Fourth provisional licence

lauren05

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been asked previously but I am having difficulty establishing what to do next.

I have only ever held provisional licenses, and have applied for, but not sat a
driving test.

My last license expired in 2019, and it was my third one. I have obviously not been driving/doing lesson since then.

However I am anxious to resume driving this year.

Is anyone aware:

1) Do I have to re-sit the theory test again? Essentially as I have gone past a third provisional, will my original test now be null and void?
2) Do I have to complete the required 12 lessons once again?

Any feedback that anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Lauren

corks finest

lauren05 wrote: »

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been asked previously but I am having difficulty establishing what to do next.

I have only ever held provisional licenses, and have applied for, but not sat a
driving test.

My last license expired in 2019, and it was my third one. I have obviously not been driving/doing lesson since then.

However I am anxious to resume driving this year.

Is anyone aware:

1) Do I have to re-sit the theory test again? Essentially as I have gone past a third provisional, will my original test now be null and void?
2) Do I have to complete the required 12 lessons once again?

Any feedback that anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Lauren

This might sound blunt but ffs no excuse whatsoever going for your 4th provisional licences, this country is a joke, only country in Europe that allows this rubbish to carry on,
Again if I seem rude in sorry as its as much the government's fault as anyone going for provisional certificate after provisional

whomitconcerns

You can't renew and need a new one. Its quite clear on their website. You can only renew a 3rd and more if you have taken and failed a test in past 2 years.

https://www.ndls.ie/learner-driver/renew-my-learner-permit.html


Your back to the start..First learner permit...

And tbh if you have been a learner for at least 6 years and not taken a test, maybe more important to take time to review why.

Johner

First two posters are overly harsh, you don’t know hers or anybody else’s situation. Driving is a daunting thing for many and sometimes things like anxiety and nerves takes over. It’s easy to let the years just pass so maybe don’t be so judgemental on her.

whomitconcerns

Johner wrote: »

First two posters are overly harsh, you don’t know hers or anybody else’s situation. Driving is a daunting thing for many and sometimes things like anxiety and nerves takes over. It’s easy to let the years just pass so maybe don’t be so judgemental on her.

Third poster is ignoring the facts and somehow thinking I was judging the op. All I said was they should look at why, so they could try do something about it. No judging just facts..

And the facts although harsh are that they are back to the start on their learning to drive, and can't renew.

lauren05

Yes incredibly rude and completely unnecessary. Bit shocking.But thanks for the answer to my question anyway.

It may be worth calling NDLS, just in case. It says on the website that you need to have failed a test or applied for one.

If you apply for one and are waiting for your date, you can use the email confirming you've paid for an upcoming test as your evidence.

However, just give them a quick call to be sure. And best of luck with your driving!

punisher5112

Everything resets after 5 years so you are ok there....

If you did you would need to redo the theory test and compulsory 12 lessons.

You can apply online once you have gov ID account or options to set one up also a new style social services card will do as they can verify now off these but going through the gov ID account.

If you let it past 2 years you will lose your no claims if you have had insurance.

Mjolnir

TripleL wrote: »

It may be worth calling NDLS, just in case. It says on the website that you need to have failed a test or applied for one.

If you apply for one and are waiting for your date, you can use the email confirming you've paid for an upcoming test as your evidence.

However, just give them a quick call to be sure. And best of luck with your driving!

I don't think you can apply for a test without a valid permit and the op has no permit. You've 3 months to renew it last I checked ops is out well over that length at this stage.
They have to start from square one.

Lundstram

corks finest wrote: »

This might sound blunt but ffs no excuse whatsoever going for your 4th provisional licences, this country is a joke, only country in Europe that allows this rubbish to carry on,
Again if I seem rude in sorry as its as much the government's fault as anyone going for provisional certificate after provisional

Was there really any need for this post?

First of all, we are most certainly not the only country that allows multiple learner permits. Do you think if someone fails a test once or twice that they should never be allowed learn and drive ever again? :rolleyes:

Some people take years to pluck up the courage to take a test due to many reasons, you haven't a clue of the OP's circumstances but attack anyway.

There's currently 60,000 people waiting to take a test in this country, that's a shameful indictment of this government, the waiting list is 9 months long in some counties. Disgraceful.

Also, €85 for each test is extortion not to mention another couple of hundred in lessons. Not everyone can afford test after test.

You're moaning about the wrong things here.

punisher5112

Lundstram wrote: »

Was there really any need for this post?

