Guidance notes for the completion of your

Driving Licence Application Form

Part 1: Personal Details Part 3: Exchanging a licence
1. If you previously held a learner permit or driving licence you 17 . Please provide details if the licence you are exchanging was
must supply the driver number (this can be found at 4d on the received on foot of an earlier exchange. See page 3 for more
plastic licence or 5 on the paper licence) information.
2. Select as appropriate 18. Please confirm there is no reason the licence cannot be
3. This is the first name that will appear on your driving licence. exchanged. Where disqualified in an EU country with a
This name must exactly match the Photographic I.D. (See list 1 condition that you must pass a driving test/complete driver
on page 2) provided training, then you can apply for a learner permit.
4. This is the surname that will appear on your driving licence. You should provide a driver statement from the Foreign Licence
This name must exactly match the Photographic I.D. (See list 1 Authority and the foreign licence if held. You must complete the
on page 2) provided driving test/driver training within 2 months. You can then
apply for exchange of the foreign licence by providing the cert of
5. Please insert name as it appears exactly on your birth certificate competency/driver training certificate.
6. If your surname has changed since your last learner permit Where disqualified in an EU country with a condition that you
or driving licence was issued you must indicate the pass psychological tests, then you can apply for an exchange of
reason why and provide supporting documentation a driving licence and must provide a Medical report.
(e.g. marriage certificate, divorce/separation confirmation,
deed poll confirmation). Original documents are required 19. Please confirm the date you took up normal residence in Ireland.
7. Your address should be the place where you normally reside; Part 4: Organ Donation
for a student this generally means the family home. The 20. If you wish to donate your organs you can record this on your
address on the application form must exactly match the licence. The licence will contain a code that will make medical
evidence of address provided which can be no more than 6 professionals aware of your intention. However, in keeping with
months old at date of application Please see list 2 on page 2. current legal position, your next of kin will be consulted in the
Please note that student accommodation, business addresses event of any decision of this nature
or care of addresses are unacceptable. The name on the proof of Part 5: Driver Fitness. Please also refer to Driver Fitness
address document must exactly match the name on the information on page 3 of these notes.
application form. For Dublin postal district code please include
these in the “County/City” field. 21. An eyesight report form D502 may be required with your
application. Please refer to page 3
8. Your date of birth on the application form must match your
Photographic I.D. or birth Certificate. 22. You must answer all these medical questions. If you answer yes
to any of questions 22 to 42 or 43(c) a valid medical report dated
9. Select as appropriate within one month of date of application will be required.
10. PPSN is a Personal Public Service Number, which is a unique Every driver over the age of 70 (or who’s existing licence expires
identifier that helps you access state benefits, PPSN is on the eve of their 70th birthday) applying for a licence must
mandatory and must be completed. Proof of PPSN must be provide a driving licence medical report from a Doctor
provided (see list 3). If you do not have a PPSN or are unable Every Group 2 licence application must include a driving licence
to trace it please contact the Department of Employment Affairs medical report from a Doctor (unless one has been already
and Social Protection on 1890 927 999. Where a customer has submitted that covers the full period of the permit or licence
applied to the NDLS and has been issued with a licence since and covers the group 2 categories.)
29th October, 2013, there is no requirement to present evidence
of PPSN for a second time. If your PPSN has changed then Part 6: Declaration by applicant
evidence must be provided. 44. By signing this declaration you are confirming that all the
11. If you were born in Ireland, please state the county you were information given is true and accurate, giving false information
born in. If you were born outside of Ireland please state the is an offence under the Road Traffic Acts and penalties apply.
country where you were born. Fees and payment
12. Please enter your contact details. Please note Irish mobile The fees for the driving licence are set out below:
numbers only are accepted. Should we need to contact you in Type of Licence Cost
relation to your application we will use your preferred method Ten year licence (or period greater than three years) €55
of communication. NDLS may in certain circumstances need to Three year licence (issued on age and medical grounds) €35
use other methods of communication to contact you. We will One year licence (issued on medical grounds) €25
not give your information to any third party except in Adding a new licence category to an existing licence €35
accordance with the law. To exchange a foreign licence €55
To replace a licence exchanged abroad €35/€55
Part 2: Licence Details Change of personal details No fee
13. Select application type as appropriate. Refer to Licence Licence for over 70s No fee
checklist on page 4 of the application form for The National Driver Licence Service will accept the following
documentation required to accompany each application. payment methods with your application: Cash Cheque Bank draft
14. Please select the appropriate categories to appear on your Money order Debit card / credit card / prepaid credit card
licence. A table of categories including a description, minimum The NDLS will only accept one method of payment for each
age and other conditions for holding a licence can be found on application. The NDLS will only accept one payment for one
page 4 of these guidance notes. Please note: An applicant application – a single payment for multiple applications will
can only be provided with licence categories for which they have not be accepted.
an entitlement.
Cheque, bank drafts or money orders must be made payable
15. Insert details of any driver licence issued by another country to ‘National Driver Licence Service (NDLS)’. For applications
16. If your current or most recent issued driving licence has paid for by cheque, please note that those applications will be
been lost, stolen you must complete the Garda declaration placed on hold until the cheque clears.
and have it stamped at your local Garda station. The NDLS will process debit and credit card payments in accordance
with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) rules. If you wish to use a third
party debit or credit card for payment, then the third party must be
present in person to make the payment.
Page 1
www.ndls.ie May 2018
 Presenting a Public Services Card (PSC) at the NDLS centre will simplify your application process as the PSC will satisfy the following
requirements.
• Photographic ID,
• Evidence of PPSN,
• Evidence of address (where your address is as provided to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection DEASP),
• Evidence of residency entitlement (where your place of birth or nationality are within the European Union / European Economic Area/
Switzerland).
For information on how to obtain a Public Services Card, please visit www.psc.gov.ie or get in touch with your local Department of
Employment Affairs and Social Protection office.
NDLS online service
From June 2018 if you have a Public Services Card (PSC) and have a verified MyGovID account you may be eligible to apply to renew your
driving licence/permit Online. Please visit www.ndls.ie to find out more information in relation to the online service.
If you do not have a Public Services Card (PSC) you are required to present documentation at NDLS centre to satisfy the following 4
requirements; 1. Photo ID, 2. Evidence of address, 3. Evidence of PPSN and 4. Evidence of residency entitlement.

