Driving licence in the Republic of Ireland
Issued byIreland
Type of documentDriving licence
PurposeIdentification

In Ireland, a driving licence is the official document which authorises its holder to operate various types of motor vehicle on roads to which the public have access. Since 29 October 2013, they are issued by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS). Based on the European driving licence standards, all the categories of licence available and the physical licence meet the 2006 EU standards.

  • If you are a resident of the US, Canada or the European Union and you have a valid driver's license, then you will be able to drive in Ireland. Drivers from other countries will need to obtain an International Driver's License, but American licenses are automatically valid on the Emerald Isle.
  • Observe the speed limits in the Republic of Ireland. These signs often precede a tiny roadside village or school. Just as in the US, drivers should proceed at a speed that is appropriate for the local conditions. Poor road surfaces and rain are just two of the conditions that may cause motorists to slow down.
  • Ireland: All drivers must produce, at the time of rental, a valid non-expired driver's license and two proofs of address, including photographic identification. International Drivers Permit is required for all Non-European Licenses or when the driver's license is in a language and/or in characters different to those of renting country.
  • The good news is that you can drive in Ireland for up to 12 months on your US licence or an International Driving Permit from another country, as long as it is current and valid.
  • Driving in Ireland with a US license, how do you navigate roundabouts, what do all of those lines mean and when not to panic as you drive on the opposite side of the road are all tackled in our quick and simple guide to staying calm on Ireland's friendly roads.

Does My Us Driver's License Work In Ireland

History[edit]

From 19 January 2013 new licences issued are similar in size and shape to a credit-card as stipulated in Directive 2006/126/EEC. It features the driver's name and date of birth, their photo, signature and any restrictions or endorsements such as the need to wear glasses and any penalty points accrued. The older type licence is still valid but will be replaced by the new type upon licence renewal.

From January 2014 the NDLS started to issue an electronic driving licence containing all the information relating to the licence. This provides additional security and protection against fraud. The microchip enables the licence to be read by special card readers which are be managed by the Road Safety Authority and are available to the [Gardai Police] [1] However not all of the categories on the new licence are obtainable. An oversight in production of the licence means that category B1 appears on the driving licence in Ireland but cannot be obtained.

US Citizens can use their driving licence in Ireland. UK drivers licence. As of June 8th 2015, DVLA announced the UK paper counterpart of the driving licence is no longer valid. Irish car rental companies require all UK licence holders to present a ‘check code’ before the rental can be released; the ‘check code’ will be valid for 21 days.

The old licence was based on the old European format, defined in Directive 91/439/EEC, as was used in other countries in the past. It consisted of a pink tri-fold paper document, laminated on one side. It contained a photo of the driver, their personal details and home address, and a listing of categories of vehicle they are licensed for, with any restrictions printed using a code format. The unlaminated side consisted of a section for any written-in endorsements as well as a page with the term 'Driving licence' or its equivalents in a large number of languages.

Former Irish Driving Licence (Currently valid but will be fully replaced by 2023)

Both learner permits and the former provisional licences are identical in format to full licences, but green in colour. They do not carry the full translations list as they are not valid outside of the Republic of Ireland and are marked as such on the front. Once a driving test has been passed, all categories of driver with the exception of motorcycle drivers have no restrictions on road usage or vehicle type.

Prior to serious reforms in 2007, many people who drove never completed the process of receiving a full licence - 400,000 people held provisional licences in October 2007 when the new Learner Permit system was introduced. Serious crackdowns and a huge increase in testing facilities have brought this number down heavily.

The reason for the high number of people driving under a Provisional Licence under the old system was because a Provisional Licence holder could drive unaccompanied after obtaining their second Provisional Licence, and many drivers chose this route rather than going through the full testing process. This system was very unusual - most countries' provisional/learner licences require a fully qualified driver to accompany a learner.

Driver theory test[edit]

The driver theory test is carried out by Prometric Ireland on behalf of the RSA.The website for booking the theory test only lists locations outside of Dublin; one must type in 'Dublin' in the Google map search box in order to return locations based in Dublin.

In order to pass the theory test, candidates must score at least 35/40. Candidates get asked forty multiple choice questions. Anything scored under 35 is a fail and the test must be retaken.

