NDLS - National Driver Licence Service centres (Qs, waiting times, etc)

ohnonotgmail · 12-05-2017 11:38AM

Seve OB wrote: »

any way of ringing these guys
urns out I can make myself free for the afternoon but nearest booking I can get online is next Friday. wondering if it might be worth my while dropping to a centre or would it be a wasted trip?

it really depends on which center you wish to use. Some of them are very quiet so walking up is a good option. others are packed from dawn to dusk.

rogercross · 24-05-2017 12:51AM

Hi,

My old paper license was lost recently and i'm in the process of doing the paperwork to get a new one, one question, my paper one had 2 years left on it, will my replacement card also just have 2 years left on it or will it be another 10 year license?

Morby · 24-05-2017 12:57AM

rogercross wrote: »

Hi,

My old paper license was lost recently and i'm in the process of doing the paperwork to get a new one, one question, my paper one had 2 years left on it, will my replacement card also just have 2 years left on it or will it be another 10 year license?

2 years is all I believe!

denismc · 24-05-2017 02:00AM

I changed address recently and was told I would have to apply for a new licence in 2 years when the original would have expired.

rogercross · 24-05-2017 08:36AM

Thanks for the responses, thats annoying but at least ill have 2 years before i have to think about it again.

cantdecide · 24-05-2017 05:38PM

The only way that you could get the 10 year licence now is if you have full entitlements that aren't on the lost full licence. For example, if your lost licence was for B only but you also happen to have the entitlement for AM or BE. You could apply to add category AM or BE to your licence while declaring the previous licence lost and get a 10 year licence.

Dontfadeaway · 01-06-2017 12:32PM

My license is up soon and I just got a letter saying that since I attended NDLS before, I can now do it by post. Did anyone else ever get this?

cantdecide · 03-06-2017 09:29AM

Dontfadeaway wrote: »

My license is up soon and I just got a letter saying that since I attended NDLS before, I can now do it by post. Did anyone else ever get this?

There are certain categories of driver that may be invited to renew by post. People such as over 70 full licence holders that renewed a year prior or learner permit holder who had renewed recently. The premise being that if you visited the NDLS recently and got a 1 year licence or 1 year learner permit and none of your or driver personal details- you could have a fresh reissue of your licence or permit.

It does seem that some drivers who should be invited to renew by post don't get this invitation. Maybe the NDLS work to quotas, I'm not sure, but the upshot for your is that if nothing on your side has changed, they've saved you this trip to the NDLS. If something on your side has changed or if you don't want to, or if if suits you to go to the office, you can take the form you received in the post to the NDLS - you can make a booking or your can call and wait (making the booking would be more advisable).

roddney · 03-06-2017 11:52AM

Shocked to find out there is an 8 week SLA on license applications where there is a discrepancy. Responding promptly makes no difference. No way to escalate or fast track.

Left in bad situation with expired licence and going away on holidays.

Application in queue till 8 weeks is up. All docs long since received.

Really poor service

brembo26 · 03-06-2017 12:03PM

Went in for a duplicate b+w last friday and it arrived yesterday. Not bad! I walked into the center with no appointment and the place was empty!:eek:

cantdecide · 03-06-2017 01:25PM

roddney wrote: »

Shocked to find out there is an 8 week SLA on license applications where there is a discrepancy. Responding promptly makes no difference. No way to escalate or fast track.

Left in bad situation with expired licence and going away on holidays.

Application in queue till 8 weeks is up. All docs long since received.

Really poor service

It's a ridiculous rule, especially for customers who go out of their way to respond believing a prompt response means prompt processing. Yay outsourcing. If you complain to the RSA (the NDLS's bosses) they will escalate your application and have the NDLS prioritise it.It would be worth stating all the ways that not having the licence will impact you negatively. It happens all the time.

StereoSound · 25-07-2017 11:35AM

Do I have to provide my own passport photos? Doesn't say to bring any on the renewal form so assuming they take my picture there?

Thanks

Toots · 25-07-2017 11:46AM

They take your photo there, I think they give you a choice of 3 and then it's printed into your licence.

edburg · 14-08-2017 06:06PM

Anybody give me information on what's crack with doing this.

Do I need to make an appointment with them through site etc?

Being a Brit this is first time going about it and having phoned one office to get a automated service waffling on and they haven't bothered replying to emails as yet.

