Full driving licence

Information

When you pass a driving test in Ireland you are entitled to apply for a driving licence for the category of vehicle which you were tested for. You are required to carry your driving licence with you at all times when driving.  

The Department of Transport has overall responsibility for driver licensing. The principal local authorities, however, are licensing authorities and issue driving licences. There are 29 licensing authorities (Motor Taxation Offices) around the country and you should make your application to the one nearest to where you live.

To apply for a driving licence, you must be normally resident in Ireland. You are considered to be normally resident in Ireland if, because of personal and occupational ties, you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year.

If you have an Irish driving licence, the licence is accepted for use or exchange in all other EU/EEA member states. If you are travelling outside of the EU/EEA and will be driving, you may require an international driving permit.

In 2006 the European Commission approved the introduction of a single EU driving licence to replace those currently in use in the member states. It is expected the new EU driving licence will come into effect by 2012 and the driving licences issued by each member state will be phased out by 2032. This document explains the current situation regarding applying for or renewing a driving licence in Ireland.

Rules

You are entitled to apply for a driving licence if:

• You have recently passed a driving test
• You hold a driving licence that will expire within 3 months and you want to renew it
• You held a driving licence that expired less than 10 years ago and you want to renew it
• You hold a driving licence and you want to have an additional category of vehicles added to it and a driving test is not required
• You are exchanging a current valid driving licence issued by another EU/EEA member or  by another "recognised state"

The period of time a driving licence is issued for depends on the age of the applicant. There are 4 age brackets that the period of a licence falls under.

• If you are under 60 years of age, you may apply for a 3-year or a 10-year licence.
• If you are older than 60 but younger than 67 years of age, you may apply for a 3-year licence or a licence that will expire the day before your 70th birthday.
• If you are older than 67 but under 70 years of age, you may apply for a 3-year licence.
• If you are over the age of 70, you will need a certification of fitness to drive by your doctor to apply for a 3-year or a one-year licence.

If your driving licence expired 10 years ago, then you must complete a Driver Theory Test. Following completion of your Driver Theory Test, you can only apply for a learner driver permit and you will have to re-sit your driving test again.

Categories of vehicles

Motor vehicles in Ireland are divided into different categories for driver licensing purposes. This is a standard practice throughout the European Union. Ireland has 14 categories in total, ranging from motorcycles to agricultural vehicles. You can read more about categories of vehicles and minimum ages of drivers here.

Your category of driving licence may also be regarded as a driving licence for certain other categories of driving licence. Further information on which categories this applies to is available in the More about this topic section of this document.

Restriction on motorcycle driving licences

Category A driving licences carry a restriction. This restriction limits the licence holder to motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) with a power limit of 25Kw or less. This restriction continues for 2 years after you complete your motorcycle driving licence test for this category and after you have obtained a full driving licence for this category.

If I change  my name or address do I need to apply for a new driving licence?

While you are required to carry your driving licence with you at all times when driving, you are not required by law to change your permit if you change your name or address. However, it is advisable. You are required to show evidence of your licence if requested to by An Garda Siochana, so your licence should contain up-to-date information.

Exchanging your licence to amend your name or address is a free service. It is also free to have an endorsement removed, a category added or an error on your licence corrected.

You must send a completed application form D.401, 2 passport type photographs (signed on back) and any required supporting documents, such as, an original marriage certificate. Contact your Motor Tax Office for more information

How do I replace a lost/stolen driving licence?

If your current driving licence is lost, stolen, damaged or defaced, you should apply to your local Motor Taxation Office for a replacement. The replacement licence is a duplicate or exact copy of your original driving licence. You can find out how to replace a driving licence in our document on replacing a lost or stolen Irish driving licence.

Rates

The cost of driving licences is as follows:

• One-year driving licence costs €5
• Three-year driving licence costs €15
• Ten-year driving licence costs €25

Motorists over the age of 70 can get their driving licence renewed for free.

Exchanging a driving licence to show a new name or address or add a new category is also free of charge.

How to apply

You can obtain a copy of application form D.401 from your local Motor Taxation Office, or you can request this form by post through CitizensInformation.ie. It is not available to download online.

Your completed application form should be returned to your local Motor Taxation Office and must include the following:

• Two identical passport-type photographs, with the reverse of both signed by you.
• Your current or most recently issued driving licence (if you hold or held one in the previous 10 years) and your current or most recently issued learner driving permit (if you hold or held one in the previous five years and it has not been replaced by a driving licence). If your most recent learner permit or driving licence has been lost or stolen, you must complete a lost licence declaration (Form D8.A) which is available from your local Garda Station. You must submit the form, signed and stamped by the Gardaí, with your application. 
• A medical report may be required. Download a medical report form (D.501) (pdf) (must be printed back to back on one page). This form is available from your Motor Taxation Office or you can also request form D.501 by post through CitizensInformation.ie. A medical report is compulsory if: 
  - you are applying for Categories C, C1, D, D1, EC, EC1, ED or ED1 unless you previously provided a medical report which is still applicable
  - you will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the licence is being issued
  - you have any of certain disabilities or diseases
  - you suffer from epilepsy or alcoholism
  - you regularly take drugs or medication that would be likely to impair your ability to drive safely 
  A registered medical practitioner should carry out your medical examination and then complete the form.  You must sign the declaration on the medical report form in the presence of the registered medical practitioner.   
• A Certificate of Competency (if you have recently passed a driving test).
• The appropriate fee. If you are applying for your licence by post, pay the fee by cheque, bank draft or postal order, made payable to your local authority. If you are applying for your driving licence in person, you may pay the fee in cash.

Where To apply

An application for a driving licence should be made directly to your local Motor Taxation office.

The Road Safety Authority provides information on driving licences.

You can read the rules of the road at www.rotr.ie.