Laws around learner drivers will get tighter this weekend

As of November 1, learner drivers who have held a learner permit for four or more years will be required to sit their driving test before renewing their permit.

From Sunday, new regulations will tighten laws on the thousands of drivers on Irish roads who have obtained multiple learner permits without sitting a driving test.

As of November 1, learner drivers who have held a learner permit for four or more years will be required to sit their driving test before renewing their permit.

New rules will also require learners who have not passed a driving test within seven years to restart the learning process entirely.

The Road Safety Authority and Department of Transport believe the measures will help remove learner permit holders driving unaccompanied and improve road safety as deaths on Irish roads trend toward a decade high.

According to the RSA, there are around 380,000 road users with learner permits in Ireland. 

More than 70,000 learner drivers on Irish roads have held three or more learner permits, with more than 12,000 drivers having renewed their learner permit 11 or more times.

The large majority (80%) of drivers with multiple learner permits were aged 17-39. Around 2.5% of multiple learner permit holders on the roads are 60 years or older, while less than 1% are over 70.

Under current regulations, a first learner permit can last for one or two years depending on whether the permit holder has booked a driving test.

Transport minister Darragh O’Brien said the new changes will contribute to the Government’s plans to eradicate road deaths and road injuries by 2050. According to An Garda Síochána, there have been 155 fatalities on Irish roads in 2026 as of October 30. 

“Road safety is a shared responsibility," Mr O'Brien said.

"Encouraging learner drivers to complete the learning to drive process and meet the required standard to pass a driving test leads to safer roads for us all.”

Driving test wait times

Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy, who chairs the Oireachtas Transport Committee, said he welcomed the changes but voiced concern about the impact it would have on extensive waiting lists for driving tests.

According to the RSA, national waiting times hover around 10-12 weeks, with some test centres across the country known to be in excess of that.

National waiting times are expected to increase in light of the new regulations, though the RSA is yet to provide a precise forecast on the exact increase.

“This is especially important in rural areas, where having access to a car can be vital for getting to work, attending college and managing family and other social commitments," Mr Murphy said.

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“I want to see what steps are being taken to increase capacity, reduce waiting times and support people who have applied for a test but cannot secure an appointment before their learner permit expires. Road safety must be a priority, but the system must also be fair and workable.

“The aim should be to have fewer people remaining on learner permits for years, more fully qualified drivers and safer roads for everyone.”

The initial proposals to tighten regulation on multiple learner permit holders were first introduced in 2019, but were not implemented due to extensive waiting times for driving tests spurred by a pandemic-induced backlog.