Provisional licence renewal

pog it

Folks, I need your help. I renewed my provisional licence in 2009, and stupidly thought it was valid for 3 years as it normal for licences. When I checked last night (I have to produce it within 10 days to my local Garda station as I was stopped and was driving without it) I discovered that the blooming thing expired in 2010- I think there is a limit to how long you can hold a provisional licence? This would have been my second provisional licence, my first one was held in 2004.

So, does anyone know do I have to have just applied for the driving test and show evidence of that to get the licence renewed, or do I have to have sat the test to be able to apply for the licence?

The motor tax office is closed today. Would appreciate any help from anyone with any info, as I'm a bit up the creek with this.

delly

You have to show a copy of the confirmed booking for your test, so say you book the test for a date in 3 months, you then send this booking confirmation with your licence renewal and you will be issued with a one year licence.

pog it

delly wrote: »

You have to show a copy of the confirmed booking for your test, so say you book the test for a date in 3 months, you then send this booking confirmation with your licence renewal and you will be issued with a one year licence.

Thanks delly, but would I not have to wait to get that confirmation of a driving test? I mean I can apply now, and print off the thing to say that I have applied, but that's going to be no good unless I have the date for the test confirmed, but that could takes ages?

I'm really worried they're going to give me a court summons over this.

2Scoops

You're screwed I think - there's no way you will have a new permit in your hand within 10 days, and even then it will never be backdated. Present your old license and explain your situation to the gardai, but don't expect much sympathy. Book your test and apply for a new permit immediately - it will look good for you later. Small fine at the courts, probably.

corktina

would have been a great idea to have sat your test and got a full license wouldnt it!

(whoa steady boy, don't want to fall off from way up here! )

Berty

You let you license expire and you will now need a new one. You will need a new drivers theory test and apply for a learners permit.

If you let it expire by less than 12 months then you can get a replacement. If it has been more than 12 months then you have to sit the theory test and apply for a learners permit. You might then be encouraged to actually pass your tests and drive legally.

http://www.dublincity.ie/ROADSANDTRAFFIC/DRIVINGLICENCES/Pages/LicencePermitReplacement.aspx#expired

Alanstrainor

Beer Baron wrote: »

You let you license expire and you will now need a new one. You will need a new drivers theory test and apply for a learners permit.

If you let it expire by less than 12 months then you can get a replacement. If it has been more than 12 months then you have to sit the theory test and apply for a learners permit. You might then be encouraged to actually pass your tests and drive legally.

http://www.dublincity.ie/ROADSANDTRAFFIC/DRIVINGLICENCES/Pages/LicencePermitReplacement.aspx#expired

That's not true. No need to resit the theory test. Provided your provisional license/Learner Permit has not been expired for 5 years or more you can just reapply.

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

Berty

Alanstrainor wrote: »

That's not true. No need to resit the theory test. Provided your provisional license/Learner Permit has not been expired for 5 years or more you can just reapply.

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

Fair enough. Least of his worries though.

Bruthal

I think the only thing you dont need with application for a new learner permit if you held one within the prevous 5 years is a passport or birth certificate. The theory test certificate itself only lasts 2 years, as does the learner permit.

So if the permit is out of date, its likely the theory test which was sat for it is also out of date. A current theory test certificate is needed anyway with the application for a new permit.

Its a long time since i had a provisional licence though (1990:eek:), its all changed a lot since then, so i could be wrong of course.

slimjimmc

2Scoops wrote: »

You're screwed I think - there's no way you will have a new permit in your hand within 10 days, and even then it will never be backdated. Present your old license and explain your situation to the gardai, but don't expect much sympathy. Book your test and apply for a new permit immediately - it will look good for you later. Small fine at the courts, probably.

+1 Indeed.
OP, no matter what you do you didn't have a valid driving licence or learner permit at the time you were stopped, and that's what the Garda wants to see. Anything you do now is a matter of damage limitation but worth doing anyhow. It won't avoid a penalty but it will show you took the offence seriously.

pog it

slimjimmc wrote: »

+1 Indeed.
OP, no matter what you do you didn't have a valid driving licence or learner permit at the time you were stopped, and that's what the Garda wants to see. Anything you do now is a matter of damage limitation but worth doing anyhow. It won't avoid a penalty but it will show you took the offence seriously.

That's why I'm here - damage limitation. I'm well aware I'm in the hands of the Gardaí now.

jhegarty

robbie7730 wrote: »

I think the only thing you dont need with application for a new learner permit if you held one within the prevous 5 years is a passport or birth certificate. The theory test certificate itself only lasts 2 years, as does the learner permit.

So if the permit is out of date, its likely the theory test which was sat for it is also out of date. A current theory test certificate is needed anyway with the application for a new permit.

Its a long time since i had a provisional licence though (1990:eek:), its all changed a lot since then, so i could be wrong of course.

Wrong.

You only need a new a theory test if you go past the 5 years since the last the permit expired.

Bruthal

jhegarty wrote: »

Wrong.

You only need a new a theory test if you go past the 5 years since the last the permit expired.

Yes indeed, i looked more into it later on. I thought it was 2 years for some reason.