Driver improvement unit: how does it work?
Has your license been revoked? Find out how to get your driver’s license reinstated as well as the costs and procedures involved. The driver improvement unit can also help you get your license back.
How do I get my permanent revoked license back?
To say that having your license revoked is frustrating is a massive understatement. However, it does not need to be a permanent situation: you can get your license reinstated. There are various reasons why your license may be revoked. One of the most common reasons people have their license revoked is failure to surrender their license for endorsement. You are usually required to submit your license for endorsement after a road traffic violation, accident, or driving offense, such as driving under the influence. You are typically given a specified period of time to surrender your license. After this time has elapsed, and if you have not surrendered your license, you will need to apply for reinstatement and it may result in a conviction.
Another situation is when you are no longer deemed eligible to drive due to medical reasons. There is usually a list of minimum medical requirements that you must meet when obtaining a driver’s license. At some stage during your driver’s license application and testing process, you will also be checked for medical fitness. It is essential to check the medical and fitness requirements and assessment rules in your country or state. For example, in certain situations, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the United States requires a Department of Transportation physical examination by a licensed medical examiner. The examination results are valid for up to 24 months but can vary strict, especially if a medical condition that requires monitoring is identified. In Germany, if you are applying for a category A, A2 A1, AM, B, BE, L, or T driver’s license, you must complete a first aid training course and get an eye test. On the other hand, if you are applying for a category C or D (for a truck/commercial driver’s license), you are also required to have a certificate attesting to physical health/fitness. To qualify as a truck driver in the United States with the DOT exam, possible reasons for failure or having your license revoked could be:
- Eyesight or hearing impairment
- Diabetes
- Respiratory disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Missing extremities
- Alcoholism or drug use
- Epilepsy
- High blood pressure
Another possible reason for having your driver’s license revoked is age. A medical exemption is required for people aged 70-75 or older in some European countries. However, this is not the case in every country. France, for example, does not have such a requirement. In the United Kingdom, the age limit is 70 years old. After that, you need to renew your license every three years. In the United States, there is no maximum driving age for senior citizens. However, in some states, there are more restrictions for older drivers. For example, they may be required to take further road tests or renew their license regularly.
How much does it cost to get your license reinstated?
Whatever the reason why you have had your driver’s license revoked or suspended, you will most likely have to pay a fee to have it reinstated. In the United States, reinstatement fees vary state by state and can go as high as USD 1,200. But, generally, the cost of having your driver’s license reinstated is between USD 50-USD 250. In the United Kingdom, if your driver’s license has been revoked, you need to either make an appeal or apply for a new license all over again. What avenue you take usually depends on why your license has been revoked in the first place. For example, for medical reasons, you will need to retake medical assessments and prove that your medical condition has been resolved or that it no longer impairs your driving.
Note that having your driver’s license revoked is not the same as being disqualified from driving. If you have been disqualified from driving, this is for a set period of time during which you are completely banned. When your license has been revoked, it means it has been cancelled, and you can apply for a provisional license, take your theory test and your practical driving test again.
When your license is revoked, you are no longer covered by your insurance, as you no longer hold a valid driver’s license. When you follow the process and have your driver’s license reinstated, you need to declare the revocation when purchasing a new insurance policy. Wherever you live, the new motor vehicle insurance will be the main cost of having your license reinstated.
How can the driver improvement unit help us get our license back?
The good news is that getting your driver’s license reinstated is possible and, what’s more, the driver improvement unit can help you with that. You can submit your request directly online or in writing. If you have had your driver’s license revoked due to penalty points on your license, for example, completing the driver improvement unit course will cancel them. To help you reach a high level of competence and get your license back, the driver improvement unit gives you the skills to anticipate hazards and react to them, including other drivers. Because success requires education, IRU provides comprehensive training and education programmes. These include a mixture of theoretical and practical sessions, offering participants the tools and techniques they can use in their day-to-day jobs.