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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 419 reviews, most reviewers were let down by their experience overall. Many people were dissatisfied with the service, finding it inefficient and slow, particularly regarding license renewals and vehicle registrations. Customers frequently encountered issues with customer service, reporting long wait times, unhelpful staff, and difficulty getting through to the correct department. The general sentiment is that the organization's response times are exceptionally poor, leading to significant frustration and delays. However, some customers also noted positive experiences, particularly with the telephone callback service, which they found efficient. A few individuals reported that specific staff members were friendly, efficient, and reassuring, helping to resolve their issues quickly.

What people talk about most

Service

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of service, consistently expressing dissatisfaction with its... See more

Customer service

Consumers consistently express strong dissatisfaction with customer service. Many report extremely long wait... See more

Staff

People report negative experiences with staff, consistently describing them as unhelpful, incompetent, and... See more

Customer communications

Users describe negative interactions with contact. Many reviewers report extreme difficulty reaching customer... See more

Response time

Customers consistently express significant frustration with response times. Many report extremely long waits... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Turned off the ability to review them on google because they were getting so many bad reviews. What about improving the service??? Anyway..it’s 2026 and you’re still using paper forms? What a joke.... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

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 regi... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sent my licence back to change my home address. Every detail was correct, crossed the box referencing address change. 2 weeks later recieve my licence back with a cheeky letter telling me I can't chan... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I have spent 9 hrs over two days trying to log a medical condition. I tried online but it doesn't recognise my driving license - nothing wrong with it and I have been trying to start a chat. I've wait... See more


1.3

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

2K reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If I could give them less than a star I would. Terrible

If I could give them less than a star I would. I'm a type 1 diabetic and I've been waiting for my provisional license nearly 4 months now. Everytime I call they say they do not have a deadline and proceed to say that they will get around to it. They also sent me the completely wrong form where I had to go out of my way and spend my money to get my photograph taken (which overall was totally unnecessary as they had sent me the wrong form). Completely useless incompetent government agency. Needs very serious changes!

27 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sent my licence back to change my home…

Sent my licence back to change my home address. Every detail was correct, crossed the box referencing address change. 2 weeks later recieve my licence back with a cheeky letter telling me I can't change my name without the correct documents! Im not chaning my ffing name! Honestly thick as mince!

27 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I applied for a new over 70 license on…

I applied for a new over 70 license on 1/1/26 I informed dvla I had a sight problem I have still not heard from medical team I have called numerous times but they tell me I have to wait for them to contact me I have not driven since very poor service from dvla

26 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Helpful

I can sympathise with some of the poor reviews but my experience was positive ... my dyslexia led to me sending off (on line) an incorrect form and spending £80...i spoke to them to raise my case and yes it took a long time to answer but the person noted my error but said i will have to wait a min of 10 days...i pleaded my case and i received a call from a very helpful chap who sorted it so thank you all...credit where credit is due!

23 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I have spent 9 hrs over two days trying…

I have spent 9 hrs over two days trying to log a medical condition. I tried online but it doesn't recognise my driving license - nothing wrong with it and I have been trying to start a chat. I've waited for an advisor on two occassions, today I was waiting for two hours and then they closed the chat and i haven't even spoken to anyone. Dreadful service.

23 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Held my license for 3 years revoked for…

Held my license for 3 years revoked for suspect missuse of substances. Never missused substances, nothing I can seem to do about it either, I pay for there test, pass it and get bs saying they think I may miss use substances. Just feeding them my money and getting nowhere. MP couldnt even help or nothing. They speak to drs I have never met or dont know me and even when told they support me having my lovense back they say the same thing, make me pay for a drug test, I pass and revoked for suspect missuse of substances. This has happened for refusing a drug test I believe from the police and they reported me for not providing so these then revoke for suspect missuse even though they have no evidence to prove it. Disgusting 3 years they been eating my money with same story.

YOU SHOULD REFUND THE DRUG TEST MONEY TO, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE PASS AND YOU USE A LAME EXCUSE LIKE THIS TO HOLD LICENSES. I JUST DRIVE WITH OUT ONE AND GO TO JAIL NOW FOR NO INSURANCE AND BANNED DRIVING.

14 March 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What you expect when you call DVLA…

What you expect when you call DVLA licence medical dept well they did not let me down .
Spoke to Alfie I think his work no was 15
He was not interested in what I was asking ,he was no help even when I explained my medical situation they have had my licence for 5 weeks ,
Alfie obviously had a late night Sunday night he spent more time yawning than listening to my situation
Well thank you DVLA you are truly a waste of time and totally shit to deal with.

