Licence categories - which am I entitled to.

CiniO

I passed my driving test for B category in 1999 in Poland. I did the same with my D category in 2008 (in Poland as well).
After it, I became resident in Ireland, and I swapped my Polish licence for Irish licence.

However, recently when studying citizensinformation website, I discovered, that by having category B, I'm entitled as well to category W and M. (info about it here in the bottom of the page http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/full_driving_licence.html )

It all looks a bit messy, because I never got my M and W categories indicated on my licence. At the same time, my wife (with category swapped Polish licence for Irish licence, and got category B and W. (not M). Also my category D entitles me to have category D1, and this was indicated on my licence, even though back on Polish licence I had only D (not D1).

Because I changed address a while ago, so last time I was at motor tax office, I filled in the form for new licence document with new address and that extra categories that I'm entitled to (M and W).

My previous licence was taken, I was issued with receipt, and was told my new licence will arrive in the post within 10 day.
10 days went on, even 15, nothing came in. I rang them, and I was told by some ladie, that she doesn't know how told me about 10 days, but currently they have a backlog of about 20 days, so I'll have to wait couple more weeks for my licence.
Yesterday, letter arrived, but unfortunately licence was not there, but the form that I filled in, with one field indicated to complete (i didn't fill it in earlier). I actually didn't fill it in intentinally in the first place, because it was a question about date of expire of licence that I have had issued abroad (I had to indicate if I have or have had licence issued abroad within 10 years). Obviously I had (my Polish licence) but I couldn't provide it's date of expire as I don't have it anymore (it was swapped for Irish licence in the same motor tax office 2 years earlier). I informed a guy who received my form couple weeks back about it, he said it was fine, but obviously that information didn't go to the ladie who is issuing licences.
So I took that form that I received and went straight back to motor tax office. I explained that situation, she said it was fine in that case to leave date of expire blank, and she gave me my licence.
New address was on it, but unfortunetely, neither of categoried (W and M) was on it.
When I asked about it, she said she forgot about putting category W, and that I'm not entitled to category M. I said that can't be true, and I showed her a print from citizensinformation with that table of categories. It says exactly:

In addition, if you have held a driving licence for category B, C, C1, D, D1, EB, EC, EC1, ED or ED1 since before 21 October 2006, it is also regarded as a licence for category M.

She said, that I had licence category B since 1999, but it wasn't Irish licence, so I'm not entitled to it, because I gained Irish licence only in 2008.

She said, that she can put category W though on my licence, but I would have to wait for another few weeks, most likely for more then a months without my licence in my pocket.

I couldn't let it be, as in next few weeks, I'm driving on holidays abroad, and I need my licence, so I left the whole case for later.

What's your advice guys?
Am I really not entitled to category M?

What do you think of how motor tax office in Castlebar works?

Alkers

What do you want category M for anyway? It's pretty much useless as for a scooter to be category M it has to be less than 50cc AND not capable of exceeding 45km/hr. If you want to get a scooter do a theory test and get the A licence - any modern 50cc scoot should do 75km/hr+

keithclancy

CiniO wrote: »

I passed my driving test for B category in 1999 in Poland. I did the same with my D category in 2008 (in Poland as well).
After it, I became resident in Ireland, and I swapped my Polish licence for Irish licence.

However, recently when studying citizensinformation website, I discovered, that by having category B, I'm entitled as well to category W and M. (info about it here in the bottom of the page http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/full_driving_licence.html )

It all looks a bit messy, because I never got my M and W categories indicated on my licence. At the same time, my wife (with category swapped Polish licence for Irish licence, and got category B and W. (not M). Also my category D entitles me to have category D1, and this was indicated on my licence, even though back on Polish licence I had only D (not D1).

Because I changed address a while ago, so last time I was at motor tax office, I filled in the form for new licence document with new address and that extra categories that I'm entitled to (M and W).

My previous licence was taken, I was issued with receipt, and was told my new licence will arrive in the post within 10 day.
10 days went on, even 15, nothing came in. I rang them, and I was told by some ladie, that she doesn't know how told me about 10 days, but currently they have a backlog of about 20 days, so I'll have to wait couple more weeks for my licence.
Yesterday, letter arrived, but unfortunately licence was not there, but the form that I filled in, with one field indicated to complete (i didn't fill it in earlier). I actually didn't fill it in intentinally in the first place, because it was a question about date of expire of licence that I have had issued abroad (I had to indicate if I have or have had licence issued abroad within 10 years). Obviously I had (my Polish licence) but I couldn't provide it's date of expire as I don't have it anymore (it was swapped for Irish licence in the same motor tax office 2 years earlier). I informed a guy who received my form couple weeks back about it, he said it was fine, but obviously that information didn't go to the ladie who is issuing licences.
So I took that form that I received and went straight back to motor tax office. I explained that situation, she said it was fine in that case to leave date of expire blank, and she gave me my licence.
New address was on it, but unfortunetely, neither of categoried (W and M) was on it.
When I asked about it, she said she forgot about putting category W, and that I'm not entitled to category M. I said that can't be true, and I showed her a print from citizensinformation with that table of categories. It says exactly:


She said, that I had licence category B since 1999, but it wasn't Irish licence, so I'm not entitled to it, because I gained Irish licence only in 2008.

She said, that she can put category W though on my licence, but I would have to wait for another few weeks, most likely for more then a months without my licence in my pocket.

I couldn't let it be, as in next few weeks, I'm driving on holidays abroad, and I need my licence, so I left the whole case for later.

What's your advice guys?
Am I really not entitled to category M?

What do you think of how motor tax office in Castlebar works?

They changed the rules a few years back, so B doesn't automatically give you M anymore. Hence you have category B so only get B and W like a person thats passed a test for B would get.

Going to swap mine for a Dutch one soon so i'll get the M category Thinking about buying a cheapo moped to nip around the place for 400 - 500 euros.

CiniO

keithclancy wrote: »

They changed the rules a few years back, so B doesn't automatically give you M anymore.

But take a look at text from citizensinformation I quotet in first post.
It says clearly, that if I have had B licence before 2006, I'm entitled to category M.