BREXIT and UK Driving Licenses

While the UK has left the EU, a transition period was agreed that allowed for the exchange of driving licences to continue. That transition period ends on the 31st of December 2020. If you are resident in Ireland and using a UK licence to drive it will no longer be valid to drive in Ireland after this date. For that reason, UK licence holders resident in Ireland should take steps to exchange their licence for an Irish one well in advance of that date.

If you do not submit your original UK/NI licence with your exchange application the NDLS will be unable to validate your application without significant delays.

In the absence of alternative arrangements with the UK, you may have to apply for a learner permit if you wish to continue to drive in Ireland. It may also have implications for your insurance cover after this date.

You can now apply online to exchange your UK licence. Please see here for further details.

Alternatively, you can apply in person at an NDLS centre. You must book an appointment here. You must complete a licence application form and present this with the correct fee and your UK driving licence at any NDLS centre. For further details click here.  

For FAQ’s on Brexit and driving licences click here.

Brexit and Driver CPC

With the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, the UK left the EU at 11 pm on the 31 January 2020. Under the transition arrangements in place valid UK/NI CPC cards will continue to be valid in Ireland up to the end of the transition period – 31 December 2020.

Any driver with a UK CPC card who is resident or working in Ireland should exchange their CPC card for an Irish CPC card as soon as possible but no later than 31 December 2020. See more here.

Brexit and Digital Tachograph

If you hold the UK or Northern Ireland driving licence for a truck or bus, are a resident of Ireland and obtained your digital tachograph driving card from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) it is important to understand that in the event of a no-deal Brexit you are advised to exchange your UK driving licence for an Irish one.

To qualify for an Irish Digital Tachograph card, you must:

• Have a valid Irish or EU driving licence with higher vehicle categories;
• Be a resident of Ireland with a PPS number.

Once you have exchanged your UK or Northern Ireland licence, then, you need to apply online for a new/first time digital Tachograph Driver card.

Click here to see detailed FAQs on Brexit and Digital Tachograph

Brexit and Impacts of Type Approval on Motor Vehicles  

With effect from 31 January 2020, the UK is no longer a member of the EU.

This Information Note is provided to industry, in particular, to provide some clarification in respect of Brexit the United Kingdom’s (UK) withdrawal from the European Union (EU).  It specifically concerns the type approval of Category M (passenger vehicles), N (goods vehicles), O (their trailers) and L (two and three-wheeled motor vehicles, e.g. motorcycles and mopeds).

Since 29 March 2017, negotiations have been underway between the EU and UK with the aim of arriving at a withdrawal agreement.  While the UK will no longer participate in any of the European institutions, EU law will continue to apply to the UK until the end of what is known as the transition period.

During this transition period, the EU and the UK will engage in negotiations to determine their future relationship. The current rules around type approval will continue for the duration of the transition period, which, unless extended is due to end on the 31 December 2020. i.e. businesses and manufacturers will be able to operate under the same trading rules as they currently do with respect to type approval.

Refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more details.

For more information on all Brexit related issues and getting Ireland Brexit ready please visit the Governments website here