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Driving Licence Information

 

Note:

Applicants must have a Westmeath Address to obtain a Westmeath Licence.

Please be advised that the following forms are not available electronically. 

  1. Driving Licence Application D401
  2. Learner permit Form D201
  3. Duplicate Licence Application D800

However if you require any of these forms, and any forms on this webpage,  they are available in Libraries, Garda Stations, Coole Area Office, Athlone Area Office and Mullingar Office and can be posted to you on request.

 

To apply for a Full Licence you will need:

  1. Completed Application Form
  2. Two recent identical photographs on white background and signed on the back
  3. Last Licence (if this is not available you will need to submit a lost licence declaration form stamped at the Garda Station)
  4. The Appropriate Fee of €15 for a three year licence, €25 for a 10 year licence or €5 for a one year licence
  5. Over 70 - No Fee
  6. Certificate of Competency if changing from a Learner Permit to a Full licence.
  7. Medical Report for :
    1. Categories C1, C, D1, D, EC1, EC, ED1 or ED unless you have previously provided a medical report which is still applicable.
    2. If you will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the licence is being granted.
    3. If you answer “YES” to any of the questions from 18(b) to 25 on the driving licence application form.
    4. You are taking, on a regular basis, drugs or medicaments which would be likely to cause the driving of a vehicle by you to be a source of danger.
    5. The medical report must be completed by an Irish registered medical practitioner and you must sign the declaration in his/her presence.

 

To renew a Full Licence you will need:

 Note:  Please be aware that you have 10 years to renew your Driving Licence after the expiry date without having to re-sit the Driving Test.

  1. Completed Application Form
  2. Two recent identical photographs on white background and signed on the back
  3. Last Licence (if this is not available you will need to submit a lost licence declaration form stamped at the Garda Station)
  4. The Appropriate Fee of €15 for a three year licence, €25 for a 10 year licence or €5 for a one year licence
  5. Over 70 - No Fee
  6. Medical Report for :
    1. Categories C1, C, D1, D, EC1, EC, ED1 or ED unless you have previously provided a medical report which is still applicable.
    2. If you will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the licence is being granted.
    3. If you answer “YES” to any of the questions from 18(b) to 25 on the driving licence application form.
    4. You are taking, on a regular basis, drugs or medicaments which would be likely to cause the driving of a vehicle by you to be a source of danger.
    5. The medical report must be completed by an Irish registered medical practitioner and you must sign the declaration in his/her presence.

To apply for a 1st Learner Permit you will need:

  1. Completed Application Form
  2. Theory Test Certificate for category concerned
  3. A Birth Certificate or Passport
  4. Certificate of Registration
  5. Marriage Certificate (if appropriate)
  6. An eyesight report for classes A, A1, B, EB, M and W - eyesight report valid for one month from issue
  7. A medical report for classes C, C1, D, D1, EC, EC1, ED and ED1:-
    1. If you will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the licence is being granted.
    2. You suffer from any of the disabilities or diseases listed or answer yes to questions 20b to 27 on the Learner Permit Application Form.
    3. You are taking, on a regular basis, drugs or medicaments which would be likely to cause the driving of a vehicle by you to be a source of danger.
    4. The medical report must be completed by an Irish registered medical practitioner and you must sign the declaration in his/her presence.
    5. NB - Medical Reports expire 1 month from date of issue and must be valid for the total life of the Driving Licence being applied for
  8. Two recent identical photographs on white background and signed on the back
  9. Fee for 2 years - €15.

NOTE: From the 4th April, 2011 anyone issued with a Learner Permit for a Car and from 6th December, 2010 anyone issued with a Learner Permit for a Motorcycle has to complete Essential Driver Training (EDT) before they can sit the driving test. This means they have to take at least 12 one hour driving lessons for the car and 16 one hour lessons for the Motorcycle .  The lessons must be given by Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) and after each lesson the Driving Instructor will record the learner driver's progress on a specially issued log-book.  On the day of the driving test the learner driver must bring the completed log book with them and present it to the test examiner. A list of Approved Driving instructors is available on www.rsa.ie.

 

To apply for a 2nd Learner Permit Licence you will need:

  1. Completed Application Form
  2. Two recent identical photographs on white background and signed on the back
  3. Old Licence/Last Licence (if previous licence is unavailable, a lost licence declaration stamped at the Garda Station is required.
  4. Fee of €15.

