Applying for a Driving License ?

What you need in order to apply for or renew a driving licence, the fees that apply and the licence terms that are available.

Motor vehicles in Ireland are divided into different categories for driver licensing purposes. This is a standard practice throughout the European Union. Ireland has 15 categories in total, ranging from motorcycles to agricultural vehicles.

You may apply for a driving licence if you:

• Recently passed a driving test
• Hold a driving licence that is due to expire within three months and you wish to renew it
• Held a driving licence that expired less than 10 years ago and you wish to renew it
• Hold a driving licence and you wish to have an additional category of vehicle added to it and a driving test is not required
• Are exchanging a current valid driving licence issued by another Member State of the European Union or of the European Economic Area or another *'recognised state'.

*Recognised state,a number of countries are designated as 'recognised states'; this means that their driver licensing systems are broadly similar to ours. Australia, Gibraltar,Guernsey, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey,New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan are 'recognised states' for the purposes of exchanging driving licences.

To view the Information Videos on the NDLS and for a step by step guide to applying  for your learner permit or driving licence click here.