List 1: Photographic I.D. List 3: Evidence of PPSN

• Public services Card • Public services card/social services card
• Irish passport which cannot be expired by more than • Correspondence from Revenue/Department of Social
12 months Protection showing PPSN
• Irish driving licence or learner permit • P21/Tax Assessment/ Notice of Tax credits
• Current passport for all non-Irish citizens (valid for • Receipt of social welfare payment which shows full PPSN
international use) • Medical card / Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) card /
• Current national identity card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens European Health Insurance card
• Irish Certificate of Naturalisation • Payslip or P60/P45
• Current UK photo driving licence
• Current Irish travel document

List 2: Evidence of address List 4: Evidence of residency entitlement

• Public services card
Please note. Evidence of address must be dated within
6 months of the date of application.
• Utility bill. Mobile phone bills are not acceptable
• Statement or other correspondence from bank/building
society/credit union including eStatements
• Letter from Department of Employment Affairs and Social
Protection/Revenue
• Other official correspondence from an Irish state agency.
• Correspondence on headed paper from an educational
or training body e.g. a secondary school; university;
institute of technology or college.
• Correspondence from an insurance company regarding an
active health/life/house/car insurance policy
• Public services card -where place of birth or nationality is
within EU/EEA/Switzerland.
• Irish/UK (long-form) birth certificate or adoption
certificate
• Driving Licence/Learner permit where number 3 shows
place of birth is within EU/EEA/Switzerland
• Certificate of entry in the Irish Foreign Births Register
• Irish passport/passport card (current or expired by no
more than 12 months)
• Current passport for all EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (valid for
international use)
• Current national identity card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
• Irish certificate of naturalisation
• Current certificate of registration (Garda National
Immigration Bureau/GNIB card) or Irish residence permit
(IRP) for non- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (The GNIB and IRP
cards must be presented with a current passport valid for
international use or a Public Services Card)

More information on acceptable documents available on www.ndls.ie

When applying, avoid queues in centres by visiting the online booking system at www.ndls.ie. Drivers with either a valid driver number or PPS number
can book their visit for a date and time that suits them.

