Getting a drivers license in Ireland!

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March 07

Getting a drivers license in Ireland!

One of the reasons I felt I had to update my blog was to share out some information about getting your drivers license in Ireland. I have started to realize that not having a car here is very frustrating and I would at least like to have the option next year. To do this however I would need to take a written test which in Ireland is divided into various categories. The license for driving a regular car is in the same category as guess what?? Tractors and Work Vehicles...that's real normal! I consider myself quite decent at taking tests, especially when you can order a CD ROM (yeah it's old school) of all the test questions and essentially memorize them. However, it's the next step that is more disturbing as this is what happens once I get my Learners license:

"Car drivers (category B) with a learner permit (or current provisional licence) must be accompanied at all times by, and be under the supervision of, someone with a current full driving licence to drive a car. (The exception to this, where the driver held a second provisonal driving licence to drive a car, has been discontinued since 30 June 2008). Also since 30 June 2008, the person accompanying you, must have had the full driving licence for the relevant vehicle category for at least two years"

So - am I supposed to bribe friends here to go driving with me so I actually practice driving in Ireland? I mean I suppose the way to do it is to rent a car as often as possible when I can still drive on my US license (which I can only do for 12 months) and then hope that I get to take the driving test really soon after that so driving on the WRONG side of the road (in my brain) will be easier.

Oh and I forgot to mention - The wait time can be 10 months before you can actually take your driving test and this is after you've had your learners permit for 6 months!!!

"It is advisable to apply for a test about 10 months before your second provisional licence is due to expire. Average waiting times for a test are currently just over 18 weeks (over 4 months). It is a standard test and all test centres use the same testing procedures."

I cannot believe that having a US license for 15+ years doesn't do me any good. How is driving in other parts of Europe that much different from Ireland? It's completely nuts frankly and really makes me want to run screaming. So I focus on my job which is super cool and the fact that I get to go to Italy for only $150.00 round trip!

10:17 AM | Blog it

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