Driving in Ireland for the first time on a US license.

ProudDUB

Evening all.

I am living in Ireland again after nearly 20 yrs in the US. I have a US license & I have a perfect driving record from the States (yay me. ) I have never had an Irish drivers lisc or done any driving here. I got an Irish leaner permit last summer, but have not done any driving on it, or taken my mandatory 12 lessons. There was no point, as I had no car to practice in and no sponsor.

Am buying a car next week & I have a sponsor. So I plan on taking the 12 lessons & get the ball rolling on getting my full Irish license. I am aware peeps with Learner Permits can not drive unaccompanied or drive on motorways. However, I can drive here on my US license for up to a year, with no restrictions or limitations.

So what I plan on doing its buy, tax and insure the car and drive it on my US license. Get experience driving on Irish roads and in Irish conditions. Then apply for my test and hopefully get my full license.

PROS.

1. Can not get points on a foreign license if anything unfortunate happens. That is not my main reason for doing this, but hey, its a perk.
2. Will be able to drive unaccompanied. Makes a big difference in my job hunt & my ability to take care of 2 elderly relations. This is my main reason for doing this. I will also get experienced enough to take my test faster, if I don't have to have someone with me in the car at all times.
3. Will be able to drive on motorways with my driving instructor and get tips on how to do so from a pro. I can do this in my sleep in the US, but all countries motorways are different. (Think its pretty stupid that that doesn't happen now btw. Who better can teach learners on how to best enter & exit motorway ramps, merge with other cars, over take other cars etc etc than a trained professional?)

CONS.

1. Cost of insuring a car on a non Irish license will be pretty steep. But insuring it on a Learners Permit will be steep too, so I get hosed either way.
2. No No claims bonus accrual for at least a year. If I am on a foreign license, the clock won't start ticking on racking up the financial benefits of accident free years.
3. Not having an experienced driver with me at all times may stunt my acquisition of knowledge about Irish roads and drivers. An instructor can only tell me so much in a 60 minute lesson.

Anyone see any pros or cons of the above plan that I am not taking into account?

The car I am buying, driving & taking my test in, will be an automatic. How will that affect my test seeing as most Irish people seem to drive manuals? (Am aware that I will only be qualified to drive an automatic & I am fine with that)

Has any one ever driven here, after learning how to drive overseas? How did you find it? What was the hardest thing to adjust to apart from the obvious driving on the left/right thing? There are many variables here (pedestrians, big Dublin Bus road hoggers, cyclists, roundabouts, mammys with buggies, narrow country roads, potholes etc etc) that I had to deal with very infrequently, if at all when I lived in the US. How much practice time and driving experience did you feel was enough before you felt ready to take and pass your test?

Thanks for any ideas and advice.

Midnight Sundance

If you do your test over here in an automatic car then you will only be insured to drive an automatic ( I could be wrong so if anyone's knows better than I , please correct)
However if you do your test in a manual you can drive either car. I've a friend who has done her test here in an automatic and she never intends to drive a manual so if you don't either then apply for the test as soon as .
You could also get your automatic licence n go for the manual car one at a later date if you feel more prepared.

ProudDUB

Thanks. I've never driven a manual car in my life. I don't plan on starting now, so I am totally ok with only being able to drive an automatic car here. Once I am comfortable driving in Ireland, I may learn how to drive a manual car just so I can say I can, or so I can drive my elderly aunts cars in the event of an emergency, but for now its not really a priority.

seniorstaff

Hi
im not sure but i think you may not have to undergo the 12 edt lessons as you have a full licence from another country, ring the road safety authority,or your local motor tax office
best of luck;)

brownacid

If you plan on staying in Ireland for teh foreseeable future I'm pretty sure thta there is no need for you to take a new test. I know for european licences you simply have to exchange your old licence for a shiny new irish licence with no tests or lessons, that should save you teh guts of 400 quid and cheapen your insurance significantly!

ProudDUB

Thanks, but sadly holders of licenses from the US do have to take the 12 lessons and sit the test before they can get an Irish DL. If my DL was issued by another EU country I would not have to, but if your DL is from the US you do. Got that from both the motor tax office and the RSA.