Restoration of licence help

hefferboi

I was convicted of drink driving in Feb 15 and got an automatic 4 years off the road as I refused to do a breath test. I'm now able to apply for a restoration of my licence. However, I have to bring a letter from an insurance company to court to show that I can get insurance once I have my licence back.

The problem I have is that no insurance company will quote me unless I have my licence. Is there any way around this or any insurance companies that specialise in this? I'm going around in circles really.

smelly sock

hefferboi wrote: »

I was convicted of drink driving in Feb 15 and got an automatic 4 years off the road as I refused to do a breath test. I'm now able to apply for a restoration of my licence. However, I have to bring a letter from an insurance company to court to show that I can get insurance once I have my licence back.

The problem I have is that no insurance company will quote me unless I have my licence. Is there any way around this or any insurance companies that specialise in this? I'm going around in circles really.

Try a broker maybe. I don't think any company will touch you to be fair.

Victor

hefferboi wrote: »

The problem I have is that no insurance company will quote me unless I have my licence.

I don't know, but do you have a licence, just that it is suspended?

Have you ever had a licence?

Losty Dublin

A solicitor with proficiency or experience in road traffic offences would surely be able to advise you here. You will more than likely need one to apply for the restoration of your licence; two birds one stone etc.

hefferboi

I had a license when I was put off the road but I had to hand it up the day of court.

I have a solicitor she's saying I have to get a company to say that they'll insure me when I get my license back. It doesn't have to be an actual quote, just a letter saying they will give me a quote when the license is restored. She said to try a broker but everyone I've rang have been very unhelpful.

Surely there's people getting early restoration of their license regularly all over the country? They must have to do the same thing. Very little info online from what I can see.

cml387

There is a dedicated insurance forum .

You might get information there.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Victor

hefferboi wrote: »

I had a license when I was put off the road but I had to hand it up the day of court.

The licence is the file held in Shannon. The paper / plastic document you handed in to the court is merely evidence of that licence.

hefferboi

Fred Swanson wrote: »

There is one firm that does "quote" for such issues. Every broker knows who they are.

Who is it?

hefferboi

Victor wrote: »

The licence is the file held in Shannon. The paper / plastic document you handed in to the court is merely evidence of that licence.

You can't be insured if you don't have the plastic document

GM228

hefferboi wrote: »

You can't be insured if you don't have the plastic document

You can, many insurance policies conditions state something like "hold or have held" a licence as the qualifying criteria to be insured.

That said, some will also state "or, having held such a licence is not disqualified from holding such a licence" also.

I'm actually surprised the court want evidence of being able to get insurance when you get your licence back, this isn't a requirement under statute and the court would (or rather should) be aware that it is possible for the OP to get insured once again - there is no question of not been able to get insurance (the only question is how much will it cost).

Claw Hammer

GM228 wrote: »

You can, many insurance policies conditions state something like "hold or have held" a licence as the qualifying criteria to be insured.

That said, some will also state "or, having held such a licence is not disqualified from holding such a licence" also.

I'm actually surprised the court want evidence of being able to get insurance when you get your licence back, this isn't a requirement under statute and the court would (or rather should) be aware that it is possible for the OP to get insured once again - there is no question of not been able to get insurance (the only question is how much will it cost).

It sounds like the local DJ uses this as an excuse not to restore licences. An option might be to apply without it and then appeal if refused.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

cml387

GM228 wrote: »

You can, many insurance policies conditions state something like "hold or have held" a licence as the qualifying criteria to be insured.

That said, some will also state "or, having held such a licence is not disqualified from holding such a licence" also.

I'm actually surprised the court want evidence of being able to get insurance when you get your licence back, this isn't a requirement under statute and the court would (or rather should) be aware that it is possible for the OP to get insured once again - there is no question of not been able to get insurance (the only question is how much will it cost).

I think it is at the judge's discretion if applying to have a disqualification lifted early.

GM228

Fred Swanson wrote: »

As said the statute doesn't require it but many DJs ask for the insurance quote as a matter of routine.

Inherent powers put to use no doubt.

GM228

cml387 wrote: »

I think it is at the judge's discretion if applying to have a disqualification lifted early.

That is correct.

lifeandtimes

cml387 wrote: »

I think it is at the judge's discretion if applying to have a disqualification lifted early.

Yes op is looking to overturn their disqualification early than the sentence handed down and as such a judge can use whatever discretion they want to look into this matter.

