How do I apply for a learner permit

Before applying for a learner permit, you need to make sure you are eligible to learn to drive in Ireland and have the documentation you require.

Rules

To apply for a learner permit for any vehicle, you must:

• Be normally resident in Ireland. You are considered to be normally resident in Ireland if you usually live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year.
• Meet the age requirement. Before you can apply for a licence to drive a vehicle in Ireland, you must be a certain age. If you are under 16 years of age, you must not use any vehicle in a public place. For more information, see our document on categories of motor vehicles and minimum age of drivers.
• Pass a driver theory test. Before applying for a learner permit, candidates must pass a test of motoring theory appropriate to the category of vehicle (pdf) they wish to be licenced to drive. This rule applies to anyone applying for a first learner permit in any vehicle category. If your learner permit expired five or more years ago, you must pass the theory test again before a new learner permit will be issued. You can read more about the driver theory test.

How to apply online for your first learner permit

If you have a Public Services Card (PSC) and a verified MyGovID account, you can apply for your first learner permit online. To do this, you need:

• To have successfully passed the driver theory test in the category you are applying for in the previous 2 years.
• Proof of your address dated within the last 6 months if your current address differs from the one you provided when you applied for your PSC.
• Proof that you are normally resident in Ireland if your place of birth and nationality are outside the EU/EEA.
• Fully completed eyesight report form dated within 3 months.
• Fully completed medical report form dated within the last 3 months, if required in your case.
• Completed relevant driver certificate of professional competence (CPC), if required.
• Your application fee which can be paid by credit or debit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay. If you are aged 70 years or over you are exempt from paying the fee.

Book or Manage your NCT

Bookings can be made online for all NCTS Test Centres

NCTS has put detailed measures in place, in each test centre to mitigate against the spread of COVID19 and to protect both customers and staff, more information on what you should expect are outlined in the NCTS FAQ‘s.

NCTS has now updated all records for those customers’ vehicles that qualified for the 4 month test extension as announced by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Shane Ross in April 2021. A vehicle with a test due date on or after 28th March 2020 has now had its test date extended by 4 months.

All Vehicle owners are encouraged to check their new test due date on Check NCT Due Date.

Please note, vehicles first registered on or after 1 August 2016 are not eligible for the 4-month extension

NCTS are reminding customers that if they book a test that is more than 90 days earlier than the test due date, the test will be a voluntary early test and the NCT certificate issued will be valid for 1 or 2 years (depending on the age of the vehicle) from the date of the successful test.  NCTS are asking customers to note carefully the website messages they receive throughout the course of the booking process.

To check when your vehicle is due its NCT please click here