Thanks

P.S Tralee be my nearest office now if it makes any difference.

mckildare · 14-08-2017 06:09PM

I did it last Saturday, booked in to my nearest office for 9am when they opened. I was 4th in the line but 1st to be called because of the booking. Took 7 minutes in total to get it recorded and paid up. I was told it would be posted to my address and I could keep my old paper license as a keepsake

Got a text a few days later, Thursday or Friday I think, saying it will be arrive in 3-5 days. Arrived today. Job done

edburg · 14-08-2017 06:14PM

Sound stuff I get onto booking system now then.

Expires on 28th, just about forgot about till somebody starting asking how long I been living here etc

UK licence expired 2058 lol

JohnGG · 24-08-2017 08:57PM

I just recently completed an exchange for a full Irish driver's licence at my local NDLS (in Galway). I'm switching over from a Canadian licence that I've had for years. I'm aware that they say the exchange may take 8-12 weeks, and I suppose I'm alright with that since I wasn't currently using my licence anyway...

BUT, I was wondering if anyone on here has any experience with how long it actually takes in reality, if 8-12 weeks is a realistic guess or if it's just a really generously long estimate, because three months is a pretty damn long time. I'd like to get my car insured and get driving sooner rather than later.

If anyone here has exchanged over to an Irish licence in the past, how long did it take?

Thanks a million

Fred Swanson · 25-08-2017 09:35AM

This post has been deleted.

biko · 25-08-2017 12:02PM

A mate changed a foreign licence to Irish last year. Think it took about 3 weeks.
Then again each case is different.

JohnGG · 25-08-2017 02:37PM

Yeah, I knew there are loads of factors, the main one being how long it takes to contact my own licensing authority. My main wonder was to see if anyone's previous experience shows whether it usually takes at least the whole 2+ months.

And that's reassuring Biko, that it didn't take ridiculously long. What sort of licence was your mate exchanging?

mikeecho · 25-08-2017 04:23PM

JohnGG wrote: »

..... What sort of licence was your mate exchanging?

.... resist the urge to say ....

December2012 · 25-08-2017 04:52PM

Anybody know if Santry or Clare Hall is better for a walk up on Saturday morning?

cantdecide · 25-08-2017 06:25PM

JohnGG wrote: »

Yeah, I knew there are loads of factors, the main one being how long it takes to contact my own licensing authority. My main wonder was to see if anyone's previous experience shows whether it usually takes at least the whole 2+ months.

And that's reassuring Biko, that it didn't take ridiculously long. What sort of licence was your mate exchanging?

Honestly, one of the biggest factor is how busy the processing centre are - if they have a backlog, they are within their SLA to hold back on processing exchanges in favour of domestic licence applications. If they're quiet, they could get it turned around as fast as the 3 week mark depending on how quickly the foreign authorities respond. In short, it's a crapshoot.

Claude Burgundy · 29-08-2017 12:03PM

My licence isn't out until Jan 2018 and the paper one is in tatters. I am thinking of getting one earlier as i'm out of the country for most of Oct, will i get the new square on for 10 years or the old one ?

Riskymove · 29-08-2017 12:14PM

I presuem all licences issued are the new card

If you apply to replace your current one I think it may only last until your current one expires as it costs less

Skatedude · 29-08-2017 12:16PM

New credit card sized one for 10 years, age permitting .

Claude Burgundy · 29-08-2017 02:38PM

Skatedude wrote: »

New credit card sized one for 10 years, age permitting .

I'm 40 so i'd hope so:D

jinkybhoy · 29-08-2017 02:45PM

Riskymove wrote: »

I presuem all licences issued are the new card

If you apply to replace your current one I think it may only last until your current one expires as it costs less

I did this and the new credit card licence had the same expiry date as old paper one.

ohnonotgmail · 29-08-2017 02:53PM

Claude Burgundy wrote: »

My licence isn't out until Jan 2018 and the paper one is in tatters. I am thinking of getting one earlier as i'm out of the country for most of Oct, will i get the new square on for 10 years or the old one ?

Riskymove wrote: »

I presuem all licences issued are the new card

If you apply to replace your current one I think it may only last until your current one expires as it costs less

If you apply within 3 months of the expiry date of your existing licence the new licence will be valid for 10 years. otherwise it will be valid up until the expiry date of your current licence.

BArra · 29-08-2017 10:34PM

I exchanged an Irish licence to a Canadian licence this year, the Irish licence was due to expire in 2018, but the Canadian licence i got expires in 2022

If i go back to Ireland and exchange it back to an Irish, would it be the 2022 expiry or would it be a 10 year one?

NDLS - National Driver Licence Service centres (Qs, waiting times, etc)

Comments