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Is it now legal to hold both UK and Irish driver's licences?

2»

Comments

  • #32
    yagan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,804 ✭✭✭yagan


    Just check with UK insurers if they'll still accept an Irish license. That might solve the impasse.


  • #33
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,094 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    yagan wrote: »
    Just check with UK insurers if they'll still accept an Irish license. That might solve the impasse.
    The OP has a UK licence.

    Presumably you mean check with Irish insurer if he/she is covered while resident and driving here on a UK licence?


  • #34
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,094 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    murphm45 wrote: »
    ...Are you telling me that if I spend say 6 months in Ireland and 6 months in Canada I can only get a driving licence for one of those countries and for 6 months of the year I can't drive?...
    Nobody is telling you that. One country has to be your 'country of residence'. In the other country, you are a 'visitor' and therefore drive as a 'visitor'.


  • #35
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,369 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    arccosh wrote: »
    legally, I had to hand in my Irish licence for a UK one after being there for 2 years...

    would I have been caught if I didn't... no...

    if I had an accident or was brought to court though and they found out I had passed the 2 year mark without trading it... technically I was driving without a licence and as a result no insurance I was informed (I drove a lot for work so was informed by HR to change my licence or I had no job as they couldn't insure me) ....

    I believe Ireland has a similar law, along with other European countries....

    Legally, you did not. At the time, the UK was within the EU and all EU licenses are valid within the EU for the duration of the license. On expiration, the renewal should be in the license of residency. There is an allowance to restrict the validity of a license but only within the limits of the resident nation and only AFTER 2 years of residency. This was adopted in 2019 and restricted nations from adhoc legislation (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32006L0126&from=EN)

    Spain brought in a similar law about changing to Spanish license, the above legislation changed it and they cannot legally force someone with an Irish license to exchange until the expiration of that license. Polish licenses (as an example) however can be forced to exchange for a Spanish license. The reason being that Spanish licenses, like Irish are only valid for ten years. Therefore Spain can apply a restriction to lifetime licenses from other nations.

    No limit has ever been enacted in Ireland however and lifetime licenses are valid for the entire duration.

    "If you have a driving licence issued by an EU or EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid" (https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20a%20driving,of%20your%20driving%20licence%20expiring.)

    "If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid." (https://www.ndls.ie/licensed-driver/exchange-my-foreign-driving-licence.html#to-apply-to-exchange-a-foreign-driving-licence-issued-by-a-member-state-of-the-european-union-european-economic-area)

    "If you have an EU/EEA driver’s licence you may continue to drive in Ireland on your current licence. You can exchange it for an Irish drivers licence when it expires." (https://relocatingtoireland.com/getting-around-ireland/driver-licensing-in-ireland/#EU-EEA-Drivers-Licences)


  • #36
    sundodger5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭sundodger5


    Darc19 wrote: »
    Tabloid rubbish.

    Car was impounded for no insurance.

    https://twitter.com/Ga.../1349297637791449089
    UK license was just mentioned in the tweet but had no bearing in the offenses.

    Well i understood it differently to you.
    Produced a uk licence so the garda rang his insurance company who said he wasn't covered as uk licence.
    If it was a car on Uk plates and a UK licence i doubt they would be ringing the insurance company.
    Open to correction though.


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  • #37
    yagan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,804 ✭✭✭yagan


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »
    The OP has a UK licence.

    Presumably you mean check with Irish insurer if he/she is covered while resident and driving here on a UK licence?
    No. What I was thinking was if they actually need a UK license to drive for their job in the UK as I think the UK is accepting EU licenses.

    This is from a few weeks back
    People with an Irish driving licence who are resident in the UK don’t need to take any action as the UK accepts any EU member state driving licence as valid.
    https://www.thejournal.ie/uk-licence-exchange-ireland-2021-5313889-Dec2020/

    I've seen other statements from UK government websites making contradictory claims about EU driving licenses being valid until their expire. If there was truth in that then our poster could convert their UK license for an Irish one and keep driving in the UK.

    I have a feeling that like all things related to Brexit the UK simply aren't organised and are more likely to rollover everything indefinitely.


  • #38
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,184 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    yagan wrote: »
    No. What I was thinking was if they actually need a UK license to drive for their job in the UK as I think the UK is accepting EU licenses.