To apply for a 3rd or Subsequent Learner Permit Licence you will need:

  1. Completed Application Form
  2. Two recent identical photographs on white background and signed on the back
  3. Old Licence/Last Licence (if previous licence is unavailable, a lost licence declaration must be stamped at the Garda Station.
  4. Appropriate Fee
  5. Plus either of the following:
    1. Certificate of Competency confirming you have passed your driving test.  This is valid for 2 years from the date of issue OR
    2. Certificate of Failure (valid for 2 years from the date of issue). An individual, who has undergone and failed the driving test, receives this document from the driving tester. OR
    3. If you have not previously undergone a driving test, you will need to apply for one immediately. In these circumstances, in order for you to obtain a 3rd or subsequent Learner Permit, you will require an acknowledgement letter from the Driver Licensing Section, Road Safety Authority, Moy Valley Business Park, Primrose Hill, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Telephone :(096) 78288 Fax: (096) 78286 confirming that a driving test has been applied for by the applicant in that category or a letter confirming the time and date of your forthcoming driving test. 

The Learner Permit issued to you on submission of a Certificate of Failure will be valid for 2 years. However, the Learner Permit issued to you on submission of an acknowledgement letter will only be valid for 1 year.

 

Duplicate Licence:

  1. Application Form (D800) fully completed and signed and stamped at the Garda Station. Please ensure to include your P.P.S. Number (R.S.I. No) on your application. Applications will not be processed without it
  2. Two recent identical photographs on white background and signed on the back
  3. If the name or address on the current licence application form differs from that on the old driving licence supporting documentation e.g. passport in new name, deed poll or marriage certificate must accompany the application - originals
  4. Fee - €10

Free-in-lieu licences are issued in the following cases:

  1. Extra category added
  2. Change of name/address - Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate required
  3. Removal of endorsement
  4. If an error has been made in the issue of licence (e.g. incorrect date of birth) - Birth Certificate required

International Licences:

Apply to Automobile Association, 56,Drury Street, Dublin 2.
Phone : (01) 6179988

Exchange of Driving Licence:

  1. Application Form (D401) & Exchange Form (D900) fully completed
  2. Licence from recognised country (see list of exchange countries below).
  3. If Licence is lost, a letter from Issuing Authority in relevant country showing entitlements is required (in English).
  4. Passport - If licence submitted does not have photograph on it.
  5. If the name on the current licence application form differs from that on the driving licence being exchanged, supporting documentation e.g. passport in new name, deed poll or marriage certificate must accompany the application
  6. Two recent identical photographs on white background and signed on the back
  7. Medical Report (D501 if applicable - see notes on Medical Reports).
  8. If applicant previously held an Irish driving licence please supply details, e.g., issuing authority, old address, etc.
  9. Fee - €25 for ten years or €15 for three years.  If over 70, Licence is free of charge but application must be accompanied by Medical Form (D501).

 

List of Recognised Exchange Countries:

  1. Australia
  2. Austria
  3. Belgium
  4. Bulgaria
  5. Cyprus (Greek Part)
  6. Czech Republic
  7. Denmark
  8. Estonia
  9. Finland
  10. France
  11. Germany
  12. Gibralter
  13. Greece
  14. Guernsey
  15. Hungary
  16. Iceland
  17. Isle of Man
  18. Italy
  19. Japan
  20. Jersey
  21. Latvia
  22. Lichtenstien
  23. Luthuania
  24. Luxembourg
  25. Malta
  26. Netherlands
  27. Norway
  28. Poland
  29. Portugal
  30. Romania
  31. Slovak Republic
  32. Slovenia
  33. South Africa
  34. South Korea
  35. Spain
  36. Sweden
  37. Switzerland
  38. United Kingdom

 

Licence Categories:

  • M - Moped up to 50cc (45KmH) – must be 16 years of age
  • A1 - Motorcycle up to 125cc (11kW) – must be 18 years of age
  • A “restricted” - Motorcycle over 125cc up to 350cc (25kW) – must be 18 years of age
  • A - Motorcycle over 125cc – must be 18 years of age
  • B - Vehicle up to 3,500kg design gross vehicle weight - max. 8 passengers – must be 17 years of age
  • EB - Car and Trailer - must be 17 years of age
  • W - Tractors and Work vehicles - must be 16 years of age
  • C1 - Small truck less than 7,500kg DGVW - must be 18 years of age
  • C - Large truck over 3,500kg DGVW - must be 18 years of age
  • EC1 - Small truck and trailer combined weight no more than 12,000kg DGVW - must be 18 years of age
  • EC - Large truck and trailer - must be 18 years of age
  • D1 - Small bus max. 16 passengers - must be 21 years of age
  • D - Large bus more than 8 passengers - must be 21 years of age
  • ED1 - Small bus and trailer combined weight no more than 12,000kg DGVW - must be 21 years of age
  • ED - Large Bus and trailer - must be 21 years of age

