Full Driving Licence

How to Apply or Renew

The following should be returned to your local Motor Taxation Office :

A completed 'Apply for a Driving Licence Form' (Form D.401) available from your local Motor Taxation Office. (Meath County Council doesn't accept downloaded documents)
Two identical passport-type photographs, with the reverse of both signed by you.
Your current or most recently issued driving licence (if you hold or held one in the previous 10 years), or your current or most recently issued provisional licence (if you hold or held one in the previous five years).
A Certificate of Competency (if you have recently passed a driving test).
The Appropriate Fee - see below. (Cheque, postal order, or bank draft payable to the local authority. You may pay the fee in cash if you are applying in person)
A Medical Report if applicable - medical report form (D.501). These forms are available in your local doctor's surgery, so you can request one at your doctors surgery when you are having your medical examination done. Alternatively you can request one from your Local Motor Tax Office.
- You will need a completed medical report form if :
- you are applying for a driving licence for categories C1, C, D1, D, EC1, EC, ED1 or ED. (for category details see http://www.citizensinformation.ie/) You do not need this if you have previously provided a medical report, which is still applicable.
- A medical report is compulsory for any category if you:
- will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the licence is being issued,
- suffer from any of the disabilities or diseases listed on the D.401 form,
- suffer from epilepsy or alcoholism
- or regularly take drugs or medication that are likely to impair your ability to drive safely.
- A registered practitioner should carry out your medical examination and then complete the form. You must sign the Declaration on the medical report form in the presence of the registered medical practitioner.
D.900 Declaration Form if applicable - only if you are exchanging a current full driving licence issued by another EU member state or issued by a designated "recognised state" for licence exchange purposes, you must also submit a D.900 declaration form which you can download below, or request from your local Motor Taxation Office. On this form, you must make a declaration that the licence you are surrendering is both valid and current

D900 - Declaration of Validity of Recognised Driving Licence pdf, 14kb

Driving Licence Fees

One year - 5 euro (based on medical grounds only)
Three years - 15 euro
Ten years - 25 euro
Duplicate Licence - 10 euro

From 1st February, 2002 motorists over the age of 70 can get their full driving licence renewed for free.

Exchanging a driving licence to show a new address or change of name is free of charge.

Responsibility for Driver Licensing

While the Department of Transport has overall responsibility for driver licensing, your local authority is a licensing authority and issue driving licences. Application forms and any other forms you may be required to submit with your application are available from the Motor Taxation Office of your local authority. From the 1st January, 2003 you are required to carry your full driving licence with you at all times when driving in Ireland.

A Full Driving Licence - what it entitles you to

A full driving licence enables you to apply for categories of licence in which it is necessary to hold a full driving licence. A full licence will also reduce the cost of your motor insurance premium and permit you to drive in other countries.

If you have a full Irish driving licence, this driving licence is accepted for use or exchange in all other EU/EEA member states. If you are travelling outside of the EU/EEA and will be driving, you may require an international driving permit.

You are entitled to apply for a driving licence if:

you have recently passed a driving test
you hold a driving licence that will expire within one month and you want to renew it
you held a driving licence that expired less than 10 years ago and you want to renew it
you hold a driving licence and you want to have an additional category of vehicles added to it and a driving test is not required or you are exchanging a current valid driving licence issued by another EU member state or another "recognised state".

Period of time a Licence is issued for

The period of time a licence is issued for depends on the age of the applicant. There are 4 age brackets that the period of a licence falls under.

If you are under 60 years of age, you may apply for a three or ten-year licence.
If you are older than 60 but younger than 67 years of age, you may apply for a three-year licence or a licence that will expire the day before your 70th birthday.
If you are older than 67 but under 70 years of age, you may apply for a three-year licence.
If you are over the age of 70, you will need a certification of fitness to drive by your doctor to apply for a three-year or one-year licence.
If your full driving licence expired 10 years ago, then you must complete a Driver Theory Test. Following completion of your Driver Theory Test, you can only then apply for a provisional licence and you will have to re-sit your driving test again.

Categories of vehicles/Minimum age of driver

Motor vehicles in Ireland are divided into different categories for driver licensing purposes. This is a standard practice throughout the European Union. Ireland has 14 categories in total (for category details see http://www.citizensinformation.ie/), ranging from motorcycles to agricultural vehicles.

Replacing a lost/stolen full driving licence

If your most recent full Irish driving licence has been lost or stolen but is still valid, you can obtain a replacement driving licence. You may also obtain a replacement full driving licence if your most recent licence has expired.

Further information

Questions in connection with your full Irish driving licence should be addressed to your local Motor Tax Office.