New Driving Licence - Major Delays

niloc1951

jgbyr wrote: »

I see we'll pay well for a licence from January onwards.

"The cost of driving licences is as follows:
•One-year driving licence costs €5
•Three-year driving licence costs €15
•Ten-year driving licence costs €25

From 1 January 2013, the cost of driving licences is as follows:
•One-year driving licence costs €25
•Three-year driving licence costs €35
•Ten-year driving licence costs €55 "

That's not the whole story.

C and D licences only have a life of five years but cost €55 to renew.
That's an increase of 440% over the 'old' price.

greenman09

Did anyone hear that the photo for the new one is to be done at approved offices. Chemist photos won't be used anymore. There will be one office per county. Heard this from Guy getting interviewed on Matt Cooper Friday.

Stheno

greenman09 wrote: »

Did anyone hear that the photo for the new one is to be done at approved offices. Chemist photos won't be used anymore. There will be one office per county. Heard this from Guy getting interviewed on Matt Cooper Friday.

Yes from September this is coming in.

ThreeLineWhip

Sent off my application for a replacement licence today on the new form. Lets see what happens.

Garda station was very confused by the new forms.

jgbyr

ThreeLineWhip wrote: »

Sent off my application for a replacement licence today on the new form. Lets see what happens.

Garda station was very confused by the new forms.

Have you got the new one back yet?
Did you download the form or get it from a motor tax office. I need to get mine replaced.

ThreeLineWhip

Downloaded the form off the net and sent off.

Council sent it back saying they need original passport. Did that on Tuesday. Still waiting.

I recommend you do not post your application.

jgbyr

ThreeLineWhip wrote: »

Downloaded the form off the net and sent off.

Council sent it back saying they need original passport. Did that on Tuesday. Still waiting.

I recommend you do not post your application.

Do you mean they need the original licence(not passport). Also the online form says that you don't need to get the Guards to sign the form if you have the damaged licence to return.
If thats the case why did they ask you for it.

ThreeLineWhip

Nope. They wanted the old licence and passport.

Marcusm

ThreeLineWhip wrote: »

Nope. They wanted the old licence and passport.

Is that standard? I'd agree with you about not trusting both ID documents to the post. Seems bizarre that they need driving licence (with photo ID?) and passport. Presume that they won't always want that or the new offices from September will check on the spot and return.

ThreeLineWhip

I did ask them and they said it is now policy to ask for other another form of ID until the function is transferred away to the new crowd in September.

jgbyr

ThreeLineWhip wrote: »

I did ask them and they said it is now policy to ask for other another form of ID until the function is transferred away to the new crowd in September.

That's severe.
They should update the application form to indicate this.
I'm in Cork & their website states they no longer process applications over the counter.

ThreeLineWhip

jgbyr wrote: »

That's severe.
They should update the application form to indicate this.
I'm in Cork & their website states they no longer process applications over the counter.

They will take applications over the counter. You then have to wait up to 2 weeks to get the licence back.

jgbyr

ThreeLineWhip wrote: »

They will take applications over the counter. You then have to wait up to 2 weeks to get the licence back.

Ok,thanks

donkey balls

So they require you to send in a passport as well what a load of b*ll*x when I had to apply for the drivers digi card all we needed to send in was the printed application form and a photo copy of your drivers licence,Even if you are to post in your old licence what prove would you have that you sent it in if stopped by the Gardai?
Me thinks the RSA have made a complete& utter balls of this new process there was nothing wrong with keeping the application process with the motor tax office,Instead they duplicate the process by having these new offices/shops to do it also in the UK when renewing your licence every 10 years you just send in a passport size photo and the cost of renewing is only £20.

ceegee

For anyone wondering about waiting times for new licenses, I applied for a replacement license last monday (14th) and it arrived this tuesday so it doesnt take the full 2 weeks. I applied in the motor tax office rather than by post which may speed up the process

ThreeLineWhip

Got it this morning.

Henry Ford III

ThreeLineWhip wrote: »

Got it this morning.