Please note: These centres can only process application made in person. Please do not post an application to
NDLS Centres these centres as it will not be processed
Carlow Unit 1, Ground Floor, Graigue Village Centre,
Graiguecullen Co. Carlow, R93 X5K7
Cavan Unit 5, Cavan Shopping Centre, Main Street, Cavan, H12 Y9V2
Clare Unit 4, Ennis Shopping Centre, Ennis, V95 R673
Cork Commercial Unit 1, Copley Hall, Cotter’s Street, off Copley Street, Cork, T12 TD32
Cork First Floor, Cork Co-operative Marts, Marsh Road, Skibbereen, P81 C802
Cork Office 17 (Second Floor), Market Square Shopping Centre, Mallow, P51 V8VC
Donegal Unit 7, O’Boyce’s Corner, Port Road, Letterkenny, F92 Y383
Donegal Eurohouse, Killybegs Road, Donegal Town, F94 VFD6
Dublin Unit 9, Leopardstown Shopping Centre, Ballyogan Road, Dublin 18, D18 K8A0
Dublin Unit H Own Door Offices, Citywest Shopping Centre, Citywest, D24 W583
Dublin Unit 236, Omni Park Shopping Centre, Swords Road, Santry, D09 NX06
Dublin Unit 3, Floor 3, Clarehall Shopping Centre, Malahide Road, D17 TF20
Galway Ground Floor, Block 1, Cityeast Business Park, Ballybrit Business Park, H91 D5CN
Galway Clifden (Open Mondays only, 9am to 4pm), Station House Hotel, H71 AK52
Kerry Mezzanine Unit, Manor West Shopping Centre, Tralee, V92 EW02
Kildare 5B Elm House, Millennium Park, Naas, W91 TC97
Kilkenny Unit 2E, First Floor, Cillin Hill Centre, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, R95 T294
Laois Unit 29A, Laois Shopping Centre, Portlaoise, R32 X789
Page 2
May 2018
Leitrim Unit 7, Bridge Lane, Carrick-on-Shannon, N41 NH58
Limerick Unit 29, Parkway Shopping Centre, Dublin Road, Limerick, V94 FX92
Longford Suite 3, Business Centre, Longford Shopping Centre, Longford, N39 Y889
Louth Ground Floor Unit 3, Southgate Shopping Centre, Dublin Road, Drogheda, A92 XR26
Mayo New Antrim Street, Castlebar, F23 YX29
Mayo Belmullet (Open Tuesdays only, 9am to 4pm), Broadhaven Bay Hotel, F26 D8N7
Meath Unit 3 Finnegans Way, Emmet Street, Trim, C15 VX22
Monaghan Office 2, First Floor, Teach O’Cleircin, Old Cross Square, Monaghan, H18 FK46
Offaly Room 201, Down Suite, Castle Buildings, Tara Street, Tullamore, R35 H935
Roscommon Unit 1, Racecourse Business Park, Roscommon, F42 NV05
Sligo Ground Floor Millennium House, Stephen Street, Sligo, F91 E7KH
Tipperary Suite 5A, Second Floor, Powerstown House,
Gurtnafleur Business Park, Clonmel, E91 V9P7
Tipperary 10 Silver Street, Nenagh, E45 AC89
Waterford Waterford Shopping Centre, Lisduggan, Waterford, X91 WYV0
Westmeath Golden Island Shopping Centre, Athlone, N37C9Y3
Westmeath Unit 1A, Mullingar Shopping Centre, Ashe Road, Mullingar, N91 HE36
Wexford 7a The Square, Redmond Square, Wexford, Y35 VR92
Wicklow Unit C16, Wicklow Enterprise Centre, The Murrough, Wicklow, A67 D903
www.ndls.ie
 General Information:
Residency entitlement
Residency entitlement is required for all NDLS applications. Evidence
of residency entitlement must be provided at you first application
to the NDLS and may be required to be provided with subsequent
applications such as renewals, add category, replacements and
change of personal details.
In the case of renewals, add category, replacements, change of
personal details - evidence of residency entitlement will only be
required  where:
The place of birth on your existing licence or permit is outside the
EU/EEA/Switzerland (Place of birth is shown at number 3 on your
driving licence/learner permit and is recorded on your driver record)
OR
If you hold a Public Service Card and the place of birth and
nationality are recorded as outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, then
you will be required to provide evidence of residency entitlement.
Please see List 4 on page 2 of guidance notes for list of documents
that can be used as evidence of residency entitlement.
Period of Licence:
You can apply for a licence up to three months before the expiry date
of the licence. If your licence has expired for ten years or more you
must start the application process afresh and take a driver theory
test,mandatory driving lessons and a driving test. A driving licence
for Group 1 vehicles (land tractors, cars and motorcycles) normally
lasts for a period of 10 years. There are some exceptions to this
rule – if you are over 70 years of age or have a medical condition,
a licence for three years or for a shorter period may be specified by
your Doctor. If you are over age 60 your licence will be granted up to
age 70, if you are aged over 67 but less than 70 years of age a three
year licence will be granted.
A driving licence for Group 2 vehicles (trucks, buses and articulated
vehicles) normally lasts for five years.
From 1 June 2015 the unexpired period of the previous driving
licence or learner permit will not be added to the validity period of
the new driving licence or learner permit
Exchanging a licence
You can exchange a driving licence from another EU country, from
the following EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and
from the following recognised states: Australia, Japan, New Zealand,
South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the Canadian
Provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland
and Labrador. Please refer to www.ndls.ie for any updates to the list
of recognised countries.
You must surrender the exchange licence with your application for
an Irish licence. If exchanging a Northern Ireland licence it must be
accompanied by the counterpart. If the counterpart of the licence
is not available, the lost Licence Declaration on page 2 must be
completed and signed by a member of An Garda Siochana. Where
you are exchanging an EU/EEA licence the licence can be expired
for up to ten years, while a licence from a recognised state can
be expired for no more than one year to be eligible for exchange.
Please note: A licence cannot be exchanged if it is suspended due to
outstanding fines.
If exchanging an expired or lost licence an original letter of