Learner Permit[edit]

(Provisional Licence)Obtaining a Learner Permit requires passing the afore-mentioned computerised theory test. Also required for the Learner Permit are: valid proof of address, valid proof of PPSN, valid photographic ID and Eyesight Report (where necessary). The Application Form for a Learner Permit D201 must be filled in and brought to the local NDLS office.

Those on Learner Permits for most categories of licence must not drive unaccompanied. No Learner Permit holders are allowed to drive on motorways and all must display red L-plates at all times, either on their vehicle or on a tabard if a motorcyclist.

Driving licence categories[edit]

This is a list of the categories that can be found on a driving licence in the Republic of Ireland.[2]

Note: The category B1 appears on the driving licence in Ireland but cannot be obtained as it doesn't actually exist there.

CatVehicle typeMinimum ageNotes
AMMotorcycle16Mopeds and Light quadricycles.
A1Motorcycle16Motorcycles with an engine capacity not exceeding 125 cubic centimetres, with a power rating not exceeding 11 kW and with a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.1 kW/kg. Motor tricycles with a power rating not exceeding 15 kW.
A2Motorcycle18Motorcycles with a power rating not exceeding 35 kW, with a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kW/kg and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power.
AMotorcycle24 (Direct Access), 20 (Progressive Access), 21 (Motor tricycles only)Motorcycles and Motor tricycles.
B3 or 4 wheeled light vehicles17Vehicles (other than motorcycles, mopeds, work vehicles or land tractors) having a MAM1 not exceeding 3,500 kg, designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver.

The vehicle may tow a trailer (a) where the MAM of the trailer is not greater than 750 kg or (b) where the MAM of the trailer exceeds 750 kg the combined MAM of the towing vehicle and the trailer is not greater than 3,500 kg.

Quadricycles (other than those covered by AM) are also covered by this category.

BECars17Combination of drawing vehicles in category B and trailer where the MAM1 of the trailer is not greater than 3,500 kg.
WWork vehicles16Work vehicles and land tractor with or without a trailer.
CHeavy goods vehicle21 (without CPC), 18 (with CPC)Vehicles (other than work vehicles or land tractors) having a MAM1 exceeding 3,500 kg, designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver and where the MAM1 of the trailer is not greater than 750 kg.
CEHeavy goods vehicle with trailers21 (without CPC), 18 (with CPC)Combination of drawing vehicles in category C and trailer where the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 750 kg.
C1Medium-sized vehicle18Vehicles in category C having a MAM1 weight not exceeding 7,500 kg, designed and constructed for the carriage of no more than eight passengers in addition to the driver and where the MAM1 of the trailer is not greater than 750 kg.
C1EMedium-sized vehicle with trailers18Combination of drawing vehicles in category C1 and trailer where the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 750 kg and where the MAM1 of the drawing vehicle and trailer combined does not exceed 12,000 kg.

Combination of drawing vehicles in category B with trailer where the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 3,500 kg and where the MAM1 of the drawing vehicle and trailer combined does not exceed 12,000 kg.

DBuses24 (without CPC), 21 (with CPC)Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of more than eight passengers in addition to the driver and where the MAM1 of the trailer is not greater than 750 kg.
DEBuses with trailers24 (without CPC), 21 (with CPC)Combination of drawing vehicles in category D and trailer where the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 750 kg.
D1Minibuses21Vehicles in category D designed and constructed for the carriage of not more than sixteen passengers in addition to the driver with a maximum length not exceeding 8 metres and where the MAM1 of the trailer is not greater than 750 kg.
D1EMinibuses with trailers21Combination of drawing vehicles in category D1 and trailer where the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 750 kg.

Penalty points[edit]

Since 2002, Ireland, like other EU states, has operated a penalty points system for driving offences. If a driver accrues 12 points, their licence is revoked for (at least) 6 months.