    This is from a few weeks back

    https://www.thejournal.ie/uk-licence-exchange-ireland-2021-5313889-Dec2020/

    I've seen other statements from UK government websites making contradictory claims about EU driving licenses being valid until their expire. If there was truth in that then our poster could convert their UK license for an Irish one and keep driving in the UK.

    I have a feeling that like all things related to Brexit the UK simply aren't organised and are more likely to rollover everything indefinitely.

    The OP is resident in Ireland so needs to convert their UK licence to Irish to drive here. As they are Irish residents when they visit the UK they can drive with their Irish licence it doesn't matter what nationality they are, just like they will be able to drive in every other country in the world with their Irish licence when visiting.


  • #39
    yagan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,804 ✭✭✭yagan


    Del2005 wrote: »
    The OP is resident in Ireland so needs to convert their UK licence to Irish to drive here. As they are Irish residents when they visit the UK they can drive with their Irish licence it doesn't matter what nationality they are, just like they will be able to drive in every other country in the world with their Irish licence when visiting.

    What I'm getting at is are Irish licenses considered acceptable for driving for work in the UK.

    The OPs problem is that they can't have an Irish policy with a UK license, but if he swapped his license would he still be able to drive for work in the UK on an Irish license.

    So far it seems the UK isn't insisting on conversion for UK policies, which probably would cover his work cover.


  • #40
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,369 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    yagan wrote: »
    What I'm getting at is are Irish licenses considered acceptable for driving for work in the UK.

    The OPs problem is that they can't have an Irish policy with a UK license, but if he swapped his license would he still be able to drive for work in the UK on an Irish license.

    So far it seems the UK isn't insisting on conversion for UK policies, which probably would cover his work cover.

    YES

    Hes not a resident there as Del has said. Thousands of truck drivers from the EU go through the UK every single day, they dont have UK licenses


  • #41
    Wishbone Ash
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,094 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    yagan wrote: »
    What I'm getting at is are Irish licenses considered acceptable for driving for work in the UK....
    Niner leprauchan wrote: »
    YES

    Hes not a resident there as Del has said. Thousands of truck drivers from the EU go through the UK every single day, they dont have UK licenses
    Perhaps yagan means that is it acceptable to use a ROI licence to do driving work in the UK for a UK based employer. For example, a Dundalk resident with a ROI licence, working as a sales rep throughout NI for a Newry based company? That would be a little different from entering the UK to make deliveries/pick ups etc.


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  • #42
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,057 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    Wishbone Ash wrote: »
    Perhaps yagan means that is it acceptable to use a ROI licence to do driving work in the UK for a UK based employer. For example, a Dundalk resident with a ROI licence, working as a sales rep throughout NI for a Newry based company? That would be a little different from entering the UK to make deliveries/pick ups etc.

    The Dundalk resident with the ROI licence can't drive an NI registered vehicle in the ROI.

    If they commute to Newry and pick up the NI company vehicle to do their job throughout NI are they then in bother with NI authorities?


  • #43
    kennethsmyth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,192 ✭✭✭kennethsmyth


    elperello wrote: »
    The Dundalk resident with the ROI licence can't drive an NI registered vehicle in the ROI.

    If they commute to Newry and pick up the NI company vehicle to do their job throughout NI are they then in bother with NI authorities?

    I don't think that is correct, maybe niner leprauchan can offer up.

    I thought an ROI person can drive a NI company vehicle under an irish licence as in NI the person can be irish or british ??


  • #44
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,057 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    kennethsmyth wrote: »
    I don't think that is correct, maybe niner leprauchan can offer up.

    I thought an ROI person can drive a NI company vehicle under an irish licence as in NI the person can be irish or british ??

    I'll be interested to hear opinions because I know that if you drive around in ROI in an NI registered car and park it outside your house Customs will take an interest.


  • #45
    kennethsmyth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,192 ✭✭✭kennethsmyth


    elperello wrote: »
    I'll be interested to hear opinions because I know that if you drive around in ROI in an NI registered car and park it outside your house Customs will take an interest.

    Need to be clear that the vehicle is a company vehicle owned by an NI company but used by an ROI resident - note in my imagination its a van not a car. May or may not make any difference. Big thing is its not their car.


  • #46
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,057 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    kennethsmyth wrote: »
    Need to be clear that the vehicle is a company vehicle owned by an NI company but used by an ROI resident - note in my imagination its a van not a car. May or may not make any difference. Big thing is its not their car.

