Licence renewal

fritzelly

I swapped my UK licence many years ago for an Irish one and never bothered renewing it
I now need it again, is it just a case of applying for it as a renewal?

cantdecide

fritzelly wrote: »

I swapped my UK licence many years ago for an Irish one and never bothered renewing it
I now need it again, is it just a case of applying for it as a renewal?

Assuming your licence hasn't been expired for more than 10 years, you can simply renew it in the NDLS. However, if it has been expired over 10 years, having UK issued full licence entitlements (which are lifetime entitlements unlike Irish ones), you would have to get a UK letter of entitlement from the DVLA or DVA to prove you still have valid (lifetime) entitlements. The latter would take extra time.

fritzelly

Perfect, thanks

fritzelly

Went to renew and they told me I have to start from scratch - learner licence and all - have the letter from the DVLA stating my licence entitlements

Phoned their helpline twice, first guy told me my UK licence was now cancelled after exchanging it for an Irish licence
Phoned the DVLA and they said that's rubbish, my UK licence would never be cancelled because of an overseas licence
Phoned back and a lady said she doesn't really know but thought it should be OK, try it and if it isnt accepted then you lose the €55

Incredulous to think it is this hard to get a licence when I could go anywhere in the world and get one

cantdecide

fritzelly wrote: »

first guy told me my UK licence was now cancelled after exchanging it for an Irish licence

And after the Irish licence expired, your UK entitlements come back into play

So...

fritzelly wrote: »

Phoned the DVLA and they said that's rubbish, my UK licence would never be cancelled because of an overseas licence

fritzelly wrote: »

Phoned back and a lady said she doesn't really know but thought it should be OK, try it and if it isnt accepted then you lose the €55

Ask them to escalate your query to the RSA- you shouldn't be left guessing.

You have lifetime entitlements from the UK and you don't have an Irish licence any more (which would have superseded it - you can't hold more than one EU licence at a time). You should be able to exchange).

fritzelly

Ask them to escalate your query to the RSA- you shouldn't be left guessing.

You have lifetime entitlements from the UK and you don't have an Irish licence any more (which would have superseded it - you can't hold more than one EU licence at a time). You should be able to exchange).

Actually someone else told to call the RSA (didn't think it would have anything to do with them) and she sorted it all out and couldn't believe what I was being told by the NDLS - she put a note on my record and going back up there tomorrow

But thanks for the response.

cantdecide

fritzelly wrote: »

Actually someone else told to call the RSA (didn't think it would have anything to do with them)

The RSA are the authority with responsibility for driver licencing. The NDLS service is an outsourcing exercise- there will always be a disconnect but hey, we must think about value for the the taxpayer.

fritzelly wrote: »

she sorted it all out and couldn't believe what I was being told by the NDLS - she put a note on my record and going back up there tomorrow

Savage! Let me know how you get on.

fritzelly

Went OK and was put thru as a licence exchange

2-3 months wait is a bit ridiculous - they must literally be using snail mail

cantdecide

It's still quicker than taking a theory test, getting a learner permit, taking EDT lessons and taking the driving test and it won't take that long. It's a good time of year to get this done quicker.

fritzelly

cantdecide wrote: »

It's still quicker than taking a theory test, getting a learner permit, taking EDT lessons and taking the driving test and it won't take that long. It's a good time of year to get this done quicker.

Hope so, many thanks for your help

fritzelly

Just got a text to say it's been posted, three weeks is not bad considering xmas and new years