Licence out of date

yellow012

Hi Folks,
About to go on the holliers , hire car booked but just spotted a major problem.
My full Irish licence is out of date by 3 months. Until I get it renewed whats my legal position?
Am I a person without a drivers licence? or is just an administrative problem as in, I still have a licence, I just need to do the paperwork to get a new one sent out?

Thnx Chris

muletide

Had the same problem about a year ago. Only I didnt realise that it was out of date until the French guy at the car rental place pointed it out to me. I was refused the car but luckily my wife had her full licence.

As to where you stand - You do not have a licence - They will not give you the car

Victor

You may have problems, especially abroad.

Get to the Motor Tax Office ASAP on Monday.

galwaytt

muletide wrote: »

As to where you stand - You do not have a licence - They will not give you the car

Correction: you DO have a licence. You just haven't paid the renewal for the portable record of it.

The pink bit of paper is not your driving licence. Your driving licence is, in fact, your file in the Co Co office. The piece of paper you carry about is merely the portable record of that file, and it's that that's expired.

yellow012

We're going tomoro so no time to get the licence renewed. My wife has a full licence so I have transferred the booking to her name so there should be no issue getting the car. Problem is we are going to Croatia and from experience it is not the easiest place in the world to drive plus she is 5 months pregnant so I don't want to put this hassle on her. I'm hoping I can slip in as a named driver without the expired licence issue being spotted.
Its probably not the cleverest of ideas but its the best idea I can think of now?????

galwaytt

...anywhere you buy an International licence ? AA office ?


....oh, tomorrow ?........oops.

unkel

yellow012 wrote: »

we are going to Croatia and from experience it is not the easiest place in the world to drive

The coast road is probably the most dangerous main road I have driven on, so I understand your concern.

Not sure if you should get yourself on the rental as a named driver. What would happen if they don't spot your license is out of date, they let you on as a named driver and you cause an accident? Would you be without insurance? Hopefully galwaytt is right in that you still have a license and you are legally covered, but I wouldn't bank on it. Probably best to have your wife drive and just take things very easy...

Good luck and have a nice holiday!

mickdw

You are insured here if licence is out of date as long as you are not banned from having a licence. Im sure that would be the case in all countries however not a hope of them letting you drive if they spot it.

slimjimmc

galwaytt wrote: »

...anywhere you buy an International licence ? AA office ?


....oh, tomorrow ?........oops.

I think the AA are the only place to get an International Driving Permit. I presume you already know that an IDP itself is not a license but merely an internationally accepted translation of your Irish license. You must carry your Irish license with you at all times when driving abroad with an IDP.

Anyways don't bother getting one since, according to this UK gov site, International Driving Permits are not valid in Croatia.

Road Travel

Your UK driving licence is valid for up to six months from entry into Croatia. If you are staying longer, you need to apply for a Croatian licence. International Driving Licences are not valid in Croatia.

If travelling by car you should ensure, before setting out, that your green card covers Croatia. Insurance can normally be purchased at the main border crossings, however some of the smaller crossings may not have this facility or have limited hours when the service is available. If you are driving to or through Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the 20km strip of coastline at Neum on the Dalmatian coastal highway, you should ensure that your Green Card includes cover for Bosnia and Herzegovina. If this is not the case, temporary third-party insurance can be purchased at the main border posts, or in Split and other large Croatian cities. Insurance cannot be obtained at the Neum border.

Road conditions in and around Zagreb and the larger towns are of a generally good standard. However, you should take care when overtaking and use caution around other road users who may unexpectedly overtake repeatedly in slower traffic. Minor roads are usually unlit at night.

Croatia has laws stating that it is illegal:

• to drive with more than 0.5% of alcohol in the system (but if in any kind of offence zero tolerance applies);
• to drive without dipped headlights on during daylight saving period (last weekend in October until last weekend in March); and
• to use a mobile phone whilst driving.

It is obligatory to carry a fluorescent vest in your car whilst driving in Croatia. You must keep the vest in the car and not in the boot. You must wear the vest whilst attending to a breakdown, e.g. changing a tyre. All passengers must wear Seatbelts and special seats are required for infants. Children under the age of 12 may not sit in the front seat.
There have been a number of reported incidents of gangs robbing car occupants after either indicating that they are in trouble and require assistance, or pulling alongside a car and indicating that there seems to be something wrong and they should pull over. You should therefore be extremely cautious should something similar to the above actions occur.

Emergency road help (HAK) may be reached by dialling 987. This service is staffed by English speaking operators. Traffic information in English is available at 98.5FM during the tourist season only.