot I would keep my place in the queue if I opted for a call back. Been waiting 6 hours now 🤷‍♀️
It’s not the first time I’ve had dealings with these and believe they must be the most useless of the government agencies in the UK. It’s about time they were investigated for the shambles they are.

Absolutely diabolical I’ve been trying to get my license back for five months. You can’t phone them without waiting an hour. You can’t email them. There’s no email the web chat is always off-line. They don’t ring you back when they’re supposed to. I asked them to send me a letter out urgently to prove that I’ve been approved. No letter arrived totally shocking out these government departments are now probably because they’re dealing with the entrance 10 million people that I’ve come to the country what a joke.

This is the worst government body in the world in my opinion, no one knows what the are doing, keep contradicting each other aminat badge, probably not her real name but she is rude in every way, told your call will be answered in 2 minutes, 35 and still counting, my number plate is on retention and the have somehow still took a monthly payment, been waiting for a logbook for 8 weeks, put in 2 official complaints, just danced there way around them and no one cares, we are just little people who don’t matter, they should all be sacked

DVLA is the most incompetent of all government departments. I advised DVLA in October last year of artery occlusion in my left eye. On 29th January they wrote to me wanting me to complete a medical form and authorisation to be returned by 19th February. I completed and sent back same day as I received it. I waited and waited until I get a letter from DVLA STATING THAT BECAUSE I HADN'T ATTENDED A MEDICAL WITH SPECSAVERS MY LICENSE WAS REVOKED. I called DVLA and told them I had NEVER received ANY instruction from them to attend ANY medical nor had I heard from specsavers about anything. However they insisted they sent me the correct letter on 29th January so it was all MY fault. I asked one of the people at DVLA to read me the letter they sent me but she wouldn't do that. Can anyone guess why?Because they sent me BY THEIR MISTAKE a form I usually complete for my diabetes I demanded they reinstate my license and we start again. Oh no, can't do that. Have to apply again for my license BECAUSE DVLA ARE TOO STUPID TO SEND THE RIGHT LETTER FROM DAY 1. I have called many times but it's always the same. I've asked to speak to someone higher up but oh no I can't BECAUSE PEOPLE HIGHER UP AREN'T CUSTOMER FACING. Can anyone guess why?
I've completed a D1 form and sent it back along with the field tests done by both the eye hospital and my optician but that's no good. The test has to be done by specsavers. So on getting details verbally (that DVLA should have told me in their letter dated 29th January) and because I now have good experience of their incompetence I arranged and had the eye appointment with specsavers within 3 days of getting the information on the phone with DVLA and actual appointment with Specsavers.
A day later I got another letter from DVLA enclosing form D1. That's right, THE SAME FORM I COMPLETED AND SENT TO THEM MORE THAN A WEEK EARLIER.
I've now written to my MP who is raising it with the minister responsible. I have also complained to DVLA complaints line but now I've also written by email to the Chief Exec. who is responsible for this shower of idiots. In case anyone also wants to email the Chief exec you can find it online. I will not give it here in case this results in my review being rejected. All I can say is everyone should write to their MP AND THE CHIEF EXEC. and flood the DVLA complaints department.
THIS USELESS DEPARTMENT CALLED DVLA IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IN THEIR CURRENT STATE.

Breath takingly incompetent Government Quango, probably most working from home..... 32 minutes on the phone to the Medical Section... after the auto response says 5- 10 minute wait... Still waiting for my over 70 yrs 3 yrs licence renewal.. Notified them in February 2006 of a medical condition with a letter and SL1 and they acknowledged by letter no conditions to be imposed. I suspect... they dont even have that information after 20 yrs inspite of the data protection in force then.

DVLA mark at Swansea vehicle department was so helpful and amazing

I have to say I filled in the form online for a new V5 and a change back from a private number plate. DVLA Issued the new V5 the same day. Sadly Royal Mail couldn’t be bothered to deliver a ‘letter’ and I ended up having to collect it from the sorting office myself 6 days later. It would be a good idea for DVLA to offer a paid tracking service so we have half a chance of getting documents promptly once posted.

If I could put no star I would!!!
I sent d4and d2 to update my address for my license, they sent it back because the place I got my eye test filled it up wrong sent it back called and called but the never call you back when they say your to get a call back ,
I decided to send new d2 form along with my official eye test to prove am ok for hgv and d1
Again called and called same response nothing, then low and behold they called me on Wednesday, the guy I spoke to said to me it's looking good as it's in with a manager, I said to the guy I'll check on line over weekend to see if it's resolved,but nothing so today I have called 3 times today but no call back after there outomated system says you are on a call back from them, they either need to employ people whom really knows what they are doing, yes I know it's very busy for them ,but if you resend forms should that not be most important,and thanks to dvla I have now lost my job dew to them not doing anything
They even have my email address, how hard is it to send an email , if my case was with manager last Wednesday should he or she not have this matter closed and sorted??
Dvla if your backlogged employ more staff so you can do what your ment to ,

Take 3 week for a v5 form

Discusting service if i could give zero stars i would!!! I import vehicles from USA and register them here and the last year or so the DVLA has become a useless toilet like all government departments run by muppets, so after sending my paperwork off to them and they sending it back 3 or 4 times declined for idiotic reasons, the lun-atics on the last decline tell me the fee was short by £8.25 to make total fee £261.25 so instead of ringing me and letting me pay by card they declined the whole application sent it me all back!! I went to post office bought another postal order for £8.25 put it in sent it back, 4 weeks later so today 22nd May 2026 I get told it's been declined again!! And why? Beacuse they say the fee sent was not correct!!! And I know it is i put it in both applications for 2 vehicles myself!!! And so all they say on the phone the so called customer service robots "Unfortunately" there favourite word it'd been declined send it again!!! I mean what planet are they on? So now I have to wait for it to come back and then send it all again!!!!!! Waste of time, I should of realised dvla it's in Wales they only good with the sheep !!!

Just read a few of the reviews and looking that the ratings dvla has I don't know how to make my mind up.
Sent an application for lost v5 not in my name, just over 4 weeks later I'm told this UK registered car can't be found?. 3 days later dvla want photos of car, a week later O that car has a registered keeper, but spent over 4 weeks to tell me no record of the car?. Dvla says it will need another 2 weeks to carryout security checks?. Do they not want classic cars on the road?, or is it because of my address?.