entitlement from the licensing authority will be required.
You must also provide details if the licence you want to exchange
was issued following an earlier exchange. Where a driving licence
has been issued on foot of an exchange from a country that Ireland
does not have an exchange driving licence policy with then Ireland
cannot exchange the driving licence.
If you are exchanging a licence which includes Group 2 vehicles (e.g.
trucks and buses), or if you suffer from a condition set out in part 5
of the application form that requires a driving licence medical or if
you are over 70 then you must include a medical report with your
application. Where the licence being exchanged is from a country
outside the EU/EEA you must include a driving licence eyesight
report with your application.
Applicants will have to prove identity under the 4 criteria set out
below in the Identity Validation section.
Original letters of entitlement may be required to accompany
exchange applications from certain recognised states. A letter of
entitlement will be required in certain situations eg: lost/stolen/
Page 3
www.ndls.ie
damaged licences, expired licence, no start dates on the licence.
Please refer to www.ndls.ie for further information.
Please Note: a certified translation of all letters of entitlements not
in English or Irish must be provided. Refer to www.ndls.ie for more
details. In some cases, applications to exchange a licence may take
2/3 months to process as we need to contact the original licensing
authority.
Driver Fitness and Medical Report Requirements:
Drivers must meet a certain standard of medical fitness in order to
drive safely. If your Doctor advises you to stop driving it is then an
offence to continue driving and it also affects your insurance cover.
A higher standard of medical fitness is needed for drivers of trucks or
buses.
For more information on medical standards see “Sláinte agus
Tiomáint” document on www.ndls.ie
• Where questions under Health and Fitness in part 5 (excluding
43(a) or 43(b)) of the application form are answered ‘Yes’ a driving
licence medical report form will be needed.
Please ensure that the medical report is fully completed and
presented at the NDLS centre within one month of completion by
your Doctor.
• On the basis of the information on your application form the
licensing authority can ask you to submit a medical report from
your Doctor. Your Doctor must be registered on the General
Register of Medical Practitioners in Ireland.
A driving licence eyesight report is not required where a medical
report is provided unless indicated by the Doctor. Driving licence
Medical report and Eyesight report forms can be downloaded from
www.ndls.ie or are available in your nearest NDLS centre.
The assistance of your doctor may be required to complete some of
the questions in Part 5. The purpose of the questions is to ensure
that you are aware of factors that affect your driving. In some cases
having a particular condition may mean that you will be granted a
licence for a shorter time period (e.g. for a one or three year period).
An eyesight report form is needed where you previously wore
glasses/lenses for driving and are no longer required to do so. It
is also needed in certain cases when exchanging a licence from
another country outside of the EU.
Identity Validation:
All customers of the National Driver licence service will be required
to present in person to an NDLS centre where their photo and
signature will be captured and their identity verified. All existing
Irish Licence/Permit holders will present with their driving licence/
learner permit and evidence of their PPSN.
All customers will be required to supply documents to verify their
identity. The identity verification process require the customer satisfy
4 requirements; 1. Photo ID, 2. Evidence of address, 3. Evidence of
PPSN and 4. Evidence of residency entitlement. Please note a Public
Service card in many circumstances will satisfy all four requirements.
Identity documents may be retained by the National Driver Licence
Service to enable the processing of the application. Should the
Verification Officer in the NDLS centre retain any documents a
receipt will be issued and the documents returned when the
application is processed. The documents which are accepted are
outlined on list 1-4. One item may serve to satisfy the requirements
of 2 lists for example, a correspondence from Revenue can act as
proof of address and proof of PPSN (if dated within 6 months).
Initial Basic Training (IBT) for Motorcyclists
Initial basic training (IBT) is a mandatory training course that
teaches basic riding skills to learner motorcyclists. When taking a
progressive route to obtain a driving licence in a larger bike then
an IBT cert is required with your application. For more detailed
information in relation to IBT please refer to www.rsa.ie
Certificate of Professional Competency (CPC) – trucks and buses
The minimum age for taking out a Learner Permit in Categories,
C,CE,D & DE depends on whether you take the CPC test for that
licence category (see table on page 4 of these notes). If you are
taking CPC you will have to take a CPC theory test and when taking
your driving test there will be a special CPC stage to the test. For
more detailed information in relation to CPC please refer to
www.rsa.ie
May 2018
 The Table below describes each vehicle in a licence category as well as the minimum age and other conditions that apply to your driving licence
for each vehicle. This will help you identify the permit that you want to apply for.
GROUP 1 GROUP 2
Licence GROUP
Licence 1 of
Description Description
Licence relating to licence
GROUP 2of
Description from 19 January 2013 Minimum age and other
Categories
Category Vehicle Category Vehicle conditions for holding a licence
Licence Description of Licence Description of
Category
M 50c.c. Vehicle Category
C1 Vehicle
Moped 1 Small Truck2– less than 7,500 kg
AM GROUP Mopeds. GROUP 16
7,500kg
45KmH

