How to Get Your Driving Licence Back After a Ban

If you were disqualified from driving for any reason and are questioning ways to get your driving licence back after a ban, this information can help you discover what you should do and exactly how. Getting excluded from driving a car is difficult, but has to be carried out if you broke the rules. By using this method correctly, you can return to the road once your disqualification is finished.

Are you a high-risk offender?

Disqualification from driving can happen for many factors, such as dangerous driving, accumulation of points, getting caught using a mobile phone and, most frequently, for drink driving. To figure out how to get your driving licence back after a ban, you will need to see whether you fall under the group known as ‘high risk offenders’, or HRO.

You will fall into the HRO category if any of the following apply:

•You were disqualified for drink driving by having an alcohol level of more than 87.5mg per 100ml of breath, 200mg per 100ml of blood or 267.5mg per 100ml of urine.

•You have already been disqualified twice within the last ten years due to an alcohol related offense.

•You were disqualified because you refused to give a breath, blood or urine sample for testing.

•You were disqualified because you refused to allow analysis of a blood sample to go ahead due to incapacity.

The courts might not have informed you if you’re a high-risk offender, so it’s up to you to find out which category you fall into. This will affect how you get your licence back.

Non-high-risk offenders

Believing you’re not within the HRO category of offenders, you should receive notification from DVLA around 56 days before your ban is lifted. This will include an application to renew your licence with them, known as the form D27P. If you don’t receive this from DVLA, you are able to apply from the post office using a form D1.

A photo card holder will have to send off a D27P together with the payment necessary to renew your licence. The form ought to be sent to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB. If you wish to renew the photo on your licence, it will have notification of this on the D27P form.

IF you happen to be a paper licence holder you will have to send in the D27P form as above. You should also enclose a passport-type photo for your new photocard licence. You can make use of the Post Office ‘Check and Send’ facility before you return it to make certain it is all totally correct. Lorry, bus or minibus drivers will have to fill in a form D2 which is available from DVLA or from the Office of Traffic Commissioners.

High-risk offenders

If you think you are in the HRO category, there is more work to do so that you can get your licence back. DVLA require a confirmation from a doctor that you are medically fit to drive again. This means you will have to go through a medical assessment including blood tests before your licence will be reissued.

DVLA will send you the application form for reinstating your licence around 90 days before your disqualification ends. If you do not receive the form, you can ask at the Post Office for a form D1, or can request your D27P is resent from DVLA directly. Bus, minibus and lorry drivers will need to fill in the form D2 also.

The medical examination for HROs

Before DVLA will reissue your licence, they need to be sure you are fit and well enough to drive. This means you will have to attend a medical assessment with one of DVLA’s own appointed doctors before you can send in your application. The assessment will usually include:

•Blood tests

•Urine tests

•A physical examination of your health

•A questionnaire about your health, any medical problems you may have had and your use of alcohol in general

There is usually a fee to cover this process which requires it to be paid by you. In the event the medical shows dependence or misuse of alcohol to be a regular problem, you might not get your licence back. If you know you have a problem with alcohol, a medical condition or a mental health issue, you should wait to resolve this before figuring out how to get your licence back.