Waiting to recieve pink licence, how long?

Max Power1

Right - as some of you may know, I passed my test on 21/7.

I then went to the tax office on the 22/7 (kildare) and paid for my licence and got a reciept etc. Its now the 1/8 and I still havent got my licence. Im still technically not allowed to drive unnacompanied (although I have been - I doubt any guard will "do" me if I have the reciept with my driving no. etc).

My question is, how long do you normally have to wait to recieve the pink slip in the post?

muboop1

You should have it by the end of next week. If you dont have it by Friday call them!

Also, you can drive unaccompanied I think once you have your receipt, you just cannot go on motorways still.

Max Power1

muboop1 wrote: »

You should have it by the end of next week. If you dont have it by Friday call them!

Also, you can drive unaccompanied I think once you have your receipt, you just cannot go on motorways still.

Ok, this bit confuses me! Its either I can or cant - If i can, then its because I have my licence in theory but not in my hand yet, in which case I should be allowed on the motorway (i went on the motorway the day I passed). If I cant drive on my own then i'd understand the no motorways obviously.

Surely it cant be a "half and half" situation?

muboop1

Just telling you what I was told!

Obey it or don't. Your call!

Alanstrainor

muboop1 wrote: »

Just telling you what I was told!

Obey it or don't. Your call!

Unfortunately that's incorrect. You're not fully licensed until you hold your pink license. So all the same Learner Permit rules apply.

EDIT: However, you'd have to meet one hell of a nasty Gard to get done for it imo.

murrayp4

I was straight down to the tax ofice after my test on the 28th, so I'm expecting mine some stage next week. The guy at the counter said 4-5 days.

As the lads said above, the Garda would want to be some plum to do you for no licence. I doubt a district court judge would run with it either...

muboop1

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Unfortunately that's incorrect. You're not fully licensed until you hold your pink license. So all the same Learner Permit rules apply.

EDIT: However, you'd have to meet one hell of a nasty Gard to get done for it imo.

Really? That's what person at desk in motor tax office told me when I was getting my full liscence... Silly woman lied

Max Power1

muboop1 wrote: »

Really? That's what person at desk in motor tax office told me when I was getting my full liscence... Silly woman lied

Yup, I was told the same - I didnt even ask, she came right out with it. And she wasnt half asleep and thinking I was renewing or anything - we had a detailed discussion about my test the previous day. She was asking why I did my test in finglas if I live in kildare and so on. I went through a checkpoint on saturday near the blanchardstown SC (wasnt asked for licence). Itd be a sickener to get done now after driving to and from work unnacompanied for the last 7 months

**Timbuk2**

I applied for my full licence on a Monday, and received it Wednesday morning in your post. You should get it very soon - it's bad luck that your applying for a pink licence happens to span across a long bank holiday weekend.

murrayp4

Got mine today

Max Power1

murrayp4 wrote: »

Got mine today

what tax office did you go to?

Just as a point of reference. If you applied on the 28th and got yours today, surely I should have gotten mine by now (i applied on the 22nd). (Im starting to get a bit frustrated now tbh)

DubOnHoliday

These things can go wrong. In my case I was waiting and waiting... it turned out the tester had filled in the test number I was doing instead of my driver number in the competency form, and it never went anywhere once it got to the motor tax office. I had to wait for him to come back from 2 months holidays to sign a new form (apparently nobody else could vouch that I passed that test). I wasn't pleased.

g'em

I went into the MTO in Smithfield last Tuesday morning at 9.30am and it was in the post on Wednesday morning

When I passed My tester also told me I could drive unnacompanied but not on a motorway until I had the pink license - the certificate of competency I valid for two years and during that time you are effectively a fully licensed driver.

murrayp4

Max Power1 wrote: »

what tax office did you go to?

Smithfield

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

challengemaster

g'em wrote: »

I went into the MTO in Smithfield last Tuesday morning at 9.30am and it was in the post on Wednesday morning

When I passed My tester also told me I could drive unnacompanied but not on a motorway until I had the pink license - the certificate of competency I valid for two years and during that time you are effectively a fully licensed driver.

As Alanstrainor said, you're not legally a fully licensed driver until you've got the pinky. The cert is proof you passed your test, but if you think you can get away with hanging onto the cert for 2 years and presenting it at a checkpoint / station when asked to present, you'd find yourself in a bit of bother. You'd be in even more bother if you were being insured as a full licensed driver.

MTO's just like every other system in the country are a joke. No consistency between them, interpretation of rules or anything. I got handed back my learners permit when applying for the full...

Bosco26

I passed my test last week in Kildare but did not have time to apply for the license on the day. I was wondering, can I send the form and all the other stuff that is necessary via post or do I have to go down in person?