First of all, we are most certainly not the only country that allows multiple learner permits. Do you think if someone fails a test once or twice that they should never be allowed learn and drive ever again? :rolleyes:

There's currently 60,000 people waiting to take a test in this country, that's a shameful indictment of this government, the waiting list is 9 months long in some counties. Disgraceful.

Also, €85 for each test is extortion not to mention another couple of hundred in lessons. Not everyone can afford test after test.

You're moaning about the wrong things here.

To be honest€85 is cheap and if one can't afford that then to be fair they have no place on the road as in costs of running a car will be much higher in most cases.

The waiting list I agree is nuts and not only that the theory test which is actually the safest thing anyone could be doing even at a centre as social distance and just nobody around you etc was a given even before covid.....

It's actually laughable that they cancelled all tests.


My wife was trying to get an appointment since February last year, about 5 or 6 months trying eventually got a date in a test centre that wasn't 200km away which in itself was only one or two times where an actual available date came up ....

Now we are into February and they still aren't sitting tests....

They have put bus and truck online but my god is it a shocking pain that they cancelled all.

corks finest

Lundstram wrote: »

Was there really any need for this post?

First of all, we are most certainly not the only country that allows multiple learner permits. Do you think if someone fails a test once or twice that they should never be allowed learn and drive ever again? :rolleyes:

Some people take years to pluck up the courage to take a test due to many reasons, you haven't a clue of the OP's circumstances but attack anyway.

There's currently 60,000 people waiting to take a test in this country, that's a shameful indictment of this government, the waiting list is 9 months long in some counties. Disgraceful.

Also, €85 for each test is extortion not to mention another couple of hundred in lessons. Not everyone can afford test after test.

You're moaning about the wrong things here.

60000 waiting for tests is not entirely the government's fault, half that figure have held a provisional more than twice - that's inexcusable, laws too lax in the free state letting ppl drive on a provisional, not allowed even in Eastern Europe, and certainly not allowed in the UK or the 6,counties only in the banana Republic of Ireland

corks finest

Lundstram wrote: »

Was there really any need for this post?

First of all, we are most certainly not the only country that allows multiple learner permits. Do you think if someone fails a test once or twice that they should never be allowed learn and drive ever again? :rolleyes:

Some people take years to pluck up the courage to take a test due to many reasons, you haven't a clue of the OP's circumstances but attack anyway.

There's currently 60,000 people waiting to take a test in this country, that's a shameful indictment of this government, the waiting list is 9 months long in some counties. Disgraceful.

Also, €85 for each test is extortion not to mention another couple of hundred in lessons. Not everyone can afford test after test.

You're moaning about the wrong things here.

Wasn't moaning but stating facts, anyone going for a 4 th Provisional licence either was too lazy to apply for years and years,
can't drive,
Or just genuinely falls to bits at the test time, this obviously does s happen, but not to the vast majority.
Truth hurts, nothing rude or personal in my reply to the person applying for their 4th provisional

Lundstram

corks finest wrote: »

Wasn't moaning but stating facts, anyone going for a 4 th Provisional licence either was too lazy to apply for years and years,
can't drive,
Or just genuinely falls to bits at the test time, this obviously does s happen, but not to the vast majority.
Truth hurts, nothing rude or personal in my reply to the person applying for their 4th provisional

You didn't state one fact in any of your posts. Just nonsense ranting. No one in this country is allowed drive on alone on a LP, cars are seized if caught. What more do you want? Jail?

Maybe the OP was abroad? Sick? Used public transport? You haven't a clue of their reasons for holding a 4th LP.

Maybe they were lazy, what business is that of yours? They obviously weren't depending on a full licence so who cares.

corks finest

Johner wrote: »

First two posters are overly harsh, you don’t know hers or anybody else’s situation. Driving is a daunting thing for many and sometimes things like anxiety and nerves takes over. It’s easy to let the years just pass so maybe don’t be so judgemental on her.

Yes that can happen but only here, no where else, government allowed it to happen and slide, but its down to the individual to sort, anyone in a 4th provisional must be driving over 8years surely, minimum, and if ones not capable of passing a test (, or even putting in for one) in that time period then he or she should not be behind a wheel

corks finest

Lundstram wrote: »

You didn't state one fact in any of your posts. Just nonsense ranting. No one in this country is allowed drive on alone on a LP, cars are seized if caught. What more do you want? Jail?

Maybe the OP was abroad? Sick? Used public transport? You haven't a clue of their reasons for holding a 4th LP.