Knew your luck would change

p.s. My new driving license arrived this morning too.

ION08

Sorry if it has been asked before but I am not clear on this.

Can I apply for a new licence even though my current paper licence is still valid?

If there is no legitimate way of upgrading, can I declare it as "lost" in order to be issued with a new card licence?

Thanks

ceegee

ION08 wrote: »

Sorry if it has been asked before but I am not clear on this.

Can I apply for a new licence even though my current paper licence is still valid?

If there is no legitimate way of upgrading, can I declare it as "lost" in order to be issued with a new card licence?

Thanks

If its lost you just need to get a declaration signed and stamped by the gardai. Costs 25 for replacement licence

ThreeLineWhip

25? Nope it is 35 euro now. Passport and/or Birth cert is also required.

ThreeLineWhip

I also notice that W is not being shown as valid on my new licence but they gave me AM.

Is a test finally needed to have W these days?

ceegee

ThreeLineWhip wrote: »

25? Nope it is 35 euro now. Passport and/or Birth cert is also required.

Definitely payed 25 for a replacement last week although looking online it seems it should be 35.
Regarding the W, I still have it on the new licence though it only says B on the front, has both on the back

borys

ceegee wrote: »

Definitely payed 25 for a replacement last week although looking online it seems it should be 35.
Regarding the W, I still have it on the new licence though it only says B on the front, has both on the back

readytosnap

I just read this on the RSA website:

Free-in-lieu licence

Free-in-lieu licences are issued (provided your driving licence is current) in the following cases:

Change of name/address

yet elsewhere on the site it says its €35 to do this :rolleyes: anyone know which is correct?

jgbyr

I emailed the RSA about the replacement cost. They said it's €35.

Gumbo

jgbyr wrote: »

I emailed the RSA about the replacement cost. They said it's €35.

I sent mine to ballymun tax office on Thursday for a change of address. Talking to the girl, she told me to send it in and I'll get one of the ne cards for free.

jgbyr

kceire wrote: »

I sent mine to ballymun tax office on Thursday for a change of address. Talking to the girl, she told me to send it in and I'll get one of the ne cards for free.

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Licensed-Drivers/Driving-licence/Lost-or-stolen-license/

Duplicate Licence/Learner Permit

If your licence/learner permit is current but has been lost or stolen you may apply to your Motor Taxation Office for a duplicate by completing the relevant form (D 401) or (D201). A duplicate licence is issued to replace a valid licence that has been lost, stolen, destroyed or defaced. The duplicate will be a copy of the original licence/permit and will be valid for the same period. Your application should include:

• D401 Full Licence Application(PDF) or D201 Learner Permit Application(PDF) signed and stamped at your local Garda station
• Two passport photographs (signed on reverse)
• €35 fee

Free-in-lieu licence

Free-in-lieu licences are issued (provided your driving licence is current) in the following cases:

• Change of name/address
• Removal of endorsement (on expiry of three-year endorsement period)
• If an error has been made in the issue of the licence (eg, incorrect date of birth)
• Additional category is being added

In all cases you must apply to your local Motor Taxation Office with a completed application form, two passport photographs (signed on reverse).

ABajaninCork

Just wondered if anyone else has this problem. Now I know that with a new system there will be teething problems but this is taking the p1ss!

My husband applied for the new licence 22nd Jan in person at the Cork office in Model Farm Road. At the time he applied, he was told there would be a two week wait. I always felt this was a bit optimistic. Fast forward to this week, and we've now been told it'll be a MONTH!!!:eek:

Meanwhile, he has neither licence nor permit, only a receipt from the Licence Office saying that he has indeed applied for the licence.

Spoke to the office again this morning. They don't have a clue about ANYTHING!!

Asked if he would be OK to drive whilst waiting for the new licence - they don't know. Ask the Gards.

There is also an issue with our insurance. They refuse to issue the disc until they see the licence, which of course we don't have. Car has insurance though. Now have to go back to the insurance and kick up a stink as we're in danger of getting a pull and possible fine for failure to display. The Motor tax office say this is nothing to do with them - ask the insurance. Nobody wants to take responsibility for ANYTHING!

