Unaccompanied with Cert of Competency

j1979p

Can you get done by the guards for driving unaccompanied without L plates when you have a copy of your cert and you have just posted away for a full license?

RentDayBlues

You are considered a fully licensed driver once you have passed the test and have your cert.

seamus

Technically you are not licenced (because you don't have the licence yet) but for all intents and purposes, the Gardai won't give you grief for it.

Wishbone Ash

RentDayBlues wrote: »

You are considered a fully licensed driver once you have passed the test and have your cert.

That is not correct. A person is not considered to be a fully licenced driver until they have a Driving Licence. A Certificate of Competency is not a Driving Licence. It merely proves that the person has passed a driving test and the holder is legally obliged to be accompanied while driving on a public road.

In saying that, I think any Garda will treat a motorist sympathetically if they are unaccompanied but have applied for a Driving Licence.

Alanstrainor

It's covered in the Sticky.

Q.
Does the Certificate of competancy entitle you to drive unaccompanied?

A.




A person driving while they hold a certificate of competency must be accompanied by a qualified driver. When they have this certificate exchanged for a full driving licence they do not need to be accompanied.

Washout

after the test the tester told me to get licence as law doesnt cover the competency cert.

went to garda station to get licence form (rthey didnt have i lol;d)

I asked the guard if i can use a copy of the cert to drive once i applied. he said you would be ok. but you NEED to apply.

I didnt drive alone until i posted in my application and kept a colour copy of my cert and provisional licence in the car in case.

Im not advoating it just saying what i did on the opionion of a member of the garda. i dont doubt a differant gard would ave told me the opposite.

Alanstrainor

Yes, i believe once you actually apply, and recieve your receipt from your motor tax office you are entitled to drive unaccomp,

Photocopy, Cert and Provisional. - And apply..

SeanW

No technical right to drive unaccompanied until your Driving License comes into force.

However there is cause for confusion as prior to the big clampdown recently, you used to be legally entitled to drive unaccompanied, with L Plates and no motorway driving, with a Provisional License plus Certificate of Competency. In simple terms, the Provisional + CoC combination gave you the same rights as the old 2nd Provisional.

But all that is gone now

Technically, you can be "done" for driving unaccompanied on anything but a current Driving License, so if you're going to do that, it might be a better idea not to have the L Plates up. That said, you're not likely to have a problem.