Thanks

g'em

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I'm not suggesting, just passing on the information my tester gave - which I obviously misunderstood That's fair enough so, glad to be corrected.

Max Power1

Just an update on this, I rang Kildare MTO on friday, they said they were processing licence applications recieved on the 18th of July, as mine was recieved on the 22nd it would be done shortly.

Its a ridiculous wait to get a licence after passing the test imo.

**Timbuk2**

That's annoying all right! I would have just drove anyway, as you have done. It is unfair, in my opinion, to have passed the test but not be able to drive simply due to the effeciency of the MTO and the postal service. Sure don't people who apply in Cork get their licence handed to them over the counter?

Max Power1

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

That's annoying all right! I would have just drove anyway, as you have done. It is unfair, in my opinion, to have passed the test but not be able to drive simply due to the effeciency of the MTO and the postal service. Sure don't people who apply in Cork get their licence handed to them over the counter?

Well we are currently at the first stage of inefficiency (the MTO), havent even moved to the inefficiency of the PO yet!

Ah well, ive been driving on my own now, passed my test, so I doubt any judge would convict me based on that. The only dodgy bit would have been if I had informed my insurance company that I had a full licence, but was involved in a crash before I recieved my licence (hence I havent said anything to the insurance co yet), as it may invalidate your insurance.


EDIT: Just off the phone again (its a recorded message that tells you what date it is today and what date they are processing) and they are still on the 18th of july. They open from 9.15-3.15 FFS.

Grrrr, i'm off to Ranting and Raving forum I think!

**Timbuk2**

^ That's annoying. The PO isn't that bad, but it has it's moments.

I'd be driving away as normal, as you are. Interesting about the insurance, I never thought about that.

It sort of spoils the fun/freedom/accomplishment of passing your test when you don't have a pink licence to show for it. Ripping off the L-Plates and getting the pink licence are the best bits :P

Atavan-Halen

Well you need to send in a copy of your license to your insurance co. before they'll upddate your policy. I rang up and told them I'd passed and they said that's fine, it'll be pending on the system and then uptaded as soon as they recieve the copy. So you should ring up your insurance co. and tell them anyway.

I was told in the MTO that it was fine to drive with the receipt for the license and they never mentioned anything about mototrway driving.

cbmonstra

Went down to the tax office with my cert of competency and all the necessary forms, etc. last Thursday.

They had signs up everywhere stating there will be a 4 - 5 week wait on licence applications. This is in Waterford.

I took a photocopy of the cert of competency and I am carrying my receipt of payment for the pink licence also in case I get pulled over. The lady behind the desk in the tax office said I will be ok with that, but sure you can't take her word for it really, can you?

On a side note, I called my insurance company to advise, and they have sent me my new disk and are processing a refund for me also. They just said to call when I have my licence....

ha-ya-said-what

You said Kildare you went to, I applied for mine in Naas today he told me I will take 3 weeks!!

Max Power1

ha-ya-said-what wrote: »

You said Kildare you went to, I applied for mine in Naas today he told me I will take 3 weeks!!

your one said up to two weeks for me.


Incidentally you may not be covered if you tell your insurance company that you have a full licence but your application hasnt been processed yet. Say I told mine last week that i had a full licence, it wouldnt be processed until this week. If I were to crash in the meantime (before my licence was processed) and claim from insurance. they would see that the date on the licence (when I did recieve it) would be after the date I claimed to have one.

ha-ya-said-what

Max Power1 wrote: »

your one said up to two weeks for me.


Incidentally you may not be covered if you tell your insurance company that you have a full licence but your application hasnt been processed yet. Say I told mine last week that i had a full licence, it wouldnt be processed until this week. If I were to crash in the meantime (before my licence was processed) and claim from insurance. they would see that the date on the licence (when I did recieve it) would be after the date I claimed to have one.

Fully aware of that, no insurance company in the right mind will amend details regarding a license until they have copies of your license as proof. TBH that should be common sense to people.

lol I still rang mine tho, not to ask them to add my licence but to see was I due any money back! :mad: Raging I am but the longer the poxy the license takes to arrive the less am gonna get back!

Max Power1

finally got it in the post yesterday!:D

(along with my tax renewal letter )

**Timbuk2**

That's great! The pink paper looks great when you see it at first!

Then the novelty wears off and you wonder why they would make such stupidly-shaped licences when most of Europe have credit-card sized licences that can actually be carried around with you in your wallet.

Mine is already looking a bit battered and I've only had it about 3 months - I don't think it will last 10 years. I bought a driving licence holder in a €2 shop in Dublin though - it's sort of like a book that opens up.