Driving in Ireland on an International Licence

Zascar

My girlfriend is from Brazil, has a full licence over there and had been driving for years. I want to get her driving in Ireland. There does not seem to be any way to convert this to an Irish licence. She's going back home soon and can get a proper International driving licence there - if she does can I get her insured on my car?

Is there any other way around this? Someone suggested other countries don't have the tight laws so you could e.g convert to a Portuguese licence and then convert that to an Irish one? Is there any truth in that? Is there any other options than just to go through the whole Irish process from start to finish?

Any other advice appreciated

cantdecide

Zascar wrote: »

My girlfriend is from Brazil, has a full licence over there and had been driving for years. I want to get her driving in Ireland. There does not seem to be any way to convert this to an Irish licence. She's going back home soon and can get a proper International driving licence there - if she does can I get her insured on my car?

Is there any other way around this? Someone suggested other countries don't have the tight laws so you could e.g convert to a Portuguese licence and then convert that to an Irish one? Is there any truth in that? Is there any other options than just to go through the whole Irish process from start to finish?

Any other advice appreciated

I believe she can legally drive here as a guest on her foreign licence for up to a year but that doesn't mean she'll get on your private insurance.

I can assure you that she won't be able to flip her licence over without the authorities knowing the history. The NDLS will seek a Foreign Letter of Entitlement which will note if a licence has been exchanged prior and from where plus she would need to be resident in those countries in order to exchange in the first place. No way around it I'm afraid but she will be exempt from the 6 month wait rule with regard to a driving test here.

Zascar

Ah OK thanks, was worth the question anyway.

So she has already been here over a year. But how do they know this? Can't I just say she just arrived?

ironclaw

Zascar wrote: »

Ah OK thanks, was worth the question anyway.

So she has already been here over a year. But how do they know this? Can't I just say she just arrived?

Stopped on the side of the road, no issue. Involved in anything more serious, I can see them pursuing proof especially if an insurance company is invovled. Remember if you say she 'just arrived' then the onus is on you to back this up. Immigration cards and flights etc would be the key indicator there. If she has a work permit, this will be dated and may not correlate with your story.

I was amazed when a few Brazilian friends said they have to sit the test here, I would have presumed they could have transferred the license. But all of them are sitting it currently and costwise, its a no brainer.

Marcusm

Zascar wrote: »

Ah OK thanks, was worth the question anyway.

So she has already been here over a year. But how do they know this? Can't I just say she just arrived?

Is it your car/insurance? If you fail to disclose that she is an unlicensed driver (as you are aware that she's been in Ireland more than a year), you would be exposed to recovery by the insurance company int he event of an accident and also to criminal charges for obtaining insurance by deception.

IIRC, foreign full licence holders who acquire Irish learner permits have a more permissive arrangement with respect to driving alone on a learner permit. The law has changed a number of times but is worth looking up. If she was caught driving illegally, it would not reflect well when she comes to renew her visa.

fjon

No way around it, and I've looked. My wife is American and had a license of many years. She had to go through the entire process here as if she were a new driver - provisional license, lessons, test etc.
Some countries have agreements with Ireland, but not Brazil (or the US).

biko

An international licence is just a paper with the terms of your national licence printed in many languages.
It's not a licence in its own right.

This is the process she need to follow
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html

ohnonotgmail

fjon wrote: »

No way around it, and I've looked. My wife is American and had a license of many years. She had to go through the entire process here as if she were a new driver - provisional license, lessons, test etc.
Some countries have agreements with Ireland, but not Brazil (or the US).

in fairness the driving test in some US states involves driving around a parking lot.

Though i do know somebody who got a driving licence while working in the US. They moved to germany for a job and transferred the US licence for a german one. Because of the number of US troops stationed in germany the germans made an exception for them. They then transferred the german licence for an irish one when they returned to ireland.

Marcusm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

in fairness the driving test in some US states involves driving around a parking lot.

Though i do know somebody who got a driving licence while working in the US. They moved to germany for a job and transferred the US licence for a german one. Because of the number of US troops stationed in germany the germans made an exception for them. They then transferred the german licence for an irish one when they returned to ireland.

Only applies to about half the US states and not the most populous, New York and California. Not related to the military either as they would be exempt from German licensing requirements.

It's the problem with the US, the driving licence is a state issued one and the Federal government cannot guarantee reciprocity which most European states would expect to see.

Zascar

Ok thanks all, looks like I'll just have to get over it and to put her through the process

biko

Yes, unfortunately there is a tiny downside to having a Brazilian girlfriend

sunnyire

I think a driver holding international driving permit can drive up to 6 months from the date of entry to the country and then he/she has to apply for theory TEST and get provisional licence. After all the driving lessons the driver can appear in FULL Licence TEST.

ohnonotgmail

sunnyire wrote: »

I think a driver holding international driving permit can drive up to 6 months from the date of entry to the country and then he/she has to apply for theory TEST and get provisional licence. After all the driving lessons the driver can appear in FULL Licence TEST.

as explained in Post #7 an international driving permit/licence is just a translation of your national licence. It is your national licence which determines your eleigibility to drive.