When you're off on a road trip and you're driving, there are plenty of things you probably wouldn't want to be without but the most important has to be your driver's licence. This acts as proof, should you ever need it, that you're entitled to be behind the wheel. Unless, of course, the DVLA makes another of their mistakes - the kind that has left some of you without any licence at all.
We've already heard (in the programme on Monday 27 April), how some of you had sent your licences to the DVLA to have them updated, only to have them returned with incorrect details. Jon Jones has had his entitlement to ride a motorbike removed, after he'd had it for 30 years. Instead of admitting a mistake, the DVLA made him retake his test.
It told Jan Shepperd she'd have to do the same, and insisted it is always right. The company told her over the phone that according to its records she had never applied to have a licence and there was no way its records were incorrect. She felt disgusted at being told that she was essentially a liar.
Since 27 April 2009, Watchdog has heard from hundreds of you who say you've lost the right to drive because of blunders by the DVLA. We decided to investigate further.
Lynn Groves
In 2006, Lynn Groves mislaid her driving licence so she applied for a replacement. Having been on the road, with a full licence, for 42 years she didn't foresee that she would encounter any problems at all. She was, however, wrong. The DVLA refused to send her a new licence because it said it couldn't find any record of her on its system.
Lynn tried to explain to the DVLA that she had her original licence, but they refused to acknowledge it as proof. This has meant that, for the past three years, she has been unable to drive. Lynn was told to re-take her test, which she unfortunately failed because she was so nervous.
Rosemary Williams
Rosemary Williams checked her licence after she saw Watchdog on 27 April 2009. She found a major problem - as devastating as it is ridiculous. She found her licence was null and void, the impact of which Rosemary describes as 'horrendous', particularly as she can no longer drive to see her grandchildren.
Rosemary's problems date back to when she moved house and sent the DVLA her licence to update her address details. Though she only spotted it last week, it turns out the new licence expired before it had even arrived.
The issue date was 16 April 2008. The expiry date, however, was 15 April 2008 - the day before. This means that for the past 12 months, Rosemary has been driving around with void insurance and no legal right to be on the roads. When Rosemary realised this she was horrified. Another corker, from the government agency that, remember, says it doesn't make mistakes.
You are not alone!
We'd never have thought so many of you would be telling us the DVLA messed up your licence too. Car drivers, motorcyclists and even a few truck drivers have all been in touch to tell us they have also had their entitlements wiped from their licence. For some, this has even meant they haven't been able to work until they've spent hundreds of pounds getting through their test again.
It does seem, though, the DVLA doesn't just take licences away. We all know they issue them but we've heard tell of instances when they've actually given out licenses to people who haven't actually passed their test.
Amy Nicholas took and failed her driving test last October, but was surprised and shocked when she received a full driving licence through the post two weeks later.
That's not all. We were contacted by a gentleman who was a little confused after receiving his licence back from the DVLA. The entitlements seemed fine but the problem came when he read the details on the front of the licence. He discovered that he was actually from the 'Untied Kingdom' and not the United Kingdom.
He wasn't quite as confused, however, as a Surrey-based man whose licence was sent, with all the correct details, but with a photo of a woman instead of his own.
Tim Shallcross, the head of technical policy and advice at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, believes it's a DVLA fantasy that they can have 40 million records without a single error. He told Watchdog that this is a real problem. This is because if you believe that there are no errors, you don't have a process in place to put those errors right when they do occur.
Julia takes drastic action
Julia Bradbury decided it was time to take drastic action and as Lynn and Rosemary can't drive she took them on a road trip to the head quarters of the DVLA - in Swansea. The journey was long and when they finally arrived both ladies were a bit nervous but with evidence in hand and truth on their side, they entered the building.
Emerging, minutes later, both ladies were jubilant - they'd been triumphant. Though they would have to wait a few weeks, Rosemary and Lynn were told their licences would be re-instated.
It's a massive U-turn for the DVLA, who has previously refused to budge an inch. It's great that we managed to get two ladies back on the road, but what about everyone else who has been in touch? Have the DVLA finally seen sense, or are you all going to have to go to Swansea to sort out your driving licence problems?
DVLA statement
"It is vital that we protect the safety of all road users by ensuring that only people who can prove they have passed the relevant driving test are allowed to drive on our roads. Errors are extremely rare but we thoroughly investigate all cases reported to us and aim to resolve any inaccuracies as quickly as possible. Drivers should of course remember that they are required by law to let us know when they change their details to allow us to keep our records up to date."
