Learner Permit Driving

KingOfBreifne

As I said in another thread a few days ago, my wife and I will be moving to Galway from the U.S. in just ten days now. Can someone please give me a concise explanation of what we will have to do with the learner permits?

I want to acquire my full Irish driver licence as soon as possible. Will I have to be acompanied by someone with a full Irish licence as long as I have that "L" decal on my vehicle?

I've driven thousands of miles on Irish roads in rental cars, and it would seem silly to need a "babysitter" simply for beginning the process of being licensed in Ireland...but is this the law?

guil

you will have to book a theory test and then if you pass that apply for a learner permit, you have to have a learner permit 6 months before ya sit a test for that category, only applies to cars and bikes though

Berty

Here is a link to the Citizens Information Website

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/learner_driving_permits_for_cars_and_work_vehicles.html

You can apply for your test 6 months after getting your permit.

This bit might annoy you. New RULE!!

From 4th April 2011 new first-time category B learner permit holders will be required to undertake mandatory esential driver training (EDT) of 12 one-hours lessons with an approved driving instructor. Your progress will be recorded in a special logbook. You should also have an experienced driver who will supervise your driving practice outside of lessons, and will also update your logbook. When taking the driving test, you may be required to show your completed logbook to the examiner. Further information on the mandatory esential driver training is available on the Road Safety Authority's website.

Will you have to be accompanied?

Yes legally

Hardly anybody does though. I have seen many things on Irish roads. Today I managed to knock up around 650kms of driving and saw everything from Instructors with students on Motorways, tractors on Motorway, Hire Car reversing onto a roundabout because they took the wrong exit.

We have our fair share of idiots in Ireland so the new rules might help.

Although it will be a pain for you but I imagine Ireland does not recognise the US DMVs because its p*ss easy to get a license in the US.

guil

Berty wrote: »

Here is a link to the Citizens Information Website

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/learner_driving_permits_for_cars_and_work_vehicles.html

You can apply for your test 6 months after getting your permit.

This bit might annoy you. New RULE!!



Will you have to be accompanied?

Yes legally

Hardly anybody does though. I have seen many things on Irish roads. Today I managed to knock up around 650kms of driving and saw everything from Instructors with students on Motorways, tractors on Motorway, Hire Car reversing onto a roundabout because they took the wrong exit.

We have our fair share of idiots in Ireland so the new rules might help.

Although it will be a pain for you but I imagine Ireland does not recognise the US DMVs because its p*ss easy to get a license in the US.

ya can apply for it at anytime but cant sit it till the 6 months are up

CiniO

KingOfBreifne wrote: »

As I said in another thread a few days ago, my wife and I will be moving to Galway from the U.S. in just ten days now. Can someone please give me a concise explanation of what we will have to do with the learner permits?

I want to acquire my full Irish driver licence as soon as possible. Will I have to be acompanied by someone with a full Irish licence as long as I have that "L" decal on my vehicle?

I've driven thousands of miles on Irish roads in rental cars, and it would seem silly to need a "babysitter" simply for beginning the process of being licensed in Ireland...but is this the law?

Obtain international driving licence in US before you leave.

With this you will be able to drive in Ireland for a period of 12 months, without a need for accomapnying passenger with full licence.

This will give you enough time, to pass Irish driving test, and obtain full Irish driving licence.
Only one trick now is, that you will have to take 12 hours driving lessons with instructor, before your test.

CiniO

Berty wrote: »

Here is a link to the Citizens Information Website


Will you have to be accompanied?

Yes legally

Not really.
He can drive for 12 months on his US licence, while holdind Irish driving permit.
It doesn't matter that he has to be accompanied with Irish driving permit, because he can drive not accompanied on his US licence.

guil

according to this he cant

JOSman

There are international agreements between certain countries that allow the swap of national licences. Does anybody know if Ireland and the US have this agreement in place?

guil

no they don't, it says it on the link i posted

CiniO

guil wrote: »

according to this he cant

Only when he becomes resident.

Berty

guil wrote: »

ya can apply for it at anytime but cant sit it till the 6 months are up

It matters little considering you still have to wait 6 months.

CiniO wrote: »

Not really.
He can drive for 12 months on his US licence, while holdind Irish driving permit.
It doesn't matter that he has to be accompanied with Irish driving permit, because he can drive not accompanied on his US licence.

Read the opening post where the poster says "as soon as possible". Its irrelevant that he can wait 12 months when he wants it done quickly.

Frankly, I'd drive for the full 12 months on an "out of state" license. Zero Points and Zero Fines(tell them write to the US address) whilst you are getting used to our roads and rules.

Alanstrainor

Thread moved to Learning to Drive.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

guil

Berty wrote: »

It matters little considering you still have to wait 6 months.



Read the opening post where the poster says "as soon as possible". Its irrelevant that he can wait 12 months when he wants it done quickly.

Frankly, I'd drive for the full 12 months on an "out of state" license. Zero Points and Zero Fines(tell them write to the US address) whilst you are getting used to our roads and rules.

i think it matters alot, the average waiting time in galway is 13 weeks
so if he waited for the 6 months to be up to apply he could be waiting another 3 months for a test :rolleyes:

KingOfBreifne

So what kind of cost am I looking at between the driving lessons and all the requisite tests of every sort?

challengemaster

Probably in the region of €7-800

guil

provided ya pass the test with just the 12 lessons it would prob cost €600/650
thats if each lesson costs €35, ya might get it a bit cheaper paying in advance with an instructor

KingOfBreifne

challengemaster wrote: »

Probably in the region of €7-800

:eek:

Ouch.

