If you are a citizen from the EU or the EEA, your valid national driver's licence is sufficient to drive in the country.
If you are coming from Australia, South Africa, Japan, Jersey, Gibraltar or Man, you have the possibility to exchange your national license for an Irish license within a year after arrival. To do this, you should contact the Motor Taxation Office and complete the application form “A.D401” for a full driving license. Then, complete the application form “D900” for exchanging your national driving license. You may need to take medical examinations. Fees apply. For the detailed procedure and the documents checklist, please visit the Citizen Information website at http://www.citizensinformation.ie/.
If you are not an EU or EEA national or if you can't exchange your national driver's licence, you will only be allowed to drive with your national licence up to 12 months from the issuance date of your residence permit. Beyond 12 months, you must take practical and theoretical tests in order to get a full Irish driver's licence. A provisional license valid for 2 years will be delivered until you pass your driving final examination. In the case you get a provisional licence for the first time, you must drive accompanied with a person who holds a full Irish license. The license must be renewed every ten years.
Good to know:
A technical inspection of your car must be performed annually.
If you are a resident of the EU or of the European Economic Area, you can exchange your national driver's licence for an Irish licence but it is not mandatory.
Remember!
In Ireland, they drive on the left-hand side of the road. The driving wheel is on the right hand side of the car. You may need some time to get accustomed to it!
Useful link:
Motor Taxation Office
http://www.motortax.ie/maintenance_omt.html
 Add a note |
 |
 Send to a friend |
|
You may contribute notes to this article by adding comments in the form below. The note will appear under the article after review.
User notes may be edited or deleted. Please note that the expat blog team goes through the notes and may incorporate information from them into the article.
Join the community and participate!
Choose an expatriate health insurance Ireland. Free advice and quotation service.
A few tips about movers in Ireland.
Ask your questions to expatriates in Ireland on the Ireland forum.
Make contacts in Ireland with the expat network Ireland.
Expats' advice: how to work in Ireland and how to find an accomodation in Ireland.
Find out more about living in Ireland with the Ireland blogs.
Have a look to the Ireland pictures.
Dr. Tofer our years in green Bryna's Space Crunchy Contrary Yank I Eat My Pigeon Are you making the tea? an American in Dublin Pints & Purls An American Girl in Dublin It be Liz Food Fashion Film