Gallery[edit]

  • Current Irish driving licence

  • Former Irish driving licence (Replaced 2013)

  • Former Irish learner's permit (Replaced 2013)

  • Old version Irish driving licence (1981)

  • Old version Irish provisional driving licence (1976)

  • N plate that must be displayed by novice drivers in Ireland

Us driving license in ireland

See also[edit]

  • For Northern Ireland see Driving licence in the United Kingdom

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^'NDLS About the driving Licence Categories'. NDLS.ie. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-02-27.Cite uses deprecated parameter deadurl= (help)
  2. ^'NDLS driving Licence Categories'. NDLS.ie. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-10-24.Cite uses deprecated parameter deadurl= (help)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Driving_licence_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland&oldid=908626205'

You can drive with a US license in Ireland as a visitor for upto 12 months. So for most tourists, then there is no problem. Ifyou are staying for more than 12 months, then you will need toapply for an Irish license and go through the full procedure forgetting one, including doing a driving test.

Can you drive in US with international drivers license?

Yes, you can drive in US with an international drivers licence.

Can you drive in the US with a drivers license from a foreign country if you have a suspended Florida drivers license?

You can drive in the US with a driver's license from a foreign country if you have a suspended Florida driver's license, but you will be breaking the law.

Can you drive on a provisional license from Ireland in the US?

No. Read the front of your provisional license: 'This is a learner license issued to enable the licensee to learn to drive and it is not valid outside Ireland'

Drive with a Canadian drivers license?

Drive WHERE! (in the US) Canadian drivers licenses are honored the same as licenses from the individual states.

Can you drive with a foreign driver's license in the US if you have a suspended Florida drivers license?

It is not legal to drive with a foreign driver's license in the US if you have a suspended Florida driver's license. You will need to resolve the suspension in order to drive legally.

Is an international drivers permit required for holders of a US drivers license in order to drive in France?

Yes if you do have a American driving license , you will still need an international licenense to drive in France.

Can you drive in US with Australian driver's license?

Us Drivers License In Ireland

No. You need an international drivers license in order to drive anywhere other than your country of residence.

Is a drivers license from India good to drive in the US?

Is a US drivers license valid in the UK?

According to the US Embassy, you may drive for up to 1 year on your valid US license in the UK.

Is it illegal to drive someone else's car without having a drivers license?

It is illegal to drive in any US state, to drive any car, if you do not have a driving license.

Is it legal to drive in the US without a Drivers license and just have a passport?

What is it illegal to drive in the US without?

It is not legal to drive without a driver's license. Drivers are expected to carry their license with them whenever they are using their car or truck.

With a clean and minimal outlook, EkerLina boasts numerous sub-modules that resemble small widgets and follows a consistent design. In fact, you can tweak the theme all you want and revel in no holds barred customization.What’s more, Eker Lina also displays data such as: Media controls, RSS feeds, Current weather, Time & Date, System folder and drive shortcuts, et al.5)Comprising a robust rainmeter suite with 12 unique themes, Skyrim is one of the best rainmeter skins up for grabs for gamers. It features 3 CPU usage bars, 3 HDD skins, 3 physical memory skins, 2 clock skins, and some basic elements such as shutdown, sleep and restart buttons that will mesmerize you to the hilt.6)Revengeance fans on the house rejoice for this slick Metal Gear Rising rainmeter suite will blow you away. Enigma rainmeter skin download.

Us Driver's License Valid In Ireland

Can a Colorado resident drive with a copy of their Commercial Drivers License or do they need to have with them the original copy?

In ANY state or territory of the US, you MUST carry your original drivers license with you, regardless of license class.

This document was posted by Public.Resource.Org, which is not affiliated with nor authorized by the United States government, any state government, or the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). We posted this document in order to allow citizens to read the laws that govern us.Note that many of these documents had to be procured on the used marketplace. Ashrae 90 1 2007 free. Many of the laws in this collection were re-keyed into HTML and diagrams redrawn for increased usability and accessibility. Please note that the process of scanning, OCR, and rekeying might introduce errors.

Are Us Drivers License Valid In Ireland

How long can you drive on a UK drivers license in Louisiana?

You cannot drive in the US on a UK drivers license, or ANY other foreign license (except Canada & Mexico). You must apply for an International Drivers License issued under the auspices of the AAA (American Automobile Association). I'm told that it is a relatively simple process.

Us Drivers License In Ireland

Do you need an international drivers license for US?

Us Driver's License In Ireland

Only if you are tourist in US and you planing to drive, the Driver licence with your pasaport will be accepted, at least Mexican drivers licence.