waiting for driving licence

avfc1874

hi my father's driving licence was up for renewal, so he applied over 2 months ago. checked and its been processed (in the system). he reckon's he shouldn't drive untill he gets it , incase he gets stopped or has a bump, i've told him its ok to drive as its in the system, he applied in plenty of time, plus the guards would have record of when they signed the renewal form. he won't believe me :mad:. maybe if he sees it in black and white . thanks

hullaballoo

I'd be with your father on this one. It is now an offence to drive without your licence with you. If he was stopped, a lenient Garda might ask him to produce his licence (and insurance cert.) at a station but there is no guarantee he would have it within the 10 days allowed.

You'll be on the bus until he gets it, I'm afraid.

TheNog

avfc1874 wrote: »

hi my father's driving licence was up for renewal, so he applied over 2 months ago. checked and its been processed (in the system). he reckon's he shouldn't drive untill he gets it , incase he gets stopped or has a bump, i've told him its ok to drive as its in the system, he applied in plenty of time, plus the guards would have record of when they signed the renewal form. he won't believe me :mad:. maybe if he sees it in black and white . thanks

There will be no record of your fathers application being signed at the station.

As stated it is an offence to drive without a driving licence with you and although there is a fall back option of producing his licence within 10 days, no one knows when his licence will be issued.

Bepolite

I was told in the Motor Tax office too keep the receipt on me in lieu of the license, but better safe than sorry tbh.

darragh o meara

I was stopped last night and my licence is gone in for renewal ( my old licence was destroyed by fire ) I explained to the gaurd that I was waiting for the replacement and he just took my details and sent me on my way. AFAIK they can check details against some database and check if you do have a licence cos he went back to the car for a min or two.

avfc1874

darragh o meara wrote: »

I was stopped last night and my licence is gone in for renewal ( my old licence was destroyed by fire ) I explained to the gaurd that I was waiting for the replacement and he just took my details and sent me on my way. AFAIK they can check details against some database and check if you do have a licence cos he went back to the car for a min or two.

thats what i was thinking, as far as i see it . its in the system. he applied in plenty of time, and just because they have a backlog, which he was told when he enquired why should he suffer. (+ plus no buses where he lives, long 3 mile walk for pint of milk)

voter1983

The time it takes to process these new driving licences is stupid. Ya have to wonder whats taking so long. I think a certain amount of discretion should be used by gardai

ABajaninCork

Like I've said before. It's another case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing.

It's the law that you have to have your driving licence on your person at all times. But here's the thing: When renewing, you have to send back the licence (WHY???). And then you're without it for several weeks!! It's down to the motorist to rely on the discretion of the Gards. Absolutely ridiculous!! There is no consistency in what to do and even whether you're allowed to drive while waiting for the new licence. My husband needed a new licence in Cork. Not only did it take two months for it to come, but we also had to kick up a stink with the insurance, as they refused to issue a disc until they saw it. The new process has also caused problems when needing to hire a car both here and abroad.

It's chaos. And will only get worse as the new photo booth centres are introduced.

hullaballoo

I agree with the sentiments in the above post. BUT. It is important to note that the Gardaí can and sometimes do bring you to court for not having your licence on you. Usually, these charges get struck out when you can show that you had a valid licence at the time, but didn't have it with you when driving.

I suppose it depends, but it would really really piss me off if I had to take a day out of work in order to sit around a district court waiting my turn to show that I had a valid driving licence. I think that's the main risk your father would be taking, OP.

avfc1874

hullaballoo wrote: »

I agree with the sentiments in the above post. BUT. It is important to note that the Gardaí can and sometimes do bring you to court for not having your licence on you. Usually, these charges get struck out when you can show that you had a valid licence at the time, but didn't have it with you when driving.

I suppose it depends, but it would really really piss me off if I had to take a day out of work in order to sit around a district court waiting my turn to show that I had a valid driving licence. I think that's the main risk your father would be taking, OP.

its just another reason why people say this is still a backward country. 1. you have to send off your old licence to get your new one, which in this case has already taken over 8 weeks:(. but still you can be done for not carrying your licence :mad:. the same licence you have to send off to get your new one. :rolleyes:. how can you carry your licence at all times if you have to return it, to renew:mad:

Bepolite

France, for centuries, was considered the most advanced and civilized in the world. If you think the Irish bureaucracy has anything on the French, you're wrong. :pac:

The delay is the new photo licenses, hence why I was told the receipt would do, as it's a know problem. That said get a Guard on a bad day, you're father is going to be doing exactly as Hullabaloo describes.

Walking/Cycling is good for you OP!

ABajaninCork

I renewed my (UK) licence at the time photocards came in, as I had moved. All I did was to have a photo taken at the chemist's. Send that, my old paper licence and money off to Swansea. Hey presto - I had a new licence within a week!

It still takes a week in the UK, but the system is so sophisticated that if you have a passport in the system, then all you do is renew online as your details are already there. If you're getting a provisional or a first licence, then you still need to complete a hard copy, but everything comes back quickly. None of this old pony about sending back a licence in order to renew either!!