Alanstrainor

challengemaster wrote: »

Probably in the region of €7-800

I don't know where you're getting those prices from!

12 lessons at 35 a pop equal 420.

challengemaster

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I don't know where you're getting those prices from!

12 lessons at 35 a pop equal 420.

Was a lot more than that when I was doing them, I'll tell ya that. Even still, factor in cost for learner permit + theory test, then the actual driving test and licence... closer to 600 anyway.

Buffman

I read on a post somewhere here before that if you have a licence already you don't have to wait 6 months. I'm not sure how this ties in with the new EDT rules. The OP should contact the RSA directly and see what they say regarding his circumstances, as logically, if you don't have to wait the 6 months, you shouldn't have to do the EDT.

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Learner-Drivers/Your-learner-permit/what-it-is/

If you hold a full driving licence or permit in the category corresponding to the category on your learner permit which was issued by the competent authority of another jurisdiction and shows that you have had that entitlement for at least 6 months, then you do not need to wait 6 months before sitting a driving test.

KingOfBreifne

Okay...so I will most definitely be paying a visit to the RSA as soon as we arrive. I'd like to go ahead and purchase a car shortly after we settle in, but would I be forbidden to drive it until this whole process is through?

I do agree that it's just too easy to obtain a licence in the U.S., but Ireland seems to be too far in the other direction (i.e. way too much time and money).

challengemaster

KingOfBreifne wrote: »

Okay...so I will most definitely be paying a visit to the RSA as soon as we arrive. I'd like to go ahead and purchase a car shortly after we settle in, but would I be forbidden to drive it until this whole process is through?

I do agree that it's just too easy to obtain a licence in the U.S., but Ireland seems to be too far in the other direction (i.e. way too much time and money).

You're coming to a very backwards place tbh. Be prepared to bend over and hand over lots of money for things which really don't make sense

KingOfBreifne

challengemaster wrote: »

You're coming to a very backwards place tbh. Be prepared to bend over and hand over lots of money for things which really don't make sense

I withhold judgment on the "backwards" part until I've been there a while and can speak from experience , but I have prepared myself for the part about handing over lots of money for things which really don't make sense...this was just a new example for me.

Buffman

KingOfBreifne wrote: »

Okay...so I will most definitely be paying a visit to the RSA as soon as we arrive.

It might be better to Email them now to clarify your position with the 6 month rule etc. and get the ball rolling.

http://www.rsa.ie/en/Utility/Contact-Us/Who-do-I-contact-about/

It's not really like the U.S. where you can call into your local DMV. The RSA is based in Ballina, Co Mayo and almost all business with them is conducted online or by phone/post. We have local driving test centres around the country, but you can only take the test there, they don't deal with queries or applications.

Permabear

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KingOfBreifne

Permabear wrote: »

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I can see all the time and expense for someone who has never held a licence in any country, but to require all this from someone who has held a full U.S. licence for 16 years is rather amazing, in my opinion (especially considering all the cooperation between the two countries).

Jagle

KingOfBreifne wrote: »

I can see all the time and expense for someone who has never held a licence in any country, but to require all this from someone who has held a full U.S. licence for 16 years is rather amazing, in my opinion (especially considering all the cooperation between the two countries).

no offence but driving in america is nothing like driving over here, i know you might of driven here with rentals and blah blah blah, but any american coming over here should easily have to do the same tests, this isnt america, we dont have 6 lane highways everywhere, you can do 80 on dirt country roads, peoples standards of driving are awful, best to learn properly

KingOfBreifne

Jagle wrote: »

no offence but driving in america is nothing like driving over here, i know you might of driven here with rentals and blah blah blah, but any american coming over here should easily have to do the same tests, this isnt america, we dont have 6 lane highways everywhere, you can do 80 on dirt country roads, peoples standards of driving are awful, best to learn properly

Well, that's debatable...but the law is the law. I'll have to go through it all regardless.

Jagle

KingOfBreifne wrote: »

Well, that's debatable...but the law is the law. I'll have to go through it all regardless.

right youve driven here, and america, and your saying its kinda the same?
nonsense, completely different

i agree it sucks, but if i was moving from a place where everything was straight roads, automatic cars for the most part, nice big open spaces, little to no roundabouts, to here, id wanna relearn how to drive on these awful roads.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

KingOfBreifne

Jagle wrote: »

right youve driven here, and america, and your saying its kinda the same?
nonsense, completely different

i agree it sucks, but if i was moving from a place where everything was straight roads, automatic cars for the most part, nice big open spaces, little to no roundabouts, to here, id wanna relearn how to drive on these awful roads.

No, I've already admitted there are some major differences, but there are also quite a few similarities. And I have no problem re-learning how to drive in another country -- my objection is the MANDATORY lengthy period before you can take your final test. That's ridiculous. If I can pass the test after one week, I should be allowed to do it after one week.

KingOfBreifne

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

PRECISELY.

ToDublin2011

Hi. I'm moving to Ireland on an 2 year work permit in 2 months and have the same questions regarding obtaining a drivers license in Ireland. Have you already moved to Ireland? How did it end up working once you go there?