Provisional license needs to be renewed. Back to square one?

Monkey09

Hi everyone,
I got my first provisional license in August 2010 so it expires next month.

I was just wondering am I now back at square one. Do I have to take the theory test again and more importantly, am I subject to all the new rules like getting 10 official lessons and all that?

Thanks in advance!

woodchuck

As far as I know:

No need to do the theory test again, you can just apply for a 2nd provisional. You're not bound by the new rules (only applies if you got your first provisional after april 2011)

(I'm 99% sure on this one but someone correct me if I'm wrong!)

starlit

No you're grand you don't need to go back to square one unless your learner permit license expired more than 5 years. You just have to renew the license you have. You have already had a 1st learner permit so you just have to renew to a 2nd learner permit.

Fill out a form, have your 2 passport sized photos, your current learner permit and hand that in at the Motor Tax Office to renew your license or post it off takes 2-10 working days. I'd advise to go to the MTO to get it done there and then, done in 5 minutes. Go when it not too busy.
You can get the form from the local Garda Station or MTO.

Though if you wish to get a 3rd or further learner permit in the future, you need to present a letter stating you have applied for the driving test (acknowledgement of application) or a letter stating your test date (best to have this) and get your license valid for one year, you can cancel the test if you wish you don't have to sit the test if you aren't ready when you get your 3rd permit.

Though you can cancel it two times I think you have to sit it after that. Its better to try to sit the test on your 2nd permit though if you can before it expires. Though its fine to hang on until you get another license. You don't necessarily have to sit a test and fail it to get your 3rd provisional though if you fail you get a sheet stating it and you can renew your license for two years when you have that sheet as proof that you have sat the test.

starlit

woodchuck wrote: »

As far as I know:

No need to do the theory test again, you can just apply for a 2nd provisional. You're not bound by the new rules (only applies if you got your first provisional after april 2011)

(I'm 99% sure on this one but someone correct me if I'm wrong!)

That's correct. You don't have to do the EDT lessons either if you got your 1st learner permit in 2010, the new rules only came into affect 4th April 2011 onwards for those with their 1st learner permit to do the compulsory 12 EDT lessons. So you free of that rule.

For you its the six month rule from the date your 1st learner permit was issued until 6 months has past before you could sit the test but that doesn't matter to you now as you had yours 2 years, though if you were to have applied after 6 months of your 1st learner permit being issued you would have to wait for your license to be valid for 6 months before sitting the test. That would have been the only rule to apply to you.

You don't need to do the theory test again if you are to renew it to a 2nd learner permit. You'd only have to do the theory test again if you learner permit expired by 5 years.

snapjack37

hi i have had more then 3 learner permits do i need to do a theory test again before i can renew my learner permit again

starlit

snapjack37 wrote: »

hi i have had more then 3 learner permits do i need to do a theory test again before i can renew my learner permit again

Has your third one or later one expired by much or is it about to expire? If its expired by more than 5 years you will have to sit the theory test again and get a 1st learner permit, do the whole process again basically!

Though the new rules will come in place for you if that is the case, your 1st learner permit has to be valid for 6 months before sitting the test but you can apply any time if you think you are ready but you will not get a test date till 4-5 weeks before your test date aprox and you will not get a test date unless you have completed your 12 EDT compulsory driving lessons which will come into affect if your 3rd learner permit has expired by 5 or more years. You can do as many EDT lessons as you wish provided you have done the minimum of 12 EDT lessons with an ADI, you get a log book as well to assess your progress. Any 1st learner permit valid from and after 4th April 2011 have been affected by the new compulsory lesson rule.

If you have sat the test already you can renew your third learner permit if it hasn't expired by 5 years or more. You present your sheet of failure to the Motor Tax Office you get a 4th/further learner permit valid for two years.

If you have applied for the test recently you can present your test date letter to the MTO and you get a 4th/further learner permit valid for a year. You do not have to sit the test if you are not ready and you can either reschedule or you can cancel the test but you can only cancel up to two times. You must sit test then. Best to experience the driving test to help your progress anyway.

Best of luck in your motoring practise!