Learner Permit Holders

Accompanied when driving

As a learner permit holder you must be accompanied and supervised by a person who has a current and valid full licence for the same category of vehicle. This applies to categories C1,C,D1,EC1,EC,ED1and ED.

If you have a category B,EB and W learner permit, you must be accompanied and supervised by a driver who has a current and valid category B,EB adn W driving licence for at least two years. The accompanying driver should also carry their full category licence with them at all times.

From 30/06/08 holders of a 2^nd learder permit or 2^nd provisional licence for category 'B' must also be accompanied by a fully licensed driver.

Regardless of whether you are a learner permit holder your accompanying driver must hold a current and valid full licence for the same category of vehicle for categories C1, C, D1, D, EC1, EC, ED1 and ED and be with you at all times when you are driving (Please see First provisional driving licence table).

If you hold a provisional licence or learner permit for categories A, A1, and M vehicles you must not carry a passenger.

You must also carry your learner permit with you at all times.

Motorways

As a learner permit holder you must not drive on a motorway. It is a serious offence to do so.

Carrying a passenger

If you drive a car, van, bus or coach you must not carry any passengers for payment of any kind.
If you are a motorcyclist you must not carry a passenger.
If driving a category W vehicle, (for example a work vehicle or land tractor), you must not carry a passenger unless the vehicle is designed to take one and the passenger holds a full driving licence for category W.

Learner Permit expiration

No matter what type of motor vehicle you drive, you may get a third and subsequent learner permit only if you show that you have taken a driving test within the previous two years.

If you have not taken the test, you must give either:

Evidence of a medical condition that prevented you from taking the test, or
Evidence that you applied to sit your driving test for that category of vehicle.

If you are a first time holder of a learner permit for categories A, A1, B, M or W, i.e. a person not previously having held a provisional licence (or whose provisional licence has expired by more than 5 years) in the category, you are not allowed to take a driving test for a six month period after the commencement date of the permit. This provision is to allow you gain experience of driving. Research shows that the longer a learner is supervised while driving, the less likely they are to be involved in a collision.

If you have any questions about getting a learner permit, contact your local motor tax office or the RSA on locall 1890 416141 or by email at info@rsa.ie immediately. You will find the number of your nearest motor tax office under "Local Authorities" in the green pages of the telephone directory or at www.citizensinformation.ie.