Novice plates with a UK license

x43r0

I'm currently living in the UK and plan to do my test in 2016 at some point

I understand that if I got my full license here and drove at home, I wouldn't be required to have the 'N' plates up. However, if I were to exchange my UK license for an Irish one less than 2yrs after my UK one was issued then I would have to use the 'N' plates.

The question is though, if I moved home with a full UK license, would I be able to continue driving in Ireland without getting a full Irish one or would I be forced to change for reasons such as Tax/Insurance??

seamus

There is no obligation to change an EU licence if you move within the EU.

So the answer is no, if you move home with a UK licence you can continue to drive on that licence until it expires. There won't be any issues with tax or insurance.

Edit: In the strictest sense of the law, you are in fact required to display an "N" plate for the first two years after your first driving licence is issued, regardless of what country issued it. Though that would be a matter of interpretation and easily challenged.

afatbollix

You don't have to change your licence if it is a EU full licence. It is valid until it expires and in the UK that is when you turn 70.

x43r0

Thanks guys

This only came about when we were discussing the finer details of moving home and the missus (who's been driving since 17) said she'd be mortified if she had to drive a nice car around with those plates on it

MascotDec85

seamus wrote: »

There is no obligation to change an EU licence if you move within the EU.

So the answer is no, if you move home with a UK licence you can continue to drive on that licence until it expires. There won't be any issues with tax or insurance.

Edit: In the strictest sense of the law, you are in fact required to display an "N" plate for the first two years after your first driving licence is issued, regardless of what country issued it. Though that would be a matter of interpretation and easily challenged.

"If my driving licence was issued by an EU or exchange state after 1 August 2014, and subsequent to this date I exchange the licence for a Irish driving licence, will I have to display N-plates?
Ans: Yes, if the EU or exchange licence is less than two years old and then only until the two year period is up."

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Licensed%20Drivers/FAQs_%20on_N_plates.pdf

It seems pretty clear cut to me, there's not much to interpret or challenge

seamus

MascotDec85 wrote: »

It seems pretty clear cut to me, there's not much to interpret or challenge

Ah, didn't see that. I was looking at the legislation specifically.

ohnonotgmail

MascotDec85 wrote: »

"If my driving licence was issued by an EU or exchange state after 1 August 2014, and subsequent to this date I exchange the licence for a Irish driving licence, will I have to display N-plates?
Ans: Yes, if the EU or exchange licence is less than two years old and then only until the two year period is up."

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Licensed%20Drivers/FAQs_%20on_N_plates.pdf

It seems pretty clear cut to me, there's not much to interpret or challenge

but that says you only need to display N Plates if you exchange your licence for an irish one. The question above that says

QQ1.
If I hold a licence from another EU state am I required to display N-plates while driving in Ireland where I am normally resident?
Ans:
No, you are not required to display N-plates if your driving licence is issued by another EU state.

So if he keeps his UK licence then no need for the N plates.

cantdecide

The only major downside to being resident here with a UK licence (which, as above, you're fully entitled to do) is that it potentially causes grief with regard to points and other offenses and also that the address on your licence won't reflect your residence here. If your licence is lost or stolen here, you're forced to exchange it. So no major downsides, legal or otherwise. Lots and lots of people drive on foreign licences here.

STEINBERG

cantdecide wrote: »

The only major downside to being resident here with a UK licence (which, as above, you're fully entitled to do) is that it potentially causes grief with regard to points and other offenses and also that the address on your licence won't reflect your residence here. If your licence is lost or stolen here, you're forced to exchange it. So no major downsides, legal or otherwise. Lots and lots of people drive on foreign licences here.

Not anymore, if a driver with a "foreign license" so to speak receives penalty points then there is a driver profile created for them. They will receive notification of said penalty points in the post with a temporary driver number beginning with 88.

Of course that driver needs to give the correct Irish address that they are living in for this to take affect.

cantdecide

STEINBERG wrote: »

Not anymore, if a driver with a "foreign license" so to speak receives penalty points then there is a driver profile created for them. They will receive notification of said penalty points in the post with a temporary driver number beginning with 88.

Of course that driver needs to give the correct Irish address that they are living in for this to take affect.

As far as I understand, those points are suspended in anticipation of the driver exchanging the foreign licence though, right?