Getting on the road in Ireland is relatively straightforward. You will, of course, need a licence. The NDLS is responsible for issuing driving licences in the Republic of Ireland.
If you’ve got a vehicle, you’ll need to make sure that it’s taxed and insured too.
Do I need to get an Irish driver’s licence?
For EU & EEA licence holders
Drivers with an EU or EEA member state licence need never change to an Irish licence. If they wish to exchange their licence for an Irish one, they need to do it within 10 years of their driver’s licence expiring.
For other licence holders
Visitors to Ireland from outside the EU or EEA can drive on a licence from their own country for up to a year, as long as it’s valid.
Once you are ‘normally resident’ in Ireland – in other words, living here at least half the year – you’ll have to exchange your driver’s licence for an Irish one. Or, in some cases, you may need to complete a test and apply for an Irish driving licence.
Getting a driving licence in Ireland
Exchanging a licence
If you hold a licence from within the EU, the EEA or a ‘recognised state’, you can exchange your current driver’s licence for an Irish one. Currently, the Ireland’s list of ‘recognised states’ includes:
- The UK, including Northern Ireland
- Australia
- Gibraltar
- Guernsey
- Isle Of Man
- Japan
- Jersey
- South Africa
- Republic of Korea
- Switzerland
- New Zealand
- Taiwan
- The Canadian provinces of: British Columbia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
People with licences from these ‘recognised states’ can exchange their licences for up to one year after it expires.
NDLS recently made it easier to exchange your driving licence. The process can now be completed online without the need to fill out paper applications or visit a NDLS centre. To apply, you’ll need:
- Your current or most recent driving licence. Alternatively, a letter of entitlement from the licensing authority will work too.
- A Public Services Card and verified MyGovID – you can find out how to get those set up here.
- Proof of address for your home in the Republic of Ireland
- Proof of Irish residency
- A recent eyesight and medical report – the latter is only required in certain circ*mstances
- If you want to drive buses or lorries professionally, you’ll need a certificate of professional competence
- An application fee of €55 – this can be paid bycard, Google Pay or Apple Pay
If you’d prefer to exchange your licence in-person at your local NDLS centre, you can make an appointment too. Just bring the above documents, along with an application form.
Applying for a driving licence
Visitors from countries outside the EU, the EEA and the above listed countries can drive on Irish roads using their own country’s licence for up to 12 months. But, after this, they’ll need to apply for an Irish licence and complete all the same steps as a brand new driver.
Unfortunately, the process of obtaining a new driving licence in the Republic of Ireland is much trickier than exchanging one. It will take some time too.
First, you must first pass a written driver theory testbefore applying for alearner permit. Then, you’ll need to take a course in Essential Driver Training, which requires at least 12 hours of training. Once you’ve completed these lessons and have had your learner permit for at least six months, you can sit your driving test. If you pass, you can then apply for a full Irish driving licence.
Vehicle tax and insurance
In the Republic of Ireland, it is illegal to drive a vehicle that has not been taxed and insured. Here’s what you need to know.
Motor tax in Ireland
The motor tax rate you pay depends on the age of your car. Vehicles built before July 2008 are assessed on the size of their engines. Those built after that date are assessed on their CO2 emissions – the more your car emits, the more it will cost you.
Annual motor tax rates can range from €120 right up to €2,350. So, when buying a car, it’s worth checking what tax band each vehicle falls into. Over time, purchasing a newer, well-serviced car will pay off. Most car selling sites include it alongside the car’s specifications. Once you’ve got a new set of wheels, you can tax your vehicle online.
Car insurance
You also need to insure your car before you can legally drive it on Irish roads. Your insurance has to cover third-party expenses at the very least. But comprehensive cover is probably the best option as it covers your own costs, as well as those of anyone else involved in a road incident.
One of the big perks of living in Dublin is its comprehensive public transport system. So, if you’re unsure about investing in a car, you should read up on Dublin’s public transport.
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Getting Around: Transport in Dublin
There are plenty of options for getting from A to B in Dublin. It is a fairly compact city, which means walking and cycling are viable options.You can walk from many of the city’s outlying districts to its centre in around 30 or 40 minutes. But the public transport in Dublin is pretty good too. It’s one of the benefits that comes with living in the city.Public transportGetting around Dublin by busDublin Bus connects most parts of the city through a network of over 100 routes.
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Is Ireland safe?Ireland is generally a safe place to visit and live. The 2020 Global Peace Index ranks it as the 12th safest country in the world.While we trail behind countries like Denmark, Canada and Japan, we’re streets ahead of our nearest European neighbours. Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK and France rank 17th, 21st, 42nd and 66th, respectively. Ireland’s scores in terms of homicides, weapon imports and imprisoned population are particularly low.According to a
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Public and private healthcare in Ireland
The system for healthcare in Ireland is divided into two tiers: public and private. While everyone living in Dublin is well served with hospitals and local health services, the system can be difficult to navigate.Here, we cover the basics of using and accessing Dublin’s health services.Public healthcareIreland’s public healthcare system offers world-class care, partly funded by the Government.Dublin is home to 14 public hospitals, some of which specialise in the likes of cancer services, children’s healthcare and maternity care. Some of these hospitals also have emergency d