Before you are a fully licenced driver
To obtain a provisional licence
Apply for and pass your theory test.
After you pass the theory test you may then apply to your local motor tax office for your provisional licence and include your theory test certificate with your application form and other documents (see Section 1). When you have your provisional licence you should book driving lessons from a professional driving instructor to learn how to drive safely and correctly.
In the future, all driving instructors will be approved by the Road Safety Authority.
Driver theory test
The theory test examines your knowledge and understanding of the rules of the road, good driving behaviour, risk perception and hazard perception.
You must pass this test before applying for a first provisional licence.
The test involves answering questions on a touch screen computer in a test centre. It is run by the Driver Theory Testing Service.
For more information, contact:
Driver Theory Testing Service
PO Box 144 , Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Lo-call: 1890 606 106,
Irish language lo-call: 1890 606 806
Text phone: 1890 616 216
To apply for a theory test, contact the Driver Theory Testing Service or apply online at www.dtts.ie .
Driving legally
When you have your provisional licence, you are ready to start learning to drive.
Before taking any vehicle on to the road you must be able to answer 'yes' to the following questions:
- Is the motor vehicle taxed?
- Is the tax disc on the windscreen?
- Is the insurance cover up to date and valid to cover you?
- Is the insurance disc on the windscreen?
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If you are learning to drive a category B vehicle that is over four years old but not a taxi, is the vehicle roadworthy and does it have an up-to-date National Car Test (NCT) Certificate on the windscreen?
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If you are using a coach, bus, ambulance, goods vehicle or goods trailer and it is over a year old, does it have a Certificate of Roadworthiness?
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If you are using a motor vehicle other than one in category A1, A, M and W, does it clearly display proper 'L' plates at the front and back?
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Tax
All motor vehicles must be taxed before the vehicle is taken on the road.
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Insurance
All drivers must have insurance covering them to drive a vehicle on a public road. The law imposes a duty on you to inform the insurance company of relevant information before you drive a vehicle. If you are in any doubt you should discuss the matter with the insurance company. It is a serious offence to drive a vehicle that is not insured.
You need to display an up-to-date insurance disc. It is an offence not to have the disc on display.
Vehicles that do not need to display an insurance disc
- Motorcycles (with or without a side car)
- Tractors
- Vehicles showing a trade licence
- Vehicles owned or used by an exempted person as defined by the Road Traffic Acts, for example members of emergency services
in a public place.
The fact that an insurance disc is not required to be displayed does not affect the requirement to ensure that the insurance is valid to cover you.
National car test
Vehicle testing makes sure your vehicle is safe to use on the road. This is especially important for older vehicles.
- Passenger cars over four years old must have a valid NCT Certificate and show the NCT disc on the windscreen.
Certificate of Roadworthiness
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Goods vehicles, goods trailers with a design gross vehicle weight of more than 3,500kg, ambulances, buses (including minibuses) and coaches that are over one year old, must have a valid Certificate of Roadworthiness. For details of your local authorised testing centre, please see www.environ.ie
Conditions for provisional licence holders
Accompanied when driving
If you are on your first, third or later provisional licence for a category B vehicle, you must have a fully licensed driver with you. That driver must hold a current and valid full licence for the same category of vehicle and must be with you at all times when you are driving.
You must have a fully licensed driver with you at all times when driving where you hold a provisional licence for categories C1, C, D1, D, EC1, EC, ED1 and ED (Please see table on page 15).
If you hold a provisional licence for categories A, A1, and M vehicles you must not carry a passenger.
Motorways
As a provisional licence holder, you must not drive on a motorway. It is a serious offence to do so.
Trailers
You must not use a category B, C, C1, D or D1 vehicle to tow a trailer if you hold a provisional licence for any of these categories.
Carrying a passenger
- If you drive a car, van, bus or coach, you must not carry any passenger for payment of any kind.
- If you are a motorcyclist, you must not carry a passenger.
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If driving a category W vehicle, (for example a work vehicle or tractor), you may not carry a passenger unless the vehicle is designed to take one and the passenger holds a full driving licence for category W.
No matter what type of motor vehicle you drive, you may get a third or later provisional licence only if you can show that you have taken a driving test within the previous two years.
If you have not taken the test, you must give either:
- evidence of a medical condition that prevented you from taking the test, or
- evidence that you have applied to sit your driving test for that category of vehicle.
If you have any questions about getting a provisional licence, contact your local motor tax office immediately.You will find the number of your nearest motor tax office under 'Local Authorities' in the green pages of the telephone directory or at www.citizensinformation.ie .
Full driving licence
A full driving licence is required for the category of vehicle that you intend to drive. You can drive only the category or categories of vehicle for which the licence is issued.
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Applying for your full licence
To apply for your full driving licence, you should send in an application form, two signed photographs, the relevant fee and your current or most recent provisional licence.
With the application for your first licence, you must include your certificate of competency to drive (outlined in Section 3). You may also need to supply other documents, such as a medical report, depending on your circumstances. You can get full details from the Road Safety Authority?s website, www.rsa.ie.
Renewing your licence
A driving licence is normally valid for 10 years and you should renew your licence before this period passes. To renew your licence, send in the correct form and fee, two signed photographs and your current or most recent licence. If you are renewing a category C1, EC1, C, EC, D1, ED1, D or ED licence, you must include a medical report.
You should apply to renew your licence not later than three months before it expires.
You can get full details about driving licences from the Road Safety Authority's website, www.rsa.ie
Carrying a driving licence
Remember, you must carry your driving licence (all categories) with you at all times when you are driving.
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