Maybe they were lazy, what business is that of yours? They obviously weren't depending on a full licence so who cares.

Actually did state facts
Ie anyone on their fourth provisional licence either didn't put in for the test,
Driving for minium of 8 years
If full driving licence isn't attained in that period it's either he or she isn't capable or just didn't bother to go to the effort of applying and doing the test

Lundstram

lauren05 wrote: »

I have obviously not been driving/doing lesson since then.

corks finest wrote: »

Actually did state facts
Ie anyone on their fourth provisional licence either didn't put in for the test,
Driving for minium of 8 years
If full driving licence isn't attained in that period it's either he or she isn't capable or just didn't bother to go to the effort of applying and doing the test

Case closed.

corks finest

Lundstram wrote: »

You didn't state one fact in any of your posts. Just nonsense ranting. No one in this country is allowed drive on alone on a LP, cars are seized if caught. What more do you want? Jail?

Maybe the OP was abroad? Sick? Used public transport? You haven't a clue of their reasons for holding a 4th LP.

Maybe they were lazy, what business is that of yours? They obviously weren't depending on a full licence so who cares.

what business is that of yours? It's everybodys business who drives on our roads
Pays extra insurance for those involved in accidents who can't drive
Or witness daily ppl who should be behind the wheel at all
And let's not be pc here call a spade a spade
No licence
No drive

corks finest

Lundstram wrote: »

You didn't state one fact in any of your posts. Just nonsense ranting. No one in this country is allowed drive on alone on a LP, cars are seized if caught. What more do you want? Jail?

Maybe the OP was abroad? Sick? Used public transport? You haven't a clue of their reasons for holding a 4th LP.

Maybe they were lazy, what business is that of yours? They obviously weren't depending on a full licence so who cares.

Maybe maybe maybe, blah blah blah,
Simples - no one should be on our roads driving for years and years with only a provisional licence, it's lax and wrong but worse it's down right dangerous, and the same law applies to all other citizens in the EU zone, but Ireland is the only country that continues to let it roll on

Lundstram

corks finest wrote: »

Maybe maybe maybe, blah blah blah,
Simples - no one should be on our roads driving for years and years with only a provisional licence, it's lax and wrong but worse it's down right dangerous, and the same law applies to all other citizens in the EU zone, but Ireland is the only country that continues to let it roll on

Again, all completely untrue but keep on ranting.

wonski

Owning a learners permit does not equal driving...

I got my provisional license in the UK and never drove for 2 years.

And yes. It was called provisional license

If I wanted to renew, just in case I wanted to start to drive, and had to listen to that sort of abuse I would reconsider if I want to drive along the fellow full license holders like some of the posters above.

Hope you are not that stressed over little things when you are driving lol...

biko

People, please only post if you can help OP with instructions on what to do.

Mjolnir

Jesus what is with that rant....

Anyway moving on op I mixed up my times 3 months is how long out ya can renew a valid one.
Your theory test is good, just put in for a new one.
Permit is 5 years after the lapse date before you have to resit the theory.

MascotDec85

whomitconcerns wrote: »

You can't renew and need a new one. Its quite clear on their website. You can only renew a 3rd and more if you have taken and failed a test in past 2 years.

https://www.ndls.ie/learner-driver/renew-my-learner-permit.html


Your back to the start..First learner permit...

And tbh if you have been a learner for at least 6 years and not taken a test, maybe more important to take time to review why.

If you’re going to provide information as fact it’s quite important you read the very clear information correctly yourself first.

The OP would only be back to the start of their learner permit had expired in excess of 5 years.

She can indeed renew her learner permit once she’s provides evidence of having sat the test OR having applied for the test.

MascotDec85

OP, you don’t have to redo your EDT lessons

lauren05

corks finest wrote: »

Actually did state facts
Ie anyone on their fourth provisional licence either didn't put in for the test,
Driving for minium of 8 years
If full driving licence isn't attained in that period it's either he or she isn't capable or just didn't bother to go to the effort of applying and doing the test

Where on earth did you get I've been driving for 8 years?!
Its not you're business but I obtained my license, applied for my test and got quite sick for a period of time meaning it wasn't my priority.
By the time it came to third, I was working abroad.

When I came home, I had no need to drive, hence its been a few years.