What an almighty fcuk up this has been. You could smell this coming...

It takes six weeks to get a passport here. And at least a month for a driving licence. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the new photo centres come in. I shudder to think.

Just to compare - I renewed both passport and driving licence in the UK (before I moved here). Got back both within a week.

Rant over...

Mr Benevolent

I'm waiting 8 days now.

ABajaninCork

Just been on to the insurance. They will now send the disc...

ABajaninCork

I've now got a bit more info if anyone's in the same boat and interested...

Got on to the Gards. They say to get a letter from the Tax Office confirming that a licence has been applied for but not yet received due to processing delays. Once the letter is received, then take that and the receipt down to the Gards for them to stamp it. That should then cover you to drive.

Hope this helps someone!

reilig

5 working days is what it took me to get mine 2 weeks ago.

Its advisable to apply in advance of your licence running out incase your local office has delays.

CiniO

6 weeks waiting time for licence is not necessarily a major delay.
I would call it improvement.

Last summer I was told it takes 10 weeks for licence to be issued by Mayo county council.
As 10 weeks without licence is a big no-no for me (i just need it for work), I had to cheat and break the law to obtain a licence which I'm entitled to have.

Wexfordian

Took mine maybe 4 days, possibly 5.

triple-M

I was told the receipt and a form of ID e.g passport would be sufficient for the gards as they should be aware of the delays,that was in ballymun tax office

CiniO

triple-M wrote: »

I was told the receipt and a form of ID e.g passport would be sufficient for the gards as they should be aware of the delays,that was in ballymun tax office

I was told by Mayo co. co. that receipt on it's own is sufficient for gards.
Anyway - as with OP's example it isn't sufficient for insurance purposes.
It also completely isn't sufficient in case someone wants to rent a car or drive abroad, not even mentioning both at the same time
Also in case when someone doesn't hold a passport, then without valid licence it's impossible to NCT a car.

Generally system is completely flawed.
Licence is needed for many things, and there shouldn't be situation where person must stay without licence for extended period of time.

Ideally it should work like in many other countries, where if your new licence is ready, you just give a quick visit to the office to drop you old licence and pick up a new one.
That way you don't need to stay without your licence at all.
I can't understand why this can't be done here.

veetwin

Applied for my renewal 14 days ago now (Ballymun Tax Office). Told me it would take 10 working days. They lied:rolleyes:

0ph0rce0

I'm waiting three weeks now.

If all the fúck bags hadn't pretended to loose their license :rolleyes: then we'd all have are renewed or new ones now.

Stheno

Six weeks for a passport? I got mine in ten days?

0ph0rce0

Stheno wrote: »

Six weeks for a passport? I got mine in ten days?

ABajaninCork

reilig wrote: »

5 working days is what it took me to get mine 2 weeks ago.

Its advisable to apply in advance of your licence running out incase your local office has delays.

Normally, I would agree. But this is a first licence after passing the test. When my husband spoke to the tax office, he was told the delay was nothing to do with them as it is now the RSA that will issue. But the delays in Cork are not the same as elsewhere, it would seem...

Someone's pulling our leg methinks!

Deise Vu

No-one should be in the slightest surprised by this. When the credit card licence was first mooted I considered getting a 3 year licence but thought better of it. The 10 year licence I got instead is now due to expire in March. 10 Years to organise something that is in use in most first world nations. How long did integrated ticketing for Dublin travel take?

ABajaninCork

What's annoying is the fact that with a new system, everyone knows there will be teething problems. That's normal.

But the 'bedding in' of the new system has been handled appallingly! Why tell people it'll be a week to 14 days for a licence when that clearly isn't the case?

No definitive contingency plan has been put in place either. Different counties are telling people different things! So far we've had:

Letter from Tax Office to be stamped by the Gards, together with receipt. (Cork)
Receipt only will be sufficient. (Mayo)
Receipt and photo ID (Ballymun).