I for one am happy judges are being vigilant with matter such as this. Op was disqualified for drink driving which is a very serious offence,they are lucky they arent appealing a manslaughter sentance.

Edit: I'm aware ops sentance is active and isnt being appealed,just requesting early restoration,I was just using the sequence for reference

apieceofcake

Why did u refuse to do a breath test, out of interest?

hefferboi

apieceofcake wrote: »

Why did u refuse to do a breath test, out of interest?

I had heard stories of people who refused to do breath tests and got their blood alcohol level down where they passed the test. I was young and stupid (driving after drinking proves this).

Sandz066

Hi, looking for clarification as to when I can apply for early restoration of my driving licence.
I was disqualified for 3 years in March 2019 (drink driving, no previous disqualifications).

Courts.ie states - To apply to have your licence restored:
- you must have served a disqualification period of more than two years
- half the period of disqualification must have elapsed by the time you make your application

Given half my disqualification period has now passed (18 month mark in September) can I now apply to the Court to have my licence restored when 2 years are up in March 2021 or do I have to wait until March to apply to the Court?

nuac

Suggest you discuss with your solicitor

cobhguy28

Sandz066 wrote: »

Hi, looking for clarification as to when I can apply for early restoration of my driving licence.
I was disqualified for 3 years in March 2019 (drink driving, no previous disqualifications).

Courts.ie states - To apply to have your licence restored:
- you must have served a disqualification period of more than two years
- half the period of disqualification must have elapsed by the time you make your application

Given half my disqualification period has now passed (18 month mark in September) can I now apply to the Court to have my licence restored when 2 years are up in March 2021 or do I have to wait until March to apply to the Court?

You have answered the question with the info from the courts website.

"To apply to have your licence restored:,
half the period of disqualification must have elapsed by the time you make your application "

Half of 36 is 18.

Claw Hammer

Sandz066 wrote: »

Hi, looking for clarification as to when I can apply for early restoration of my driving licence.
I was disqualified for 3 years in March 2019 (drink driving, no previous disqualifications).

Courts.ie states - To apply to have your licence restored:
- you must have served a disqualification period of more than two years
- half the period of disqualification must have elapsed by the time you make your application

Given half my disqualification period has now passed (18 month mark in September) can I now apply to the Court to have my licence restored when 2 years are up in March 2021 or do I have to wait until March to apply to the Court?

You can apply now. The guard has to be on notice and you have to get a court date. You should apply as soon as the halfway point is reached to allow for the application to be heard in advance of the restoration date.

Sandz066

Claw Hammer wrote: »

You can apply now. The guard has to be on notice and you have to get a court date. You should apply as soon as the halfway point is reached to allow for the application to be heard in advance of the restoration date.

Thanks very much.
I rang a solicitor at the end of September and they abruptly told me that they couldn't do anything for me until 2 years had passed in March. I wanted to double check given that extract from courts.ie

Sandz066

Claw Hammer wrote: »

You can apply now. The guard has to be on notice and you have to get a court date. You should apply as soon as the halfway point is reached to allow for the application to be heard in advance of the restoration date.

Thanks very much.
I rang a solicitor at the end of September and they abruptly told me that they couldn't do anything for me until 2 years had passed in March. I wanted to double check given that extract from courts.ie

cobhguy28

Sandz066 wrote: »

Thanks very much.
I rang a solicitor at the end of September and they abruptly told me that they couldn't do anything for me until 2 years had passed in March. I wanted to double check given that extract from courts.ie

What ever solicitor you rang has given you incorrect information based on the information you have put up here. I can't understand how a solicitor could of given you such wrong information.

Sandz066

cobhguy28 wrote: »

What ever solicitor you rang has given you incorrect information based on the information you have put up here. I can't understand how a solicitor could of given you such wrong information.

I was quite taken aback by it also, just seemed to want to get rid of me as quick as possible!

Claw Hammer

Sandz066 wrote: »

I was quite taken aback by it also, just seemed to want to get rid of me as quick as possible!

Quite likely. Did you know that solicitor beforehand?

Sandz066

No not that particular solicitor, had dealt with someone else in the same practice.

Claw Hammer

Relatively few solicitors deal with that type of work. Unless they are frequently in the District Court doing that work it is not economic.

cobhguy28

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Relatively few solicitors deal with that type of work. Unless they are frequently in the District Court doing that work it is not economic.

True a solicitor might have to spend the whole day there for that one case, so its normally a solicitor who is normally in the court anyway with multiple case.