Know your rights: Renewing a driving licence during COVID-19

My driving licence is
due to expire in May but I don’t know how to renew it during the COVID-19
pandemic. What should I do?

If you are due to renew your driving licence during the COVID-19 emergency period, you may have questions about how (and where) to do this. Here’s what you need to know.

Firstly,
you must carry your
driving licence with you at all times when driving. If a Garda asks you
to produce your driving licence for inspection and you do not have it with you,
you must bring it to a Garda station for inspection within 10 days. If you
refuse to give the Garda your name and address, the Garda has the power to
arrest you and you could be fined up to €2,000.

Usually
when your driving licence expires, you must renew it at the National Driving
Licence Service (NDLS), or online if you have a Public Services Card and a MyGovID verified account. However, the NDLS is closed
until further notice
as part of Government measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For
this reason, any driving licences (and learner permits) that are due to expire
before 30 June 2020 will be valid for a
further 4 months.
This means that if your document expired or is due to expire between 1 March
2020 and 30 June 2020, you can add 4 months onto its expiration date.

The
following documents will also be valid for a further 4 months:

• Certificates
  of competency received on passing a driving test
• Driver
  theory test certificates
• Motorcycle
  initial basic training certificates

Remember,
during COVID-19, you should restrict your movements
by staying at home.
At present, the only reasons to drive away from home are to:

• Travel
  to work if you provide an essential service – see the list of essential
  service providers
• Shop
  for food or essential household goods
• Collect
  medical supplies or go to medical appointments
• Take
  care of essential family needs, such as caring for children, older people or
  other vulnerable people

During
the COVID-19 pandemic, Citizens Information Centres are offering a phone and
email service. You can access information and advice from:

• The Citizens Information Phone Service: call 0761 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
• Our national call back service: visit citizensinformation.ie/callback to book a phone call from an information officer.
• Your local Citizens Information Centre: find the phone number on the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.