{"id":40582,"date":"2025-11-05T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T08:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tyretrade.ie\/?p=40582"},"modified":"2025-11-05T16:57:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T15:57:57","slug":"new-legislation-will-require-learner-drivers-to-sit-driving-test-within-first-four-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tyretrade.ie\/index.php\/new-legislation-will-require-learner-drivers-to-sit-driving-test-within-first-four-years\/40582","title":{"rendered":"New legislation will require learner drivers to sit driving test within first four years"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Government has today signed off on new regulations to ensure learner drivers can no longer repeatedly renew their learner permits without taking a driving test.<\/p>\n

Effective 1st November, 2026, the new regulations amend the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations (S.I. 537 of 2006).<\/p>\n

From that date, learner divers who have held a permit in category A, A1, A2, AM, B or W for four years will have to take a practical driving test before renewing their permit.<\/p>\n

Currently, learners can renew their permits multiple times if they have booked or scheduled a driving test.<\/p>\n

In addition, learners who have held a learner permit for seven years will have to begin the learning to drive process again.<\/p>\n

For learners in category B (car), this process is made up of a theory test, obtaining a learner permit, taking 12 Essential Driver Training lessons, and sitting a practical test.<\/p>\n

Data from the Road Safety Authority shows that nearly one in five holders of category B learner permits have renewed their licences three or more times.<\/p>\n

Almost 60 per cent of this group have yet to sit a driving test, approximately 38,000 people.<\/p>\n

Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, S\u00e9an Canney, said these regulations are “an important development in advancing road safety”.<\/p>\n

\u201cA learner permit is not a driving licence. It permits people to drive on public roads when accompanied by a qualified driver, to gain the experience necessary to drive safely.<\/p>\n

“Until a learner can meet the required standard and pass a driving test, they cannot be judged safe to drive unaccompanied on public roads.<\/p>\n

“Completing the learning to drive process is crucial to ensure that drivers have the skills and confidence to drive on our roads,” he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Government has today signed off on new regulations to ensure learner drivers can no longer repeatedly renew their learner permits without taking a driving test.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":40583,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[654,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-irish-news","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nNew legislation will require learner drivers to sit driving test within first four years - TyreTrade.ie<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tyretrade.ie\/index.php\/new-legislation-will-require-learner-drivers-to-sit-driving-test-within-first-four-years\/40582\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New legislation will require learner drivers to sit driving test within first four years - 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