20 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

When I bought an aovopro ap20 750w off…

When I bought an aovopro ap20 750w off road ebike I was kitting it up to have a motorcycle single vehicle assessment and apply for a new provisional licence so I could do my cbt to ride legally the dvla really wound me up. Basically my first provisional was when I was 18, I am now 33 and came out as trans 4 years ago. I lost that provisional when I was 20 or 21 and never notified them. I have also changed my name a few times since I was 23. I sent off the D1 form gauranteed next day before 1pm tracked, £20 postal order included and one deed poll and other items to identify me. Even a senior practitioner for the assessment and referral team for gmmh put his details on the form and saying I am who I say I am. When the dvla sent everything back to me I was fuming, but still tried. The senior practitioner even printed off legitimate deep polls with all my dead names on and he signed as one witness and my neighbour did who I have known for 2 and a half years. I even signed the name that was on my old provisional exactly the same. Even when I filled in the previous addresses on the D1 form I put the address that was on my old provisional on it. I sent everything back including the confusing medical forms they sent me cutting out 2 large letter 1st class stamps from an envelope becasue I couldn't wait till I next got paid. A few weeks passed and then once again they sent everything back and said I still need to prove who I am. There is literally nothing else I can do!!. They seriously need to stop living in the 1960s 😒 and sending things back using second class. How much money they get, oh are motorists second class citizens? Atleast when I apply for my first adult passport I can go Liverpool and have a face to face interview. Luckily though I did end up breaking the controller wires on my ebike so when I tried to fix it but couldn't I took it apart then paid for the 250w Hidoes b6 mini. I could still be pulled over by police on that as I can use the throttle but it only goes maximum 15.5mph. The DVLA need to sort themselves out. Or they just lied to me because they didn't want to give me a new provisional cz I am autistic, have anxiety and depression and schizoaffective disorder. Well done 👏 Just as bad as the government

11 February 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Had a stroke 23/10/23

Had a stroke 23/10/23 , had my licence revoked , before the stroke I was a fully qualified motorcycle instructor , I reapplied for my licence after I had my meds sorted out around Oct 24 , I have jumped thru hoops for these people who thought , I was blind in one eye after 6 opticians oppnthments I had to get a letter off my doctor , then my stroke specialist , I then had to sit another test , all this was passed , by Oct 25, I was getting sick , I have submitted all paperwork , then they lost my photo , I had to reapply again , on Feb 10th this year they received my application , I AM STILL WAITING , I am having to sell my home. With no licence I can’t work. , phoning them is a waste of time , IF they answer , they don’t call you back , something needs done about this , I’m tens of thousands of pounds out of pocket , I have lost all my no claims discounts on my vehicles , the whole department are not fit for purpose , only in the uk !!!!!

25 April 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Treat staff as you you demand to be treated.…

Your telephone call back service is excellent. You called back within 15 minutes. At around 1550 17.04.26, I spoke to a lovely Welsh Lady, explaining that the expiry date on my, Non Medical, Licence was fast approaching and I had not yet received its renewal. This, Welsh, Lady was so friendly, efficient and reassuring that, within a minute, she was able to tell me that my Licence had been renewed and was in the post. Five stars.

17 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Retro set up & slow service

Had a seizure end of july 2025, recieved a letter few weeks letter telling me to send my license back to them as they had revoked it (for obvious reasons) then the letter said i can re apply 8 weeks before end of january 2026 which i did... 4 months later get a letter back saying I cant re apply until 8 weeks before end of july 2026. On the dvla gov website the chat system is totally useless & they tell you very lack of information & get told to phone up but then spend hours waiting for a callback just to be told its in the system or in a queue... the service/system is definitely not fit for purpose & requires a major overhaul & make the re application process for medical etc faster & smoother its a total shambles no wonder they were shamed on the recent oneshow on BBC!!!

18 February 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolute Garbage!

Purchased a car a month ago & the dealership taxed it & the documents sent off so the new logbook could be issued to me.
Still nothing received so I called them.
After a long.period on hold I finally spoke to someone ( Assuming.not AI)!
They've received all the documents but just haven't bothered processing them.
Several days later I've checked online & still nothing done.
They never used to be this bad!! & Seems to coincide with Starmers obsession of bringing everything into one digital hub.
Something else Labour have f#cked up

16 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Had heart bypass 6 years ago and not…

Had heart bypass 6 years ago and not had any problems since
Have done the Bruce test twice at dvla request
I think they believe you have to push the truck and not sit there and drive it
Every year now when I have to renew I get the same problem
The medical team
Absolutely useless in this day and age
This lot I.e DVLA are not fit for purpose
I’ve again spent hours waiting on the phone
After numerous times pushing the button for a call back
Which never comes and still haven’t spoken to anyone
It’s a disgrace my license is now showing expired so I cannot work
How is it possible for jobs worths like this to stop me from working
I passed the medical and still because of this absolute useless department of our civil service cannot work
It’s about time someone did something about this nonsense

15 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Entirely outdated system, no comms...

Entirely outdated system that needs a complete overhaul. You can only pay by cheque or postal order, truly absurd and so horrendously out of sync with modern payment methods. In addition to this the communication is non-existent, weeks go by and nothing, until you ring them amd chase information, not sure how our driving licensing system in underpinned by this utter shambles of an organisation.

9 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Honest Opinion

Cannot give them no stars or I would. Impossible to get through to them don't ring back. My license renewal has been with them since the 4th December last year. Now elapsed but fortunately I can still carry on driving under article,,88
An absolute shambles of a government dept

14 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

What a disgrace.

What a disgrace.
Road tax rates utterly sickening. We're driving on third world quality roads paying the highest rates in the world.

13 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Waste of space

Dvla are a joke why do they have a call back when they don,t do so Thursday still waiting Friday still waiting Monday twice and still waiting waste of space

10 April 2026
Unprompted review

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