A learner permit is a document issued by the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS). It allows you to learn to drive on public roads in Ireland and you must always have it with you when you are driving.
You cannot take driving lessons without a valid learner permit and, in most cases, you cannot take a driving test until you have had your first learner permit for at least 6 months. Read more about how to arrange and prepare for a driving test in Ireland.
This page provides practical guidance and advice on learner driving permits in Ireland. It includes information on learner permits for:
You can read more about the steps you need to take to learn to drive in Ireland.
Before applying for a learner permit, you need to make sure you are eligible to learn to drive in Ireland and have the documentation you need.
To apply for a learner permit for any vehicle, you must:
There are 2 ways you can apply for your first learner permit: online at NDLS.ie, or in person by booking an appointment at an NDLS centre.
You can apply for your first learner permit in person by booking an appointment at one of 34 NDLS centres nationwide. There is no walk-in service available.
You are no longer required to submit an application form. However, you do need to prove your identity and supply the appropriate supporting documentation. Your photograph and signature will be captured at the NDLS centre.
To apply for your first learner permit at an NDLS centre, you need:
The NDLS has published detailed guidance (pdf) on how to apply for your first learner permit. You can also read more about the process on NDLS.ie.
You can apply to renew your learner permit if expired or 3 months in advance of the expiry date. Any unexpired period remaining on a previous learner permit will not be added to your new one.
You can renew your learner permit online if you have a PSC and a verified MyGovID account. Read more about the online application process on the NDLS website.
A first and second learner permit usually lasts for 2 years each time while a third and subsequent permit lasts for 1 year.
If you are applying for a third or subsequent learner permit you must provide one of the following:
If you have taken a driving test, you will be given a 2 year permit. If you provide confirmation that you have applied for a driving test you will be given a 1 year permit.
You can access detailed information on how to update or replace your learner permit:
A Category B learner permit entitles you to learn to drive a car on public roads in Ireland. However, it is not a full driving licence and you must keep to certain restrictions.
If you own a car, you will be guilty of an offence if you let someone drive it in a public place when they:
For further information, consult the learner permit section of the Road Safety Authority’s ‘Rules of the Road’ (pdf) handbook.
All holders of their first learner permit issued from 4 April 2011 must undertake Essential Driver Training (EDT) with an RSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). You can access details of ADIs located across the country.
EDT is a training course that teaches fundamental driving skills to learner car drivers. The RSA has published detailed guidance (pdf) on EDT. The course is made up of 12 individual 1 hour sessions.
At each EDT session, your ADI will check your learner permit and record the session with a stamp and signature in your official EDT logbook. You will be required to produce your completed EDT logbook on the day of the driving test.
You can also nominate a sponsor to accompany you during your EDT sessions. Typically a family member or close friend, your sponsor should be an experienced licence-holder who can support you in preparing for your test.
If you have a full driving licence from a country that does not have a licence exchange agreement with Ireland, you will only be required to complete 6 EDT sessions before taking the Irish driving test. The RSA have published a detailed handbook on Reduced EDT (pdf).
To drive a motorcycle on a public road, you must hold at least a learner driving permit for the appropriate category of motorcycle. The following table shows the categories of motorcycles, with the driver’s minimum age:
| Category | Vehicle type | Minimum age of driver |
| AM | Mopeds and tricycles with a maximum speed of 45kph and light quadricycles | 16 years |
| A1 | Motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) of 11kW or less and 125cc or less, with a maximum power/weight ratio of 0.1 kW/kg, and motor tricycles of 15 kW or less | 16 years |
| A2 | Motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) of 35kW or less, with a maximum power/weight ratio of 0.2 kW/kg, and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power | 18 years |
| A | Motorcycles (with or without a sidecar) and motor tricycles | 24 years (20 years via progressive access) |
Once you have passed your theory test and obtained a motorcycle learner permit, you are not permitted drive on a public road until you have completed your Initial Basic Training (IBT).
IBT is a 16-hour mandatory training course, broken into 4 separate modules, that teaches basic riding skills to learner motorcyclists. IBT courses are only available at RSA approved IBT training centres and may only be delivered by RSA approved IBT instructors.
You can read detailed information (pdf) about what IBT involves and how to enrol on a course near you on the RSA’s webpage.
Once you get your IBT Certificate of Satisfactory Completion, you are allowed to drive unaccompanied on public roads.
However, a learner permit is not a full motorcycle driving licence and there are specific rules you must keep to until you pass your driving test:
To get your first learner permit to drive a bus or truck, you must have a full driving licence for a car (Category B) and a valid driver theory test certificate for:
Before driving on a public road, you must hold a learner permit appropriate to the category of bus or truck you wish to drive.
The following table shows the categories for buses and trucks, with the driver’s minimum age:
| Category | Vehicle type | Minimum age of driver |
| C1 | Goods vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg | 18 years |
| C | Goods vehicles over 3,500kg | 21 years (18 years with a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence) |
| D1 | Passenger vehicles with accommodation for more than 8 and a maximum of 16 people | 21 years |
| D | Passenger vehicles with accommodation for more than 8 people | 24 years (21 years with a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence) |
Further information is available in a bus and truck FAQ on the RSA website.
Bus and truck drivers with a learner permit must:
Bus and truck drivers with a learner permit must not:
The drink driving limit for drivers of buses and trucks with learner permits or full driving licences is 20mg per 100ml of blood. Further information on drink driving limits is available from the RSA.
To work as a professional truck or bus driver, you need a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
You then must complete the following additional steps:
Once you have qualified for Driver CPC, you have to maintain it over 5 years to continue to be Driver CPC certified.
To drive on a public road while pulling a trailer weighing more than 750kg when fully loaded, you must hold at least a learner driving permit for the appropriate category of vehicle and trailer. You can read more about learner permits for trailers on the RSA website.
The following table shows the categories of vehicles and trailers, with the driver’s minimum age:
| Category | Vehicle type | Minimum age of driver |
| BE | Vehicles in category B with a trailer of 3,500kg maximum weight | 17 years |
| C1E |
Vehicles in category B with a trailer of over 3,500kg and where the combined weight of vehicle and trailer when fully loaded is not more than 12,000kg
You must hold a full driving licence for the category of vehicle with which you wish to tow a trailer before you can apply for a trailer learner permit.
The RSA have published videos on trailer licencing and safety, including a video of a trailer test. You can read more about how to book and prepare for a driving test.
You can also access a comprehensive handbook (pdf) on driver licensing rules for drawing light trailers and read information on load security.
While driving with a learner permit, you must:
While driving with a learner permit, you must not:
The drink driving limit for drivers with trailers with learner permits or full driving licences is 20mg per 100ml of blood. Further information on drink driving limits is available from the RSA.
Finally, remember that the maximum speed limit for a vehicle towing a trailer is 80km/h, and this also applies on roads where the posted road sign speed limit is higher. As always drivers are subject to the lowest posted speed sign so it will not always be possible to travel at 80km/h.
Read the rules of the road for more information.
You have to apply for your first learner driver permit in person to one of the NDLS centres - see 'How do I apply for a learner permit?' above. You can book an appointment online.
You may be able to renew your driving licence online if you are eligible and have a PSC and MyGovID verified account. Alternatively you can apply in person.
Road Safety Authority
Po Box 858
Southside Delivery Office
Cork
Ireland
Opening Hours: Lines open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm (excluding Public Holidays) and Saturdays 9am – 1pm.
Tel: 0818 700 800 Homepage: https://www.ndls.ie/Moy Business Park
Primrose Hill
Ballina
Co Mayo
Ireland