M
A1
Licence
50c.c.
125c.c.
45KmH
11KW
Moped
Motorcycle up
Description ofto 125cc
Light quadricycles.
C1
C
Licence
Small
Large Truck
Truck ––ofless
Description over than
7,500kg 7,500
3,500 kg kg
Category Vehicle CategorySmall Truck Vehicle
A1
A1 GROUP
125c.c.
11KW 1 up to 125cc
Motorcycle Motorcycles
C
EC1 with anGROUP
Large Truck2and
engine Trailer
capacity
– over 3,500
12,000kg
– no
kg not exceeding 125cc, 16
25KW more than 12,000 kg
A
M
Licence
0.16KW/Kg
50c.c.
45KmH
Motorcycle over 125cc
Moped
Description of
with aLicence
C1power ratingSmall
EC1
EC
not exceeding
Truck
Description
Largethan
Truck
–and
of
Trailer
less
7,500kg
12,000kg
than –
and Trailer
11kgkW and with a power
no
7,500
more 2 12,000 0.1 kg

Category
A
A1
25KW
GROUP
0.16KW/Kg 1
Vehicle
Motorcycle over 125cc to weight ratio not
Category
C
exceeding
GROUP
Vehicle kW/kg.
125c.c.
Motorcycle up to 125cc Large Truck –and
over 3,500 kg

Licence
B
11KW

3,500kg Vehicle up to
Description of3,500 kg.
Motor EC
D1tricycles with
Licence
a power
Large
Small Bus – max.rating
Truck
Description of
1+16
Trailer not exceeding 15 kW.
16 passengers
M
Category
50c.c.
1+8 Moped
Max 8 passengers
Vehicle C1
Category
7,500kg and
Small Truck –
Vehicle Trailer
less than –7,500
no kg
45KmH
D1 EC1 Largethan
12,000kg
more kg
than 8
Small Bus 12,000
– max. 16 passengers
B
A A2 25KW
0.16KW/Kg
3,500kg Vehicle up to 3,500 kg.
Motorcycle over
Motorcycles
D with a more
power
passengers rating
1+16
not exceeding 35 kW, 18
A1 1+8
125c.c.
Motorcycle up to125cc
Max 8 passengers 125cc C Large Truck – over 3,500 kg
M
EB 50c.c.
11KW
45KmH Moped
Car and Trailer withC1aEC
D power
ED1
to weight
Small Truck
Large
Small ratio
– less
Truck
Bus –
7,500kg
Bus and
more
and not
than 7,500
Trailer
than
Trailer – exceeding
8nokgmore 0.2 kW/kg and
passengers 12,000kg

