Driving Licences
Remember you are required by law, since January 1 2003 to carry your Driving Licence (Provisional or Full) or Learner Permit with you at all times when you are driving in a public place. Failure to do so will incur 1 Penalty Point.
Provisional Driving Licence / Learner Permit
Before you can drive any vehicle you must be in possession of a Provisional Driving Licence or a Learner Permit.
From 30th October 2007 a Learner Permit replaces Provisional Driving Licence.
The Application Form is not available to downlaod as it has a sticky label. It may be obtained from your local Council Offices or Garda Station. Information on what else is required is available from you local council offices or on line at the Road Safety Authority website.
From July 1 2008 holders of Learner Permits (Provisional Driving Licences) are required by law to be accompanied at all times by the holder of a Full Driving Licence for the vehicle class they are are driving. The accompanying person must hold the Full Driving Licence for a minimum of 2 years
Holders of Learner Permits (Provisional Driving Licences) must dsplay an "L" plate, front and rear.
Failure to comply with either the above can result in fines of up to €1000
Rules relating to use of Learner Permits / Provisional Driving Licences can be found at the Department of Transport website.
Road Safety Authority announce introduction of the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) - 1 September 2010
to come into operation
Motorcycles - 6 December 2010
Cars - 4 April 2011
For full details see RSA website
RSA - GDL
Full Driving Licence
When you have passed your driving test, while you are not obliged to, you should consider getting your Full Driving Licence as soon as possible.
The use of a motorway in Ireland is restricted to holders of a Full Driving Licence. You must be in possession of a Full Driving Licence to use motorway, as a Provisional Driving Licence and a Certificate of Competancy is not sufficent.
This would be essential if you were intending to drive outside the Republic of Ireland. Your Provisional Driving Licence along with your Certificate of Competency will not be recognised anywhere outside Ireland and the local police will consider you to be without any licence at all. You will also be refused the hire of a car abroad.
It may be obtained from your local Council Offices or Garda Station. Information on what else is required is available from you local council offices or on line at the Department of Transport website .
Foreign Driving Licence
If you come from any of the EU/EEA states and hold a full driving licence from that country and it is your intention to stay in Ireland you may exchange your Driving Licence for an Irish Full Driving licence