    When he mentioned a sales rep. car came into my head.

    As far as I know if you are resident in ROI and using an NI car you are in bother with Customs no matter who owns the car.

    I'm conscious that we are getting away from the issue of driving licences.


  • #47
    arccosh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 624 ✭✭✭arccosh


    Niner leprauchan wrote: »
    Legally, you did not. At the time, the UK was within the EU and all EU licenses are valid within the EU for the duration of the license. On expiration, the renewal should be in the license of residency. There is an allowance to restrict the validity of a license but only within the limits of the resident nation and only AFTER 2 years of residency. This was adopted in 2019 and restricted nations from adhoc legislation (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32006L0126&from=EN)

    Spain brought in a similar law about changing to Spanish license, the above legislation changed it and they cannot legally force someone with an Irish license to exchange until the expiration of that license. Polish licenses (as an example) however can be forced to exchange for a Spanish license. The reason being that Spanish licenses, like Irish are only valid for ten years. Therefore Spain can apply a restriction to lifetime licenses from other nations.

    No limit has ever been enacted in Ireland however and lifetime licenses are valid for the entire duration.

    "If you have a driving licence issued by an EU or EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid" (https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driver_licensing/exchanging_foreign_driving_permit.html#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20a%20driving,of%20your%20driving%20licence%20expiring.)

    "If you have a driving licence issued by an EU/EEA member state you can drive in Ireland as long as your existing licence is valid." (https://www.ndls.ie/licensed-driver/exchange-my-foreign-driving-licence.html#to-apply-to-exchange-a-foreign-driving-licence-issued-by-a-member-state-of-the-european-union-european-economic-area)

    "If you have an EU/EEA driver’s licence you may continue to drive in Ireland on your current licence. You can exchange it for an Irish drivers licence when it expires." (https://relocatingtoireland.com/getting-around-ireland/driver-licensing-in-ireland/#EU-EEA-Drivers-Licences)

    I'm pretty sure it was a legal requirement, as my job were adamant that they couldn't continue to employ me if I went past the 2 year mark, as I couldn't be insured on the Irish licence after being 2 years resident. They sent on some paper work detailing that anyone resident for 2 years was supposed to exchange their licence.

    I had a quick google, but obviously nothing is showing up as it's all Brexit related, but this was circa 2016.

    I remember well, because I had cheaped out on my full licence and only got a 3 year renewal.... so I had just completed a trip back to Ireland a month or 2 previous to get a 10 year version, then had to go through the process of applying for a UK licence.


  • #48
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,369 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    arccosh wrote: »
    I remember well, because I had cheaped out on my full licence and only got a 3 year renewal.... so I had just completed a trip back to Ireland a month or 2 previous to get a 10 year version, then had to go through the process of applying for a UK licence.


    ah for **** sake!

    Read what you typed, you renewed your Irish license after becomming a UK resident.

    Myself and others have all stated that your renewal must be in the country of residence and your Irish license was only acceptable while still in date.


  • #49
    arccosh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 624 ✭✭✭arccosh


    I'm aware of what I typed... I renewed to a 10 year Irish one when I was under 2 years there.... and got my UK one at the year and 11 month mark so work could insure me when I hit 2 years...


  • #50
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,184 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    arccosh wrote: »
    I'm aware of what I typed... I renewed to a 10 year Irish one when I was under 2 years there.... and got my UK one at the year and 11 month mark so work could insure me when I hit 2 years...

    You could drive on your Irish licence till it expired, then you had to exchange to your EU country of residence when renewing. They where wrong in that your Irish licence wasn't valid once you renewed it while being a UK resident, there's no 2 year limit it's invalid once you renewed it in the wrong country.

    The only EU licence you have to exchange within 2 years of becoming a resident in another EU country are lifetime licences. I posted the link earlier.


  • #51
    yagan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,804 ✭✭✭yagan


    I recently had a UK policy on a car in England for three years without needing to convert to an UK license. If there is a two year rule then not all UK insurers were enforcing it. If the UK and Ireland diverge from sharing information on road offences because of EU citizens rights then I reckon you may end up being able to hold two independent licenses, like how someone on this thread holds a USA and Irish license.

    Edit to add, I've had a relative with a USA license as a named driver on my Irish policy for a couple of years too, it costs more but it's still far cheaper than what it was costing them in car hire.


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  • #52
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,369 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I feel like Im speaking to a wall in this thread.


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