Driver & Vehicle Agency Northern Ireland

Frequently mentioned in reviews: Top-rated.online cuts through the clutter, highlighting only the reviews that are most helpful, earn the most likes, or come from the most active contributors. An absolute farce and an embarrassment. Trying to do a simple administrative procedure, like change an address, turns into months of hassle and aggravation- things which take a few days in GB or the Republic of Ireland. Sure some of the folks you get on the phone are dead on, and I doubt if it's their fault, but the operation as a whole would be run better if a squirrel was in charge. It's absolutely absurd that in these times you have to send such an important document as a passport by post to verify your identity. Then they keep it for a month and to get it back you have to prove that you need it. Total disgrace to this institution. e-mail response after two from dva: Morning Thank-you for contacting DVA. According to our records your was received in DVA on 14/05/2025, unfortunately we have a backlog of applications and today we are assessing applications received in DVA on 02/05/2025. If you require your documents urgently for travel, please provide proof of travel. Kind regards Linda IDE Section DVA 4 and waiting. Called them, they don't have my information on the system (meaning they didn't even open the envelope).. My original documents, all forms of IDs, are just sitting there and I can't travel because of their incompetency. What's the difference between applying for licence in 2025 and 1980s? None What a shambles of a service when you eventually get through you have to listen to endless menus, this service is not fit for purpose any longer, waiting over 3 months for a provisional licence what a joke got back to what you know like a pencil and paper👎👎 This is a very outdated service. I had to exchange my Canadian for an NI one. I have previously held an NI driver's license, and I had to switch to a Canadian one after living there for a few years. I sent my initial 6 ago, and I heard nothing for around 4 weeks. I then got a letter through the door, inside was all of my documents, including the form. A letter inside stated that I had sent the wrong amount of money on my postal order (£30 instead of £32.50, even though the post office told me it was £30). So, instead of calling and simply asking for an extra sum of £2.50, they sent back my entire and I had to do the whole thing again. I sent my back over a week ago, expecting it to be seen to fairly immediately given such a small error. I called today asking for an update on my application, only to be told that essentially the envelope hasn't been opened yet, and that it could take over 2 for the to even begin being processed. It is crazy that in this day and age when so many people (including myself) rely on their cars for work etc. that this is still the system that is used in Northern Ireland. In Canada, when exchanging a you were given a temporary one to use while you waited on your card coming through, which if I remember correctly only took a week or so. This meant that I could still drive while I waited on my license. I think it's time that the DVA look at a refresh of this outdated and frustrating system that seems to affect so many people who go through it. Total shambles. A deliberate effort has been made to be uncontactable by the public, and even their own internal public-facing staff. In Australia this whole process took 10 minutes on an app. Here it took 6 and 2 postal back and forths with my only 2 photo IDs. I missed a flight. They promised to respond to an urgent request within 24 hours - it took 3 weeks. I sent my Canadian off in June and still have no update on my account every time I phone. I was first told I paid the wrong amount and my was cancelled, even though I phoned up to confirm the price before paying. My form was then returned to me one month ago asking for proof of residence and my passport. Thankfully I have 2 passports so I was able to send one but this shouldn't be the case as many people will not have that option and without a licence, it may be their only form of ID. Also, why not just ask for all of the required documents along with the initial to avoid endless wait times and frustration? I phoned again to confirm my form had arrived and for an update and spoke to an advisor who seemed to share everyones frustrations saying his own took 3 months and he works for the DVA. He did not have any answers for me, only that I should ring once a week to check in for updates. Just off the phone again, only to be told that there is still no update on my account. Thats 4 months of waiting now with still no answers and not much help when I phone either. People rely on having a for so many instances, I don't understand why it needs to be so difficult. My partner applied for his at the same time in Belgium and received a new one 2 days later, no stress whatsoever. Honestly the worst system I have ever used. Clearly from the reviews on here and speaking to local family and friends this is a consistent issue for so many people. A complete waste of time Waited near a month for my renewal, it's cost me a ridiculous amount in postage, and will do in travel now my is about to expire- they couldn't even spell my name right even though they had all my ID in a letter they returned telling me to return the letter but not the form it nightmare Incompetent bunch, as even when I called up the driver's department I was told it wasn't their problem. | was quicker getting a passport and vehicle log book sorted from England!! 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