EB
A1 125c.c. Car and Trailer
Motorcycle
Tractorsup up to
and 125cc not derived
C EC1
D1
from aLarge
vehicle
Small
than 12,000
Truck
more
Small
of
Truck and
– over
than
Bus 12,000
–
more
kg Trailer
12,000kg
3,500
max.
and 16
Trailerkg
– no
than double its power.
kg passengers
– no more
to Work
25KW
W
B
11KW
0.16KW/Kg Vehicle 3,500 kg. ED1 1+16 12,000kg
A 3,500kg
Motorcycle
Vehicles over 125cc ED Large Bus and
than 12,000 kg Trailer
1+8
Max 8 passengers
W
A Motorcycles.
25KW Tractors
GROUP 1 and Work
EC
EC1
D 12,000kg
Small
GROUP
Truck
Large and and
Truck
Bus Trailer
– more – no
Trailer
than
2 andkgTrailer
more than 12,000
8 20 (Progressive access)
ED Large Bus
passengers
A
EB 0.16KW/Kg

ECD1
Vehicles over 125cc
Motorcycle
Car and Trailer Small
Large Bus
Truck and–
andmax.
Trailer16 passengers
Trailer – no more
24 (Direct access)
Vehicle up to of3,500 kg.
B
Licence
Category
Motor tricycles.
ED1
Licence
3,500kg
1+8
Description
Max
Vehicle
Category 8 passengers
1+16
Description of
12,000kg
than 12,000 kg
Vehicle
21 Motor tricycles
GROUP 1upand
Tractors Workkg. D1D GROUPLarge
Small BusBus
–2max.– more than 8
16 passengers
W
B Vehicle to 3,500 ED 1+16
passengers
Large Bus and Trailer
B Vehicles (other than motorcycles, mopeds, work vehicles 17
3,500kg
Vehicles
Max
Car 8and
passengers
1+8
EB
M 50c.c.
Moped Trailer C1 Small Truck
– –more
Large BusBus ofless than
and than 87,500 kg
7,500kg
Licence 45KmH Description of Licence Small
Description Trailer1 – no more

Category Vehicle or land
D ED1
tractors) having a MAM not exceeding 3,500 kg,
Category
12,000kg
passengers
Vehicle
than 12,000 kg
EB
A1
W 125c.c.
11KW
Car and Trailer
Motorcycle
Tractors up Work
and to 125cc designed
C
ED1
ED
and constructed for the carriage of no more than
12,000kg
Large Bus
Small Truck – over
and 3,500
Trailer – nokgmore
M C1 thanLarge Bus and than
Trailer
50c.c.
Moped
Vehicles 7,500kg Small Truck
12,000 –
kgless 7,500 kg
8 passengers in addition to the driver and where the MAM1
45KmH
Small Truck and Trailer – no
W Tractors and Work EC1 12,000kg
more than
Bus 12,000 kg
weight
ED
of the trailer is not greater than 750 kg.The combined
25KW
A1 125c.c.
0.16KW/Kg
11KW Motorcycle
Vehicles up to 125cc C Large and
Truck Trailer
– over 3,500 kg
A Motorcycle over 125cc
EC
25KW MAMEC11
weight of themore drawing
than 12,000 kg vehicle and trailer must not be
Large Truck and Trailer – no
Small
12,000kg