No consistency in what people are told, and the action to take whilst waiting!!

CiniO

reilig wrote: »

Its advisable to apply in advance of your licence running out incase your local office has delays.

That's kinda irrelevant.
No matter when or for what reason you apply to replace your licence (renewal, new address, new category, etc), you always need to submit your old licence with the application, which in case of big delays, leaves you without a document for several weeks.

Shamrock883

I submitted my application to Cork on the 24th of Jan. Rang them up Thursday and they said my "licence is awaiting issue" and that I should have it in the next 2 to 3 days.

On handing me the receipt for the licence in Jan, the person behind the counter said "that'll cover you till then".

ABajaninCork

Shamrock883 wrote: »

I submitted my application to Cork on the 24th of Jan. Rang them up Thursday and they said my "licence is awaiting issue" and that I should have it in the next 2 to 3 days.

On handing me the receipt for the licence in Jan, the person behind the counter said "that'll cover you till then".

They told my husband that too when he rang them on Tuesday!

Clearly more than three days have passed since your application. It's more like three weeks (nearly). If you ring Model Farm Road, there's a message telling you it's a four week (at least) wait. And it's not true about the receipt covering you either. According to the Gards in Anglesea St, you need a letter from the tax office stating your licence has been applied for, which you then bring to the Gards with your receipt and get them to stamp it. See my post #4 in the thread.

There is no consistency in what anyone in the tax office tells you....

Shamrock883

I had to laugh at the receipt. Words to the effect of "You should receive your Driving Licence/Learner Permit within 7 days. Please call 021 blah blah if you do not receive it within this time".

Begs the question (and I realise it is no fault of the tax offices) what kind of demand were they forecasting? Surely the RSA would have predicted an influx in the number of licences due to people "losing" them, people who got money at Christmas to get started and so are applying for learner permits, people putting off getting licences for the card and that doesn't even begin to think of the snowballing number of new applications who passed their tests after the 19th...

ThreeLineWhip

The problems are in the individual tax offices and not the RSA.

Laois has been able to issue new licences within 3 days of receipt consistently.

It's all down to local incompetence.

cros13

ThreeLineWhip wrote: »

The problems are in the individual tax offices and not the RSA.

Laois has been able to issue new licences within 3 days of receipt consistently.

It's all down to local incompetence.

The Tax Offices no longer issue the licenses. We're in a changeover period until September when the RSA will takeover the entire process.

I'm waiting for over 10 days so far.... and I need my license for travelling for work.

MadsL

The US model allows private companies to link to the DMV database. You pay a fee for service in addition to State fees but there is generally no wait. Govt DMV offices are hell on earth so it makes the fee worthwhile.

You can do the following in private DMV offices, including getting your licence and taking your theory drivers test and eye tests while you wait.

Commercial Drivers Licenses
Driver’s License Renewal
Drivers License Exams
Drivers Licenses
Expired Licenses
Forms
Learner Permits
License Reinstatement
Lost Driver’s License
Motorcycle Licenses
Provisional Licenses
Road Testing
Written Tests
MVD Information for License Plates and Tags
Forms
Handicap Placards
License Plates
Registrations
Temporary Tags
MVD Information for Vehicles
Forms
Registrations
Temporary Tags
Titles
Vehicle Transfers
VIN Inspections
MVD Information for New Resident Services
Commercial Driver’s License
Driver’s License
Forms
Motorcycle License
Registration
State Identification Cards
Temporary Tags
MVD Information for State ID Cards
ID Cards & ID Cards for Children
MVD Information for Corporate Dealer Services
Commercial Vehicles
Corporate Dealer Work
Onsite VIN Inspections
MVD Information for Driver’s Records
Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Checks
Reinstating Driving Records

Why not allow private companies to take on the Tax Office functions and charge for it. If you want to be in and out and get your licence renewed while you wait - wouldn't you pay €25 or so in fees rather than six weeks wait time?

They could also do Garda Age cards and passports.