Switching To IRISH Driver's Licence

Caroline_ie

I recently missplaced my French Drivers licence and was told I should really have switched it a long time ago to an irish Licence. I looked for info on the Citizeninfo site and found that if you are driving in ireland for 12months+ you should request an Irish licence. I drive an Irish registered car.

Has anyone any idea if I could request a full irish licence even if I lost my French one or do I need to get a duplicate from the French Gov 1st.

Thanks

mickoneill30

From this site.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/motoring-1/driver-licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit

"If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid."

I think if you're looking for an Irish license you need to provide the old one. It says so half way down that page.

SeanW

Yes, you need to have your French driving license in order to change it.

Whoever told you you "should have switched it a long time ago," quite frankly, is full of s***. You are under no obligation to exchange another EU for an Irish driving license, as an EU license is valid here same a domestic one. None obligation to switch it whatsoever. The only thing is when your French license expires they probably won't renew it if you don't have an address there anymore.

A foreign EU license cannot have penalty points applied. That said, an Irish (clean) license might get you a lower insurance quite. Might.

ex6

SeanW wrote: »

Whoever told you you "should have switched it a long time ago," quite frankly, is full of s***. You are under no obligation to exchange another EU for an Irish driving license, as an EU license is valid here same a domestic one. None obligation to switch it whatsoever.

I was pulled over by Guarda today because I passed someone from the left on motorway where s/he was doing 60 kmh in middle lane and I did bit over 80 in the left lane.

Garda told me too that I have to change my licence to Irish one if I am here for long time...

The page mentioned above does say following, so its not BS:

If you are a holder of a licence issued by one of these states you can drive in Ireland when visiting, providing your licence is valid.

If you become normally resident in Ireland, you can drive for up to 12 months from the date of becoming resident, as long as your licence has not expired. You are considered to be normally resident in Ireland if, because of personal and occupational ties, you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year.

My question is, how do I get my original licence back if I ever decide to go back to my homeland... maybe for vacation, maybe permanently... IF I decide to go back - I kinda like it here ... and I also like my credit-card-size EU licence.

Alun

Sorry, but it IS BS, and the cop doesn't know what he's talking about! Read the web page again ... the section you quoted above is for residents of the so called "recognised states", i.e. Australia, Gibraltar etc. Holders of EU licences can drive on their licences for as long as they are valid, full stop.

Just above that part is the following text ...

Holders of licences issued by an EU/EEA member state

If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid. If you wish to exchange your driving licence for an equivalent Irish driving licence, you must do so within 10 years of your driving licence expiring.

Alun

ex6 wrote: »

My question is, how do I get my original licence back if I ever decide to go back to my homeland... maybe for vacation, maybe permanently... IF I decide to go back - I kinda like it here ... and I also like my credit-card-size EU licence.

You don't. IF you exchange your current licence for an Irish one, then you can drive in your home country for as long as your Irish licence is valid (it's an EU wide agreement) whether you're on holiday or returning permanently, and then exchange it again (when and if you want, or when it expires) for a licence from your home country.

ex6

Alun wrote: »

Sorry, but it IS BS, and the cop doesn't know what he's talking about! Read the web page again ... the section you quoted above is for residents of the so called "recognised states", i.e. Australia, Gibraltar etc. Holders of EU licences can drive on their licences for as long as they are valid, full stop.

Just above that part is the following text ...

Yes I presume is matter of interperation... one could argue that it sais:

Holders of licences issued by an EU/EEA member state

... bla bla bla ...
Holders of licences issued by recognised states

... bla bla bla ...

If you are a holder of a licence issued by one of these states ...

Does the last sentence cover all states mentioned above or only the non EU/EEA ones?

By all logic EU licence by defination is valid in whole EU as long as it is valid. But we all have seen non-logical things here in Ireland...

Alun

ex6 wrote: »

Does the last sentence cover all states mentioned above or only the non EU/EEA ones?

Only the non EU/EEA ones, absolutely 100% definitely. It won't be either the first or the last time that a Garda appears to be ignorant of the law in this regard.

Marcusm

Alun wrote: »

Sorry, but it IS BS, and the cop doesn't know what he's talking about! Read the web page again ... the section you quoted above is for residents of the so called "recognised states", i.e. Australia, Gibraltar etc. Holders of EU licences can drive on their licences for as long as they are valid, full stop.

Just above that part is the following text ...

Don't know where you're from so don't know if you even have to swap. However, Aussies and Kiwis f myacquaintancereguarly sort this out by simply applying for a replacement licence and asserting the original is no longer in their possession.