NDLS services during COVID-19 emergency period National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) offices reopened on a phased basis from 8 June 2020. You can find details of which NDLS offices are open on the Road Safety Authority website. NDLS offices will not operate a drop-in service. You can book an appointment to attend an office in person. You can read more in our document Drving and transport during COVID-19.

Restrictions on novice drivers Novice plates If your first driving licence was issued on or after 1 August 2014, you must display N-plates on your vehicle when you are driving for 2 years from the date your licence was issued. Motorcycle riders must wear an N-tabard. The novice period only applies once. So if you get a licence to drive a different category of vehicle, you don't have to display N-plates again. Further information is available on the Road Safety Authority website. Disqualification threshold If you accumulate 12 penalty points in a 3-year period, you will be disqualified from driving for 6 months. This is reduced to 7 penalty points if your first learner permit was issued on or after 1 August 2014. This lower threshold remains in place while you drive on a learner permit and for the first two years you drive under your first driving licence. Further information is available on the Road Safety Authority website. Drink driving limit For drivers who have learner permits, or have had a full driving licence for less than 2 years, the drink driving limit is reduced to 20mg per 100ml of blood, 27mg per 100ml of urine and 9mg per 100ml of breath.

Rules You are entitled to apply for a driving licence if you have passed the driving test for that category of vehicle within the previous 2 years. If the Certificate of Competency you were issued for passing the test is over 2 years old, you will have to pass the driving test again. Duration of licence The period of time a driving licence is issued for depends on the age of the applicant. If you are under 60 years of age, you may apply for a 10-year licence or a 3-year (on medical grounds)

If you are older than 60 but younger than 67 years of age, you may apply for 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 from your doctor to apply for a 3-year or a one-year licence A bus or truck driving licence is issued for a maximum of 5 years. Categories of vehicles Motor vehicles are divided into different categories for driver licensing purposes. You can read more in our document on categories of vehicles and minimum ages of drivers. Your category of driving licence may give you entitlement to a driving licence for certain other categories of driving licence. See ‘Further information’ below.

Rates The cost of driving licences is: Ten-year driving licence — €55

Five-year bus or truck driving licence — €55

Three-year driving licence — €35

One-year driving licence (medical grounds) — €25 Adding a new category to your current driving licence costs €35. Motorists over the age of 70 can get their driving licence for free. Information on acceptable forms of payment is available on the application form. Any required eyesight tests or medical examinations are not free of charge.

How to apply You have to apply in person to one of the NDLS centres. You do not have to provide photographs with your application but you do need to bring additional documents with you in order to confirm your identity. If you have a learner permit or Irish driving licence, you need to bring evidence of your PPS Number and proof of address. If you do not have a learner permit or an Irish driving licence, you need to bring photographic ID, evidence of your PPS Number, proof of address and proof of your residency entitlement. See ‘Proof of identity’ below. Since 9 April 2018, you can use your Public Services Card (PSC) to confirm your identity, PPSN and address. If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland you can also use the PSC as proof of your residency entitlement. You apply for a driving licence using the driving licence application form (D401) which is available from NDLS centres, driving test centres, driving theory test centres and Garda stations. You can also download the driving licence application form (pdf) as well as guidance notes (pdf). You must bring your completed application form and the following documentation when applying for or renewing your driving licence or learner permit: Your current or most recently issued learner permit. If your learner permit has been lost or stolen, the application form must be signed and stamped by a Garda in your local Garda Station

Your current driving licence if adding a category to the driving licence

A Driving Licence Medical Report Form may be required (see below)

A Driving Licence Eyesight Report Form may be required (see below)

A Certificate of Competency

The appropriate fee - see Rates above

Documentation to prove your identity (see below) Medical report form You will require a Driving Licence Medical Report Form if you are applying for driving licence categories C, C1, D, D1, CE, C1E, DE or D1E (buses and trucks), unless you previously provided a medical report which is still applicable. You will not require a Driving Licence Medical Report Form if you are applying for driving licence categories AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE or W (motorcycles, cars and work vehicles) unless: You will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the licence is being issued or

You have a specific disability or condition (see application form) You can download the medical report form (pdf) (it must be printed back to back on one page). It is also available from NDLS centres. 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. It must be submitted within 1 month of the medical examination. Eyesight report form Generally any eyesight issues will be reported in the Driving Licence Medical Report Form. But, you will require a Driving Licence Eyesight Report Form if you no longer need glasses or contact lenses to drive (for example if you've had laser eye surgery). You can download the eyesight report form (pdf) (pages 1 and 2 should be printed back to back on one page). It is also available from NDLS centres. It must be submitted within 1 month of completion. Proof of identity Since 9 April 2018, you can use your Public Services Card (PSC) as proof of identity. The name and address on your learner permit or driving licence application must match the name and address on your PSC, if you want to use your PSC as photographic ID and proof of address. If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland you can also use the PSC as proof of your residency entitlement, otherwise you must provide a document from the 'Proof of your residency entitlement' list below. If you don't have a PSC, you need one document from each of the four sections below: Photographic ID

- Irish passport

- Irish driving licence or learner permit

- Current passport for all non-Irish citizens

- Current national identity card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

- Irish certificate of naturalisation

- Current UK (photo) driving licence

- Current Irish travel document (issued by INIS)

- Irish passport - Irish driving licence or learner permit - Current passport for all non-Irish citizens - Current national identity card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens - Irish certificate of naturalisation - Current UK (photo) driving licence - Current Irish travel document (issued by INIS) Proof of your residency entitlement

- Irish or UK long-form birth certificate or adoption certificate

- Foreign birth registration

- Irish passport

- Current passport for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

- Current national identity card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

- Irish certificate of naturalisation

- Current Certificate of Registration (Irish Residence Permit - previously GNIB card) for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

- Irish or UK long-form birth certificate or adoption certificate - Foreign birth registration - Irish passport - Current passport for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens - Current national identity card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens - Irish certificate of naturalisation - Current Certificate of Registration (Irish Residence Permit - previously GNIB card) for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens Evidence of your PPS Number

- Public Services Card or Social Services Card

- Correspondence from Revenue or Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection showing PPSN

- Statement of Liability (formerly known as P21), tax assessment or notice of tax credits

- Receipt of social welfare payment

- Medical card, Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) card, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)



- Public Services Card or Social Services Card - Correspondence from Revenue or Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection showing PPSN - Statement of Liability (formerly known as P21), tax assessment or notice of tax credits - Receipt of social welfare payment - Medical card, Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) card, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Proof of address (See Note below)

- Utility bill from your provider of electricity, phone, gas, cable television or broadband.

- Correspondence with an insurance company regarding an active policy.

- Statement from your bank, building society or credit union.

- Letter from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection or Revenue

- Other official correspondence from an Irish State agency, such as: a government department, HSE, CAO, SUSI, An Garda Síochána, public hospital, Residential Tenancies Board, third-level college, training agency, An Post, or the National Cervical and breast screening programmes. Also NCT reports or reminders, TV Licence, Register of Electors or polling cards.

Note: Proof of address documents can be no more than 6 months old at date of application. Mobile phone bills and statements from store cards/catalogue companies are not accepted.