greater
D1 than 3,500 kg. Quadricycles
16 passengers (other than those covered
0.16KW/Kg
A Motorcycle over 125cc
Vehicle up to 3,500 kg. EC Small
Large Bus – and
Truck
1+16 max.Trailer
B
by AM) also comeSmall
under thisthancategory.
3,500kg
1+8
Max 8 passengers
D1 D Large Bus
Bus –– max.
more 16 8
passengers
B Vehicle up to 3,500 kg. 1+16
3,500kg
1+8
Max 8 passengers passengers
EB BE
Car and Trailer Combination
D
ED1
of drawing
Large Bus – vehicles
more than 8 in category B and trailer
Small Bus and Trailer – no more
passengers 12,000kg
17 (You must hold a full B licence
EB Car and Trailer
Tractors and Work
where
ED1
the MAM1 of
thanthe
12,000trailer
Small Bus and Trailer –is
kg
12,000kg
no not
more greater than 3,500 kg. before getting a BE permit)
W ED than 12,000 kg
Large Bus and Trailer
Vehicles and Work
Tractors
W
W Vehicles WorkEDvehicles andLarge
land tractors.
Bus and Trailer Defined as any power driven 16
vehicle running on wheels or tracks having at least two axles,
the principal function of which lies in its tractive power, which is
GROUP 2 specially designed to pull, push carry or operate certain tools,
machines or trailers used in connection with agricultural or forestry
n of

Licence
Category
Description of
Vehicle
operations, and use of which for carrying persons or goods by road
or drawing, on the road, vehicles used for the carriage or goods is
C1 7,500kg GROUP only
Small Truck2– less than 7,500 kg a secondary function.

nupofto 125cc C
Licence
Category
C Vehicles (other than vehicles in categories D or D1, work vehicles
Large Truck –ofover 3,500 kg
Description
Vehicle
18 with CPC Stage 4
EC1 12,000kg or land tractors) having a MAM1 exceeding 3,500 kg, and which are
Small Truck and Trailer – no
more than 12,000 kg
21 without CPC
over 125cc C1 7,500kg designed and constructed for the carriage of not more than
Small Truck – less than 7,500 kg (You must hold a full B licence
EC Large Truck and Trailer
up to 125cc C
8 persons in addition to the driver. Motor vehicles in this category
Large Truck – over 3,500 kg
before taking out a C permit)
o 3,500 kg. D1 1+16
may be combined with a trailer where the MAM1 of the trailer is
Small Bus – max. 16 passengers
Small Truck and Trailer – no
engers EC1 12,000kg
not greater than 750 kg.
more
Largethan
Bus 12,000
– more kg
than 8
D
over 125cc passengers
EC
ailer
ED1
CE Large Truck and Trailer
Combination
Small Bus and Trailer – no
12,000kg
more of drawing vehicles in category C and trailer 18 with CPC Stage 4
GROUP
than 12,0002kg
where the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 750 kg. 21 without CPC
D1 Small Bus – max. 16 passengers
do Work
3,500 kg. 1+16

nengers
of
ED
Licence
Large Bus and Trailer
Description of
Large Bus – more than 8
(You must hold a full C licence
D

Category Vehicle
passengers before taking out a CE permit)
ailer GROUP 2
Small Bus and Trailer – no more
ED1 12,000kg