Acceptable forms of identification:

  • Persons born in Republic of Ireland – Birth Cert or Passport 
  • Persons born in UK – Valid Passport - Birth Cert. 
  • Persons born anywhere else in the world – Valid Passport, EU National Identity Card or Certificate of Registration Card issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the GNIB card, gives the persons name, DOB & Nationality etc.
  • Marriage Certificate is required if name differs to that on Birth Certificate or Passport. It is also required on renewal of licence application if name has changed.

Driver Theory Test Information:

A Theory Test Certificate must be obtained before you can apply for a first Learners Permit Licence.
There are four sets of theory test.

  • Category A, M,
  • Category B, W 
  • Category C – covers C, C1, EC, EC1 
  • Category D – covers D, D1, ED, ED1

The Theory Test fee for categories AM, BW, C or D is €40.60.

Your theory test will check your knowledge about areas such as:

  • the rules of the road, 
  • risk perception, 
  • hazard awareness, and 
  • Good driving behavior.

The test is conducted at a nation-wide network of 41 Test Centres and uses a user-friendly computerized system. If you have a special need or disability that may require special arrangements to take your test e.g. Dyslexia, other reading, hearing or language difficulties please ensure you indicate same on the form and the Driver Theory Test Centre will contact you to make the necessary arrangements.  For further information visit www.theoryyest.ie or call 1890 606 106. Completed applications should be forwarded to Driver Theory test, PO Box 788, Togher, Cork.

Penalty Points : For more information log onto www.penaltypoints.ie 

Disqualifications:

A disqualification prevents the driver from holding a licence during a particular period.
If the driver has a current driving licence when a disqualification is handed down they must surrender this licence for endorsing purposes. The licence must be handed into the District Court Office, who in turn forwards it to the Motor Tax Office.

The disqualification details are then entered on the Driver computer record and the Motor Tax Office retains the licence until such time as the disqualification expires and the driver concerned contacts the Motor Tax Office and requests the return of the licence. In some cases an application is made by the driver to the Court to have the Licence restored earlier. The Court must have issued a restoration order with an effective date.  The Driver must wait until the effective date has passed before the Licence is returned to them.

If the driver does not hold a current licence at the time of disqualification he/she may not be issued a licence during the period of disqualification.
The type and length of disqualification depends on the courts.

Endorsement

An Endorsement lasts on a valid licence for three years, it may be issued by the court and with a disqualification.
If issued along with a disqualification the endorsement always follows the end of a disqualification, i.e. if disqualified the licence will carry a disqualification stamp. The convicted endorsable offence stamp must remain on a current driver licence for a total of three years.
Endorsements do not prevent a driver from holding a licence.
If you also hold a current Learners Permit for a higher category the Permit must also be endorsed as well as the Full licence.
Details of an endorsement are recorded on the National Vehicle Driver Computer System and on the physical licence.
The District Court Clerk endorses the physical licence and sends the details of the conviction to the Motor Tax Office for entering on the computer system.
If a current licence does not exist at the end of the disqualification and a subsequent licence is issued, this must be endorsed/stamped.

Once an endorsement has been on a licence for three years, a FIL can be issued by the Motor Tax Office to remove same on request from the driver.

Driver Testing Information:

The appropriate fee for the category of test must accompany your driving test application.

Category of Vehicle

Fee for Test

Categories A, A1, B, EB, M and W

€85.00

Categories C, C1, D and D1

€120.00

Categories EC, EC1, ED and ED1

€120.00

CPC Driving Test (Bus & Truck Category)

Part 1 €152

Part 2 €32

Further Driving Test Information is available on www.rsa.ie

Where to apply:

Driving Testing Section,
Moyvalley Business Park,
Primrose Hill,
Dublin Road,
Ballina, Co. Mayo.

 

Telephone: LoCall: 1890 40 60 40 (calls charged at local rate from anywhere in the country)
Fax: (096) 78290 

You can also apply for your driving test online using www.drivingtest.ie

"Rules of the Road " Booklets can be purchased at Post Offices and book shops.

Your application for the test will normally be acknowledged by post within 5 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 14 days you should contact the Road Safety Authority.  The contact details are set out above.