An odd amount of hostility

lauren05

corks finest wrote: »

Maybe maybe maybe, blah blah blah,
Simples - no one should be on our roads driving for years and years with only a provisional licence, it's lax and wrong but worse it's down right dangerous, and the same law applies to all other citizens in the EU zone, but Ireland is the only country that continues to let it roll on

Where on earth did I say I was on the road years and years with only a provisional?! I've never owned a car. And have only been out with licensed instructors

lauren05

MascotDec85 wrote: »

OP, you don’t have to redo your EDT lessons

Thanks for that. I dont mind if I do I'd need to start with the basics again but good to know they are still valid.

mrasgar

wonski wrote: »

Owning a learners permit does not equal driving...

I got my provisional license in the UK and never drove for 2 years.

And yes. It was called provisional license

If I wanted to renew, just in case I wanted to start to drive, and had to listen to that sort of abuse I would reconsider if I want to drive along the fellow full license holders like some of the posters above.

Hope you are not that stressed over little things when you are driving lol...

Agree, I got my UK provisional licence 8 years ago and still haven't started driving!

Just checked, it expires after 2050, so I have some time...

whomitconcerns

MascotDec85 wrote: »

If you’re going to provide information as fact it’s quite important you read the very clear information correctly yourself first.

The OP would only be back to the start of their learner permit had expired in excess of 5 years.

She can indeed renew her learner permit once she’s provides evidence of having sat the test OR having applied for the test.

But they haven't sat the test or applied for the test in the last two years, so they are back to the start. My info is accurate

Posy

AFAIK, so long as the OP applies for a test now, she can then just reapply to renew her permit and won't have to redo EDT lessons or the theory test.

I let one of my permits expire by about 4 and a half years (!) and didn't have to start from scratch because it was expired under 5 years. I just had to apply for a driving test online using my driver number, and bring proof of that upcoming test to the NDLS, and renewed it no bother.

This was a few years ago, but I don't think that has changed.

MascotDec85

whomitconcerns wrote: »

But they haven't sat the test or applied for the test in the last two years, so they are back to the start. My info is accurate

I mean this with the utmost of respect but you’re wrong.
There are at least 35000 learner permit holders in the country on their 4th or subsequent learner permit. The OP is not back to the start. As her learner permit is only out of date coming on for 2 years she is absolutely not “back to the start”

codriscoll1

whomitconcerns wrote: »

But they haven't sat the test or applied for the test in the last two years, so they are back to the start. My info is accurate

From NDLS.ie: "If applying for a third or subsequent learner permit, you must provide evidence of having taken and failed a driving test in the previous two years or provide evidence of having applied for a driving test or having a forthcoming test date."

OP can apply for a test, and renew their learner permit with evidence they have applied. It's only if it was expired by 5 years or more that they would be back to the start.

whomitconcerns

codriscoll1 wrote: »

From NDLS.ie: "If applying for a third or subsequent learner permit, you must provide evidence of having taken and failed a driving test in the previous two years or provide evidence of having applied for a driving test or having a forthcoming test date."

OP can apply for a test, and renew their learner permit with evidence they have applied. It's only if it was expired by 5 years or more that they would be back to the start.

O just read it again and although, I won't say I'm wrong, based on the previous 2 posters it does appear to be interpreted differently than I read it.

So it would seem that as long as you have applied at all for a driving test then your renewal is ok within the 5 years.. Seems odd, but if that's what it is, that's what it is.

My interpretation was that you had to have sat or applied within the past 2 years.

I stand corrected... But not necessarily wrong 😜😜

punisher5112

whomitconcerns wrote: »

O just read it again and although, I won't say I'm wrong, based on the previous 2 posters it does appear to be interpreted differently than I read it.

So it would seem that as long as you have applied at all for a driving test then your renewal is ok within the 5 years.. Seems odd, but if that's what it is, that's what it is.

My interpretation was that you had to have sat or applied within the past 2 years.

I stand corrected... But not necessarily wrong 😜😜

You are wrong though.

I said all of this way before the others even stated this.

Read back

MascotDec85

whomitconcerns wrote: »

O just read it again and although, I won't say I'm wrong, based on the previous 2 posters it does appear to be interpreted differently than I read it.

So it would seem that as long as you have applied at all for a driving test then your renewal is ok within the 5 years.. Seems odd, but if that's what it is, that's what it is.

My interpretation was that you had to have sat or applied within the past 2 years.

I stand corrected... But not necessarily wrong 😜😜

There’s nothing to be interpreted. You only read or understood 50% of a very specific sentence.

Maybe it’s time to reflect on your reasons for missing such important information. See what I did there?

lauren05

Thanks to all who have helped. I was able to get this sorted this morning.