Southern Licence and living in Northen Ireland

Aisling1009

Hi I'm considering moving from the south of Ireland to northern ireland and I was wondering if I get a northern car will I have to change my Irish licence to a northen licence or will northern insurance companies insure me with a full Irish driving licence?

donegaldude

Not unless you are going to be there for 3 years or more. I was told by a PSNI officer to change mine as I had been living in the North for 3 and half years, she told me I had to change it after 3.

Never had no issues with insurance with the Irish licence. I had 4 points on my Irish one, and when I swapped to Northern one, hey presto I had no points. Back living in the South again, so I changed it back last year.

Aisling1009

Ok thanks but what if I'm down the south as were I'm thinking of moving is close to the boarder and I work in the south I won't have problems if I get stopped by customs?

NakedMonkey

You don't need to change your licence if you're resident in the UK: https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence/y/a-resident-of-great-britain/full-car-and-or-motorcycle/european-union-or-european-economic-area

You can drive in Great Britain on your full, valid driving licence until you’re 70, or for 3 years after becoming resident in Great Britain, whichever is longer

blastman

AFAIK, you aren't obliged to change licence until your current licence expires if you move from one EU country to anotner. Open to correction, though.

Marcusm

blastman wrote: »

AFAIK, you aren't obliged to change licence until your current licence expires if you move from one EU country to anotner. Open to correction, though.

This is correct.

OP: if you're going, understandably, to be driving in the Rep pic regularly, simply keep a utility bill or bank statement of recent vintage in the car with you to show your. Northern address. In order to cause you problems (seize your car), Customs would have to form a view that you lived in the. Republic. While the bill or statement is not proof, it would certainly stop them in their tracks, ceteris paribus.

slimjimmc

OSI wrote: »

It's not an issue. Beyond the fact that both countries are in the EU, so must recognise the license of any other member state, it's also not 1980 any more so any issues on the border are non-existent.

I think the OP is more concerned with Revenue thinking she has illegally imported her NI registered car because she'll be probably doing a lot of her driving on this side of the border (her friends, family and employment are here) and an Irl driving licence might not help convince them otherwise.

She has nothing to worry about imo. Once she is normally resident (+185 days/year) in NI she would be fine as far as customs are concerned. The chances of a customs checkpoint is extremely low (practically non existent on or near the border) but if she's worried she could just keep some household bills in the car as proof of her NI address. Something such as 12 month rent agreement would help show she will be resident in NI long term. If she wants she could choose to swap her Irl licence for a NI licence but it's not absolutely necessary.

donegaldude

donegaldude wrote: »

Not unless you are going to be there for 3 years or more. I was told by a PSNI officer to change mine as I had been living in the North for 3 and half years, she told me I had to change it after 3.

Never had no issues with insurance with the Irish licence. I had 4 points on my Irish one, and when I swapped to Northern one, hey presto I had no points. Back living in the South again, so I changed it back last year.

Never mind what the PSNI officer said, you are under no obligation to change over the licence until it expires unless you want to.