DVLA: Apology over continuing driving licence renewal delays

More than 500 Covid cases were recorded at DVLA sites in Swansea between September 2020 and April 2021

Motorists who submit paper applications to renew their driver's licence could still face a 10-week wait to receive their documents, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has said.

The agency apologised and said industrial action and social distancing in Swansea had led to the delays.

DVLA sites in the city have recorded hundreds of Covid cases among its 6,000-strong workforce.

A union ballot on more strikes over Covid safety will close on 3 September.

The industrial dispute has seen targeted strike action since April where staff in different departments have walked out for a few days at a time.

In a statement on its website, the agency said paper applications "are likely to take 6 to 10 weeks to process".

It added: "We're sorry for any inconvenience caused but we are working as quickly as we can to deal with your application."

There is no delay to online applications, the DVLA says

It said it receives about 60,000 items of mail every day that needs to be opened and processed.

Applications for new drivers to receive their first provisional licence are also facing delays, with the agency currently processing documents submitted on 6 July.

It said there was no delay to online applications and advised customers to use its online services "where possible".

Most motorists waiting for their applications to be processed are still allowed to drive.

The DVLA said: "Our online services have not been impacted by the pandemic and continue to run as normal and without any delays. The majority of transactions can be done online including renewing a driving licence.

"There are delays in processing paper applications due to ongoing industrial action and social distancing requirements, which means that we have had fewer staff than usual on site at any one time."

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