nd of
Work
C1
Licence
C1 7,500kg Small
than 12,000
Description of
Vehicles in category C having a MAM1 weight not exceeding
Truck –kgless than 7,500 kg
18 (You must hold a full B licence
up to 125cc
ED
Category
C Large Bus and Trailer
Vehicle
Large Truck – over 3,500 kg7,500 kg, having passenger accommodation for not more than before taking out a C1 permit)
Small
8no persons in addition to the driver. Motor vehicles in this category
C1
EC1 Small Truck
Truck and Trailer
– less than –7,500 kg
may be combined with a trailer where the MAM of the trailer is
7,500kg
12,000kg
GROUP 2
more than 12,000 kg 1
over 125cc
up to 125cc EC
C – over
Large Truck and 3,500 not
Trailer kg greater than 750 kg.
n of Licence Description of
Category
GROUP
Vehicle
2
Small Truck and Trailer – no
o 3,500 kg.
nover
of 125cc
EC1
D1
Licence
1+16 C1E Description
Small than
12,000kg
more Bus – max. 16
12,000
of
Combination of drawing vehicles in category C1 and trailer
kg passengers 18
engers C1
Category
EC
D
7,500kg Small Truck
Large
Vehicle
Large Bus – –and
Truck less
more than
Trailer where
than 87,500 kg the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 750 kg and (You must hold a full C1 licence
ailer
up to 125cc C
passengers
Large Truck – over 3,500
where
kg
the MAM1 of the drawing vehicle and trailer before taking out a C1E permit)
D1 Small Truck
Bus –
and Trailer – 7,500
no more
o 3,500 kg.
engers
C1
ED1 7,500kg Small
Small
1+16 12,000kg Bus –max.
than 12,000 kg
less 16
than
Small Truck and Trailer – no
combined
passengerskg
does not exceed 12,000 kg.
d Work EC1 Large Bus – more than 8 Combination of drawing vehicles in category B with trailer
12,000kg
up to 125cc D
C
ED more than
Large
Large Bus 12,000
Truck – over
and kg3,500 kg
Trailer
passengers
EC where the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 3,500 kg
over 125cc
ailer Large
Small Truck
Small Truck
Bus and
and
and Trailer
Trailer
Trailer – –nonomore
ED1
EC1
12,000kg
12,000kg
more than 12,000
than 12,000 kg kg and where the MAM1 of the drawing vehicle and trailer
over 125cc
ED Trailer combined does not exceed 12,000 kg.
d Work D1 Small Bus – max. 16 passengers
o 3,500 kg. EC 1+16
Large
Large Truck andTrailer
Bus and
engers
D Large Bus –2more than 8
GROUP
o 3,500 kg.
ailer
D1 D Small
1+16 Vehicles designed and constructed for the carriage of more than
Bus – max. 16 passengers
passengers 21 with CPC Stage 4
nengers
of
Licence
ED1
D
Small Bus and
Description
Large
than
Bus – more
12,000kg
12,000 kg
than 8 8 passengers in addition to the driver and where the MAM of the
ofTrailer – no more 1
24 without CPC
Category Vehicle
diler
Work
ED
passengers
GROUP 2 Trailer – notrailer is not greater than 750 kg. (You must hold a full B licence
Large Bus
Small Bus and
and Trailer more
ED1 12,000kg
before taking out a D )
C1 Small12,000
than Truck kg
– less than 7,500 kg
7,500kg

n Work
d of Licence Description of
ED
up to 125cc DE Large
Category
C Bus and Trailer
Large Truck – over 3,500 Combination
Vehicle kg of drawing vehicles in category D and trailer 21 with CPC Stage 4
C1
EC1
Small
Small Truck
Truck and Trailer
– less
7,500kg
12,000kg
where
than –7,500
no kg the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 750 kg. 24 without CPC
over 125cc
more than 12,000 kg
(You must hold a full D licence
up to 125cc EC
C – over
Large Truck and 3,500 kg
Trailer before taking out a DE permit)
Small Truck and Trailer – no
EC1
D1 Small than
Bus – max. 16
kg passengers
12,000kg
o 3,500 kg.
over 125cc
engers
D1
1+16 more 12,000
Vehicles in category D designed and constructed for the carriage 21
EC
D Bus – and
Large Truck
passengers
moreTrailer
than 8 of not more than 16 persons in addition to the driver with a ( You must hold a full B licence
ailer
D1
ED1
and
Small Bus – Trailer
max.
maximum
– no more
16 passengers
length not exceeding 8 metres. Motor vehicles in this before taking out a D1 permit)
o 3,500 kg.
category may be combined with a trailer where the MAM1 of the
1+16 12,000kg
than 12,000 kg
engers
d Work Large Bus – more than 8
D
ED Large Bus and Trailer
passengers trailer is not greater than 750 kg.
ailer Small Bus and Trailer – no more
ED1
D1E than 12,000 kg
12,000kg
Combination of drawing vehicles in category D1 and trailer 21
d Work
ED Large Bus and Trailer where the MAM1 of the trailer is greater than 750 kg. (You must hold a full D1 licence
before taking out a D1E permit)

MAM1 Maximum Authorised Mass

*This is not a legal definition of licence categories. For more on this and other general licensing information please check our website www.rsa.ie.
1. Maximum Authorised Mass- Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM). This is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load it can carry in accordance
with the manufacturer’s design specifications. It is also known as Design Gross Vehicle Weight (DGVW).
In the case of permits and licences for categories C, CE, D and DE (trucks and buses) the minimum age at which you can qualify depends on whether you are
taking the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) test for that licence category. If you are taking CPC you will have to take a CPC theory test and when
taking your driving test there will be a special CPC stage to the test. For more information on CPC please see our website www.rsa.ie/cpc. For motorcycle
permits in category A, progressive access to a permit at age 20 can only be granted if the rider has already held a driving licence in category A2 for two years.
Page 4
May 2018 www.ndls.ie