| It is extremely important for all non - national | | | | * Part of the reason for the lengthy wait for a |
| Drivers or all those who are contemplating taking | | | | Driving Test is precisely because too many |
| up Driving in Ireland for the first time to acquaint | | | | Applicants are not sufficiently well prepared for |
| themselves with all the regulations before starting | | | | this Exam and are having to sit the Test on |
| off! | | | | subsequent occasions. |
| Ireland, as a member of the European Union, has | | | | * When you have passed your Driving Test you |
| strict standards which are evolving continuously | | | | should exchange your Provisional License for a Full |
| and ignorance of the rules, regulations, and | | | | Irish Driving License which will enable you to |
| legislation is no excuse in breaking the Law! It is | | | | reduce your Insurance costs and of course drive |
| worth pointing out that because of many | | | | throughout the European Union. |
| insurance breaches and the incessant rate of | | | | * If you do not exchange your Provisional license |
| accidents on the roads ,that we are all paying an | | | | for a full License you will not legally be entitled to |
| excessive rate for our Car insurance .When this | | | | drive on a Motorway. |
| situation continues to improve we will all benefit. | | | | * Your License (Provisional or Full) must be carried |
| In the next few lines we will summarise under | | | | with you at all times. |
| headings the steps that a new aspiring Driver | | | | Drivers who have an existing License from their |
| must take in order to legally drive on the road. | | | | Own Country:- |
| (1) License Requirements | | | | * Nationals of Countries belonging to the European |
| (2) Theory Test | | | | Union may exchange their full Licenses for a Full |
| (3) Provisional license | | | | Irish License if they are intending to reside |
| (4) Road Tax for vehicle | | | | permanently in Ireland. |
| (5) Insurance | | | | * Provisional Licenses held by European Union |
| (6) National Car Test (NCT) | | | | citizens, including the United Kingdom, are not |
| (7) Tyres | | | | transferable and therefore an aspiring Driver must |
| (8) The Driving Test | | | | undergo the full action described above of Theory |
| (9) Foreign License Transfer | | | | test; Provisional License; Driving test in order to |
| We will firstly look at the Complete Beginner | | | | achieve a Full Irish Driving License. |
| Driver, someone who has never driven before | | | | * Non - E.U.Nationals driving on a full license from |
| and then take the Driver who has driven in his or | | | | their own country will mostly need to undergo the |
| her own Country. | | | | full system of Theory Test; Provisional License; |
| You must first sit and pass the Driver | | | | Driving Test; in order to qualify for a full Irish |
| Theory Test. | | | | Driving License. |
| * You may then acquire your Provisional Driving | | | | * There are a few exceptions to this rule and the |
| License. | | | | list of acceptable Licenses for Transfer to an Irish |
| * With your provisional license you are then legally | | | | License can be found on the Dept.of Transport |
| allowed behind the wheel. | | | | web site. |
| * You MUST then have an accompanying Driver | | | | Insurance |
| who holds a full Irish Driving License. | | | | * Driving without insurance, which is a serious |
| * The car you are driving must be insured for | | | | offence and can lead to heavy fines and Penalty |
| you to drive. This can be insurance in your own | | | | point on your license, increases the insurance |
| name or as a Named Driver on a relatives or | | | | costs for all motorists! |
| friends insurance policy. | | | | * All Drivers pay a percentage of their Insurance |
| * The Car you are driving must have a current | | | | premium into a fund to cover the costs of |
| Insurance Disc displayed. | | | | accidents incurred by uninsured drivers! |
| * The Car must have a Current Tax Disc | | | | * Getting insurance cover even for a vehicle |
| Displayed. | | | | which has only a nominal value is extremely |
| * The Car must have an NCT Certificate | | | | expensive, particularly for the Provisional License |
| displayed where necessary. | | | | holder .Therefore it is imperative, for the beginner |
| * All equipment in the car must be functioning | | | | driver to accept this fact and spend the |
| correctly, Lights, Brakes, Indicators. | | | | necessary amount on Driving Lessons and pass |
| * Finally Tyre tread depths must be a minimum | | | | the Driving Test as soon as possible. |
| of 1.6mm across two thirds of the width of the | | | | * With a full license, insurance will still be |
| Tyre. | | | | expensive, but with an accident -free record this |
| * The first Provisional license will last for two | | | | will reduce year by year. |
| years and once you are using your second | | | | * One final reminder about Insurance Discs; if |
| Provisional License you will not be able to renew | | | | they fade in bright sunlight, they must be replaced |
| this without having sat your Driving Test. | | | | as otherwise a Driving Test could be forfeited if |
| * The waiting list for Driving Tests is | | | | the Examiner cannot read the Disc! |
| approximately 12 months so it is advisable to | | | | Legislative changes are a fact of life for us in the |
| apply for the Driving Test when you commence | | | | Motoring Community and indeed as we continue |
| lessons with a Professional Driving School. | | | | to be brought in line with our larger and better |
| * Please don't waste your time and that of the | | | | regulated E.U.neighbours, it is essential to be aware |
| Dept.of Transport by attempting to sit the Driving | | | | of these changes which have been continuing for |
| Test without having had a substantial course of | | | | several years now and will continue into the |
| Lessons. | | | | foreseeable future. |