NDLS so slow!

chasm

Hi all. Wondering if anyone has dealt with the NDLS in the last month or so and if so, how long have you had to wait to be issued your licence?

I'm waiting to receive my new licence and it is taking ages!

I'm off to the UK soon and I'm hoping to test drive a couple of bikes, I'd prefer to have my licence rather than a certificate and a learner permit!

galwaytt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058312242/ndls-so-slow

the Cert and LP are not valid outside the EU, so don't go making a trip without it.

Lead time on a recent licence in this house was 3 weeks.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121069821#Comment_121069821

They aren't valid outside Ireland and technically you can't drive unaccompanied till you have the drivers licence in your hand in Ireland. The only thing you can use to drive in a foreign country is a drivers licence.

chasm

I currently have a full A1 which I've held for years, I decided to use the progression route to get an A2.

I sat my theory, got the permit and booked my IBT. Then everything slowed down - a delay in getting the code from the NDLS, then had to go for a face to face meeting in the NDLS centre as it wouldn't let me do it online. I phoned last week and was told everything was in order and that they weren't sure what the delay was.

Trip has been booked for ages for other purposes, had just hoped to test ride a few bikes while I was over there to help me pick my new bike.

No sure about driving unaccompanied in Ireland Del2005, motorcyclists are allowed, once they have passed their IBT.

galwaytt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070822#Comment_121070822

I find that if you ring RSA they are helpful, worth a call.

gipi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070563#Comment_121070563

Driving unaccompanied doesn't apply to motorbikes, does it?

chasm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071590#Comment_121071590

Rang them earlier, they are going to try and get it escalated. Not sure why they are so busy.

chasm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071683#Comment_121071683

No, once you have done your IBT.

muddle84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071773#Comment_121071773

You can't ride a motorbike on the road without an IBT. You can't carry a pillion until you have a full license so it just doesn't apply to a motorbike!

chasm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072087#Comment_121072087

You can, but you are not supposed to! This is all slightly off topic from my original post but, the RSA website states

'The unaccompanied driver law applies to all drivers with a learner permit for the category of vehicle they are driving.

It does not apply if you are:

• a motorcycle learner driver who holds an IBT certificate of satisfactory completion
• a tractor learner driver. unless there is a passenger seat in the tractor being driven. (If your vehicle has been designed to carry a passenger, the passenger must have held a full driving licence in the same category for at least two years.)"
• 
  
• I recall reading somewhere recently that the only time you are allowed to drive a motorcycle without an CoC/ IBT is when you are doing the module that requires you to drive on the road with the IBT instructor.

muddle84

You can do whatever you want on a motorbike with no license or IBT, you don't even need to own the motorbike!!!!! But it doesn't means its legal 😉

galwaytt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072463#Comment_121072463

'accompanied' in the context of drivers of any class, means accompanied by a full licence holder (of 2 yrs+ experience iirc), who can take over if required. Clearly that's not going to be the case on a 'bike.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071683#Comment_121071683

I've never driven a motorbike.

Betsy Og

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073268#Comment_121073268

I was once asked did I cycle it back from Germany.....😆 so I wouldn't be too hard on anyone talking about driving motorbikes.

muddle84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073268#Comment_121073268

To Drive: operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.

You should try it sometime, motorbikes are great fun😉

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073268#Comment_121073268

Nobody drives a motorcycle, people ride a motorcycle. 👍️ this isn't being pedantic, driving a vehicle which steers is a totally different thing from riding a vehicle which leans. It's like driving a cart pulled by horses as opposed to riding a horse.

Breezin

Not that this is any help at all, but I found the NDLS to be the rudest people I've dealt with in a long time. Seemed to be mean and nasty for the sake of it and without any justification -- I had everything in order on the day.

My glowering licence picture always reminds me of that most unpleasant experience.

EDIT/PS: In contrast to the days in River House (showing my age now). There, once you'd navigated the terrible queues, you'd have a nice old chat. God, I sound like a pensioner!

Hotblack Desiato

Jaysus, River House, I remember sometime in the 80s spending hours queueing up the stairs with my ma to get in there and tax my da's car. Presumably it was late, if it'd been on time a cheque in the post would have sufficed surely? I think there were massive queues at the end of each month because if you went over it you had to pay more. The car involved was an Austin Metro. I later learned to drive in it...

Bluefoam

Back in my day, this was all fields!!!

Hotblack Desiato

NDLS is a great example of how everyone loves to complain about public services, then they get privatised and cost more money and the service gets worse...

galwaytt

Well in our house between tests, permits etc etc over the last 3 years, I've found NDLS to be very good tbh.