Switching automatic licence to manual

jenmcmarshall

Hi all,

So my husband is Canadian and when he moved to Ireland he surrendered his Canadian licence and was given a full automatic Irish licence.

His job are very kindly giving him a company car but it’s a manual so they’re also paying for him to have lessons and sit the manual test.

I believe he needs to apply for a learner’s permit but does he also need to do the theory test? He has never done one in Ireland as it was just a straight swap on the licences.

He’s already had a couple of lessons but when he went to book his test he was as unable to do so. He contacted the RSA and they told told him he’d need a leaner’s permit but surely he shouldn’t be doing the lessons without it? He’s using a very well known company for lessons that have no idea what happens in his situation so if anyone has been through something similar and recently enough, please just let me know!

Thanks,
Jen

Cork Trucker

I'd assume he would need to start from scratch, Theory Test/Eyesight report/Permit application/Learner Permit/ Essential Driver Training(EDT)/Lessons/test.

If the RSA said he needs a learner permit then he needs to do a theory test unless he did one previously and that is still valid. Every category of licence i hold i've had to do a theory test for. The Driver Theory Test (DTT) was introduced here in April 2001, so anyone who took out a then 1st provisional licence or learner permit as it became known around the end of 2007 would need to do it. I think when exchanging a foreign licence a 'Like for like' licence is issued, i take it the Canadian Licence was marked as restricted to automatic transmission vehicles only?

Ce he sin

Cork Trucker wrote: »

I think when exchanging a foreign licence a 'Like for like' licence is issued, i take it the Canadian Licence was marked as restricted to automatic transmission vehicles only?

In North America you can (and people do) take a test on an automatic and drive a manual. Driving schools don't usually have manual vehicles. There isn't a licence restriction. Depending on the state or province, your car licence will allow you drive a surprisingly large vehicle - no 3500kg limits there!

Cork Trucker

Ce he sin wrote: »

In North America you can (and people do) take a test on an automatic and drive a manual. Driving schools don't usually have manual vehicles. There isn't a licence restriction. Depending on the state or province, your car licence will allow you drive a surprisingly large vehicle - no 3500kg limits there!

Pretty much the reverse here. Our licence laws are pretty much dictated by the European Union like everything else

Charles Babbage

Cork Trucker wrote: »

Pretty much the reverse here. Our licence laws are pretty much dictated by the European Union like everything else

We are in the European Union, and we have agreed these arrangements. It is proper for a person to do a test in a manual if you wish to drive a manual.

MascotDec85

Jen

Your husband needs to sit and pass the theory test. He then needs to apply for a learner permit to allow him to take manual lessons. I had a pupil with a full licence who then had to do the theory test and get a learner permit to learn in a manual.

You have to ask how his current driving is able to upload his lessons. They can’t. Just because his instructor drives a car with a well know driving school’s logo on the side doesn’t mean a whole lot tbh. The instructor is most probably paying a franchise and may or may not be experienced or simply not come up against this issue but should have sought clarification for themselves.

The problem now exists that your husband needs to go through this process having done lessons which will be completed PRIOR to the issue of his manual learner permit. He’s also currently NOT insured on his lessons as he doesn’t have a valid learner permit/licence for a manual car.

With all that in mind I’d be looking for a new instructor tbh.

Cork Trucker

Charles Babbage wrote: »

It is proper for a person to do a test in a manual if you wish to drive a manual.

I never said it wasn’t

biko

It's very kind of his work to provide a car and pay for lessons, but wouldn't it just have been easier to give him an automatic car?

Auguste Comte

Ce he sin wrote: »

In North America you can (and people do) take a test on an automatic and drive a manual. Driving schools don't usually have manual vehicles. There isn't a licence restriction. Depending on the state or province, your car licence will allow you drive a surprisingly large vehicle - no 3500kg limits there!

I think the road death statistics reflect this all right.

J_R

Hi

Assuming he obtained his present Irish driving licence legally then he is the holder of an Irish licence restricted to auto, no need for a theory test. and following applies:-


Upgrade an automatic car driving licence to a manual one

If your Irish driving licence is only for automatic cars (denoted by code 78), you can upgrade it by passing a driving test in a manual car.

First apply for an unrestricted learner permit :

• You need to obtain a learner permit in the category B without a code 78 restriction – this application is made through the NDLS centre (Fee €35) – Application form

Second apply for a driving test:

Upon receipt of the learner permit, an application for a driving test can be made online.
(Please note if you are driving a manual car you will be regarded as a learner driver, thus all driving licence rules & regulations associated with the holder of a learner permit will apply i.e., “L” plates required, must be accompanied when driving etc). You can continue driving an automatic car if you fail your driving test in a manual car.

New manual driving licence:

Upon successfully passing your driving test, you can then make an application through an NDLS centre for a driving licence with the Code 78 restriction removed. (Fee €35) – driving licence D401
(The display of “N” plates will not be required if you have held the automatic category on a driving licence for over 2 years)

limez

J_R wrote: »

Hi

Assuming he obtained his present Irish driving licence legally then he is the holder of an Irish licence restricted to auto, no need for a theory test. and following applies:-

This is super handy, though a bit frustrating. I exchanged my overseas licence, but have got a licence restricted to an automatic. This is due to some bureaucratic issues in the foreign country (when they upgraded their systems in 1999, they didn't retain any record of transmission type). So despite the fact that I have what would be equivalent to a C and CE class, as well as car and motorbike, all sat in manuals, I now no longer have my overseas licence and have got an Irish licence with an auto-restriction! Very luckily, we don't currently own a manual (!!) as otherwise would be fully stuck. But given that I don't have access to a manual at all, this is going to be a frustrating process to resolve.

Thanks for the information though. Guess may be reliant on a kind workmate

The pigeon man

jenmcmarshall wrote: »

Hi all,

So my husband is Canadian and when he moved to Ireland he surrendered his Canadian licence and was given a full automatic Irish licence.

His job are very kindly giving him a company car but it’s a manual so they’re also paying for him to have lessons and sit the manual test.

I believe he needs to apply for a learner’s permit but does he also need to do the theory test? He has never done one in Ireland as it was just a straight swap on the licences.

He’s already had a couple of lessons but when he went to book his test he was as unable to do so. He contacted the RSA and they told told him he’d need a leaner’s permit but surely he shouldn’t be doing the lessons without it? He’s using a very well known company for lessons that have no idea what happens in his situation so if anyone has been through something similar and recently enough, please just let me know!

Thanks,
Jen

If your husband has been taking lessons in a manual car without a license for a manual or learner permit he is driving without a license, which is a serious offence. Also this is likely to invalidate any insurance.

Please don't do this in future. There are already enough unlicensed and uninsured idiots on the road.