DVLA update
We've already heard (in the programme on Monday 27 April), how some of you had sent your licences to the DVLA to have them updated, only to have them returned with incorrect details. Jon Jones has had his entitlement to ride a motorbike removed, after he'd had it for 30 years. Instead of admitting a mistake, the DVLA made him retake his test.
It told Jan Shepperd she'd have to do the same, and insisted it is always right. The company told her over the phone that according to its records she had never applied to have a licence and there was no way its records were incorrect. She felt disgusted at being told that she was essentially a liar.
Since 27 April 2009, Watchdog has heard from hundreds of you who say you've lost the right to drive because of blunders by the DVLA. We decided to investigate further.
Lynn Groves
In 2006, Lynn Groves mislaid her driving licence so she applied for a replacement. Having been on the road, with a full licence, for 42 years she didn't foresee that she would encounter any problems at all. She was, however, wrong. The DVLA refused to send her a new licence because it said it couldn't find any record of her on its system.
Lynn tried to explain to the DVLA that she had her original licence, but they refused to acknowledge it as proof. This has meant that, for the past three years, she has been unable to drive. Lynn was told to re-take her test, which she unfortunately failed because she was so nervous.
Rosemary Williams
Rosemary Williams checked her licence after she saw Watchdog on 27 April 2009. She found a major problem - as devastating as it is ridiculous. She found her licence was null and void, the impact of which Rosemary describes as 'horrendous', particularly as she can no longer drive to see her grandchildren.
Rosemary's problems date back to when she moved house and sent the DVLA her licence to update her address details. Though she only spotted it last week, it turns out the new licence expired before it had even arrived.
The issue date was 16 April 2008. The expiry date, however, was 15 April 2008 - the day before. This means that for the past 12 months, Rosemary has been driving around with void insurance and no legal right to be on the roads. When Rosemary realised this she was horrified. Another corker, from the government agency that, remember, says it doesn't make mistakes.
You are not alone!
We'd never have thought so many of you would be telling us the DVLA messed up your licence too. Car drivers, motorcyclists and even a few truck drivers have all been in touch to tell us they have also had their entitlements wiped from their licence. For some, this has even meant they haven't been able to work until they've spent hundreds of pounds getting through their test again.
It does seem, though, the DVLA doesn't just take licences away. We all know they issue them but we've heard tell of instances when they've actually given out licenses to people who haven't actually passed their test.
Amy Nicholas took and failed her driving test last October, but was surprised and shocked when she received a full driving licence through the post two weeks later.
That's not all. We were contacted by a gentleman who was a little confused after receiving his licence back from the DVLA. The entitlements seemed fine but the problem came when he read the details on the front of the licence. He discovered that he was actually from the 'Untied Kingdom' and not the United Kingdom.
He wasn't quite as confused, however, as a Surrey-based man whose licence was sent, with all the correct details, but with a photo of a woman instead of his own.
Tim Shallcross, the head of technical policy and advice at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, believes it's a DVLA fantasy that they can have 40 million records without a single error. He told Watchdog that this is a real problem. This is because if you believe that there are no errors, you don't have a process in place to put those errors right when they do occur.
Julia takes drastic action
Julia Bradbury decided it was time to take drastic action and as Lynn and Rosemary can't drive she took them on a road trip to the head quarters of the DVLA - in Swansea. The journey was long and when they finally arrived both ladies were a bit nervous but with evidence in hand and truth on their side, they entered the building.
Emerging, minutes later, both ladies were jubilant - they'd been triumphant. Though they would have to wait a few weeks, Rosemary and Lynn were told their licences would be re-instated.
It's a massive U-turn for the DVLA, who has previously refused to budge an inch. It's great that we managed to get two ladies back on the road, but what about everyone else who has been in touch? Have the DVLA finally seen sense, or are you all going to have to go to Swansea to sort out your driving licence problems?
DVLA statement
"It is vital that we protect the safety of all road users by ensuring that only people who can prove they have passed the relevant driving test are allowed to drive on our roads. Errors are extremely rare but we thoroughly investigate all cases reported to us and aim to resolve any inaccuracies as quickly as possible. Drivers should of course remember that they are required by law to let us know when they change their details to allow us to keep our records up to date."
DVLA update