Learner driving permits for cars and work vehicles
Information
It is a statutory requirement that you must hold at least a learner driving permit (previously known as a provisional licence) for the appropriate category of vehicle if you want to drive a car or work vehicle in a public place. You are required to carry your learner permit with you at all times when driving.
Since 19 January 2013 the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for driver licensing. The principal local authorities, through their Motor Taxation Offices, process and issue driving licences. You should make your application to the Motor Taxation Office nearest to where you live.
To apply for a learner permit, you must be normally resident in Ireland. If you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year (because of personal and occupational ties), you are considered to be normally resident in Ireland.
Learner permit changes from 19 January 2013: a new plastic card driver licence/permit has been introduced, replacing the paper driving licence and learner permit. Anyone who applies for a licence or learner permit since 12 January 2013 receives the new version. This is an EU initiative to introduce a secure, compact style of licence in all member states. Also, from that date the number of driving licence categories increased and the minimum age requirement for certain categories changed. Further information is available on the Road Safety Authority's website.
Rules
Before you begin to learn to drive on public roads in Ireland, you must hold a learner permit covering the category of vehicle you wish to drive. A learner permit to drive a car or work vehicle is usually valid for 2 years
Car drivers with a learner permit must be accompanied at all times by, and be under the supervision of, someone with a current driving licence for a car. Also, the person accompanying you must have had the driving licence for at least 2 years.
Work vehicle drivers with a learner permit are not allowed to carry a passenger unless the vehicle is designed to carry a passenger and the passenger is a qualified driver who has held his driving licence for a work vehicle for the last 2 years at least.
If you hold a learner permit for a car, you are not allowed to drive a car drawing a trailer, drive on a motorway, act as an accompanying driver or carry other people for reward.
Learner permit holders for cars must display L-plates to the front and rear of the vehicle they are driving at all times. The plate should be a red ‘L’ on a white background and should not be less than 15cm high with a border of at least 2cm.
Since October 2011 the drink driving limit for car drivers with learner permits and those in their first two years on a full driving licence is reduced to 20mg/100ml of blood. It applies to all drivers of work vehicles. Information on other proposed measures to protect learner and inexperienced drivers is available on the Road Safety Authority's website.
You can read the rules of the road at rotr.ie.
Car and work vehicle categories
The categories and driver's minimum age for car and work vehicles are as follows:
| Category | Vehicle type | Minimum age of driver |
| B | Vehicles with seats for a maximum of 8 passengers and a maximum weight of 3,500kg (can tow a trailer where the maximum weight of the trailer when fully loaded is 750kg or less) | 17 years |
| W | Work vehicles with or without a trailer, such as a land tractor or JCB | 16 years |
Your first learner permit
Since the Driver Theory Testing Service started in 2001, you must get a theory test certificate for the car and work vehicle categories before a first learner permit will be granted. If your provisional licence or /learner permit expired 5 years ago, then you must pass the theory test again before a learner permit will be issued.
Since 4 April 2011 new first-time category B learner permit holders are required to undertake mandatory essential driver training (EDT) of 12 one-hour lessons with an approved driving instructor. Your progress is recorded in a special logbook. You should also have an experienced driver who supervises your driving practice outside of lessons, and also updates your logbook. When taking the driving test, you may be required to show your completed logbook to the examiner.
A list of approved driving instructors is available on the Road Safety Authority’s website.
You cannot take a driving test for at least 6 months after getting your first learner permit (unless you are changing from a provisional licence to a learner permit).
Your third learner permit
You may not apply for a third or subsequent learner permit unless you can provide:
- Evidence that you have undergone a driving test in the 2-year period
prior to the application (a 2-year learner permit will be granted)
or
- Evidence of a forthcoming test date (a 1-year learner permit will be granted)
If I change my name or address do I need a new learner permit?
While you are required to carry your learner permit 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 permit if requested to by An Garda Siochana, so your permit should contain up-to-date information.
You must send a completed application form D201, 2 passport type photographs (signed on the back) and any required supporting documents, such as, an original marriage certificate. Contact your local Motor Taxation Office for more information.
What other categories can I add to my learner permit without a theory test certificate?
If you already hold a learner permit for category B, you can add category W without submitting a theory test certificate.
How do I replace a lost or stolen learner permit?
