Who may apply ?
You may apply for a driving licence if:-

• You hold a driving licence which will expire within three months and you wish to renew it, or
• You held a driving licence which expired less than 10 years ago and you wish to renew it, or
• You hold a driving licence and you wish to have an additional category of vehicle added to it and a driving test is not required, or
• You have recently passed a driving test, or
• You are exchanging a current valid driving licence issued by another Member State of the European Union or of the European Economic Area or another 'recognised state'.
  
  Period of Licence
• If you are under 60 years of age you may apply for a 10 year or 3 year licence.
• If you are over 60 but under 67 years of age you may apply for a licence which will expire when you reach 70 years of age or for a 3 year licence.
• If you are over 67 but under 70 years of age you may apply for a three year licence.
• If you are over 70 years of age you may apply for a 3 year or 1 year licence subject to certification of fitness to drive by your doctor.

The deciding age is your age on the first day of the period for which the licence is being granted.
A one year licence may be granted in exceptional circumstances where, for medical reasons, a longer term of licence cannot be granted.

Fee
The fee for a driving licence is:-
1 year licence - €5
3 year licence - €15
10 year licence - €25
Licence up to age 70 (not more than 10 year) - €25
No fee will apply where the applicant is 70 years of age or more on the commencement date of the licence.
Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to the City or County Council to which you are making the application e.g. if applying to Dublin Motor Tax Office the cheque should be made payable to Dublin City Council.

Theory Test Certificate
If you applied for a first provisional licence in the period 25 April 2001 to 10 June 2001, you must submit a theory test certificate with your driving licence application, unless you have already submitted such a certificate. Further information may be obtained on the Driver Theory Test website atwww.theorytest.ie

Normal Residence in Ireland
An applicant for a driving licence must be normally resident in Ireland. In this connection, you shall be regarded as having your normal residence in Ireland if, because of personal and occupational ties, you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year. However, if you have personal ties in Ireland and occupational ties in another country which require absences from this country you may still be regarded as being normally resident in Ireland provided that you return here regularly. Working abroad on a specific task for a definite duration or attending a foreign University or College, shall not imply that you have transferred your normal residence to another country.

Evidence of Identity
If applying in person, the licensing authority may, in it's absolute discretion, request you to provide evidence of identity. Examples of the types of documentation that will be accepted in this regard include a passport, a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, a certificate of registration, a cheque book, a cheque card, a credit card, a Credit Union membership card, a bank, building society or savings bank book, a Social Welfare payment book, a signing-on card or free travel card, a medical card, an employee or student identity card.

Photographs
Two identical passport-type photographs must accompany your application. Please sign the reverse side of each photograph.

Medical Report (Form D.501) ( must be printed back to back onone page)
Your application must be accompanied by a medical report if:-

• You are applying for a driving licence in respect of any of the categories C1, C, D1, D, EC1, EC, ED1 or ED unless you have previously provided a medical report which is still applicable.
• You will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the licence is being granted.
• You suffer from any of the disabilities or diseases listed under.
• You have ever suffered from alcoholism or epilepsy.
• You are taking, on a regular basis, drugs or medicaments which would be likely to cause the driving of a vehicle by you to be a source of danger.
• The medical report must be completed by a registered medical practitioner and you must sign the declaration in his/her presence.

Note: (1) A person who suffers from serious arrhythmia which has at any stage resulted in loss of consciousness is particularly advised to consult his/her doctor before applying for a licence.
(2) A person who is dependent on or regularly abuses psychotropic substancesis disqualified from holding any learner permit or driving licence.
If you have any doubts about your physical or mental fitness to drive you should consult a doctor.
Medical Report Forms may be obtained from your local Motor Taxation Office or downloadedhere.

Current / Last Licence to Accompany Application
Your application for the issue or renewal of a driving licence must be accompanied by:

• Your current or most recently issued driving licence, if you hold a driving licence or held
  one within the previous ten years, and
• Your current or most recently issued learner permit, if you hold a learner permit or
  held one within the previous five years (unless your most recent learner permit has
  been superseded by the issue of a driving licence).

Lost/Stolen License
If your most recent licence has been lost or stolen, you must complete a lost licence declaration form (Form D8 A) at your local Garda Station. This form must then be forwarded to the Motor Taxation Office with your application (Form D.401).

Duplicate Licence Application (Form D.800)
If your licence is current but has been lost or stolen you may apply to your Motor Taxation Office for a duplicate. A duplicate licence is issued to replace a valid licence that has been lost, stolen, destroyed or defaced. The duplicate will be a copy of the original licence, including any endorsements, and will be valid for the same period. Your application should include

• Application Form D.800 signed and stamped at your local Garda Station
• 2 passport-type photographs (signed on back).

Fee - €10.00
Free-in-lieu Licence.
Free-in-lieu licences are issued (provided your driving licence is current) in the following cases:-
(1) Change of name/address.
(2) Removal of endorsement. (N.B. An endorsement must remain on a current licence for 3
years.)
(3) If an error has been made in the issue of the licence (e.g incorrect date of birth).
(4) Extra category added.
In all cases you must send a completed application form, 2 passport type photographs (signed on back) and any supporting documentation e.g. marriage certificate, to your local Motor Taxation Office.
With regard to No. 4 above - you must also enclose the required certificate of competency and medical report (if required).

Towing a Trailer
If you hold a category B licence and wish to tow a trailer you may do so provided
(1) the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle and the combination does not exceed 3500 kg or
(2) the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer does not exceed 750 kg.
If you wish to tow a heavier trailer you must hold a category EB licence.
The holder of a driving licence in category C1, C, D1 or D may tow a trailer provided the design gross vehicle weight of the trailer does not exceed 750 kg. Categories EC1, EC, ED1 or ED (depending on the towing vehicle) must be held in order to tow trailers in excess of 750 kg.