If your current learner permit is lost, stolen, damaged or defaced, you should apply to your local Motor Taxation Office for a replacement. The replacement permit is a duplicate or exact copy of your original learner permit.
If your learner permit has expired and is no longer valid, you can only apply for a new learner permit.
You can find out more in our document on replacing a lost or stolen Irish learner permit.
Rates
Learner permits for cars and work vehicles are valid for 2 years (or 1 year in certain circumstances) and since 1 January 2013 the fee is €35.
They are free of charge to those aged 70 or over.
Exchanging your learner permit to show a new address or category is free.
How to apply
If you are applying for a learner permit to drive you should apply for a permit for category B to drive a car and category W to drive a work vehicle. The application form for a learner permit, Form D201 is available from your Motor Taxation Office. You can also download Form D201 (pdf).
The completed application form should be submitted, along with the appropriate documentation and fee, to your local Motor Taxation Office by post or in person. You should bring additional personal identification if applying in person.
If you are applying for your permit by post, you pay the fee by cheque, bank draft or postal order, made payable to your local authority. If you are applying for your learner permit in person, you may pay the fee in cash.
Applying for your first learner permit
Before you apply for your first learner permit, you must first obtain a driver theory test certificate. The theory test certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of issue.
The completed application form D.201 should be accompanied by:
- Two identical passport-type photographs with the reverse of both signed by you
- A birth
certificate or passport
or certificate of registration. This is not a requirement if
- you hold a current driving licence or held one within the last 10 years or
- you hold a current learner permit or held one within the last 5 years or
- you already hold a valid driving licence issued by another EU state or recognised country - Your current or last driving licence and/or learner permit if you have one
- Your driver theory test certificate
- An eyesight report, Form D.502. A completed eyesight report form must accompany all first learner permit applications - see below
- A medical report, Form D.501. A medical report is required in certain circumstances - see below
- The appropriate fee - see Rates above
Applying for your second learner permit
When applying for your second learner permit the completed application form D.201 should be accompanied by:
- Two identical passport-type photographs with the reverse of both signed by you
- Your last learner permit
- A medical report, Form D.501. A medical report is required in certain circumstance - see below
- The appropriate fee - see Rates above
Applying for your third or subsequent learner permit
When applying for your third or subsequent learner permit, you have to provide evidence that you have undergone a driving test in the 2-year period prior to your application or evidence of a forthcoming test date.
The completed application form D.201 should be accompanied by:
- Two identical passport-type photographs with the reverse of both signed by you
- Your last learner permit
- Evidence of having taken the driving test in the previous 2 years or evidence of a forthcoming test
- A medical report, Form D.501. A medical report is required in certain circumstance - see below
- The appropriate fee - see Rates above
Eyesight report
A completed eyesight report form D.502 must accompany all first learner permit applications. A registered ophthalmic optician or a registered medical practitioner should conduct your eye test. He or she should then complete the D.502 form and witness your signed declaration on the form. The report is valid for 1 month.
You can download eyesight report form D.502 here (pdf). This form is also available from your Motor Taxation Office.
Medical report
A medical report Form D.501 is required if :
- You will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the permit is being issued or
- You have any of certain disabilities or diseases or
- You suffer from epilepsy or alcoholism or
- 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. The report is valid for 1 month.
You do not have to provide a medical report if you have previously provided a satisfactory medical report which is still applicable.
You can download medical report form D.501 here (pdf) (it must be printed back to back on one page). It is available from your Motor Taxation Office.
Where to apply
An application for a learner permit should be made directly to your local Motor Taxation office.
A list of approved driving instructors is available on the Road Safety Authority’s website. It also provides information on learner permits.
Road Safety Authority
Moy Business Park
Primrose Hill
Ballina
Mayo
Ireland
Tel:(096) 25000
Locall:1890 506 080
Fax:(096) 25252
Homepage: http://www.rsa.ie
Email: info@rsa.ie
Useful Resources
Related Documents
- Learner driving permits for buses and trucks
Before you learn to drive a bus or truck on a public road in Ireland, you must obtain a learner driving permit for the type of vehicle you wish to drive. - Learner driving permits for motorcycles
Before you learn to drive a motorcycle on a public road in Ireland, you must obtain a learner driving permit for the vehicle you wish to drive. - Learner driving permits for trailers
Before you learn to drive while pulling a trailer that weighs more than 750kg, you must obtain a learner driving permit.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.