Agreement signed to allow continuous exchange of UK driving licenses for people living in Ireland

TRANSPORTATION MINISTER Eamon Ryan has signed an agreement with the UK to allow people with a UK driving license but living in Ireland to still be able to exchange for an Irish license after tonight.

At 11pm, the Brexit transition period ends and the UK will leave the single market and the customs union.

After this period, a number of changes will take effect, including the fact that the Irish authorities no longer legally recognize British driver’s licenses used by those who live in the state.

In October, between 10,000 and 17,000 people were expected to apply at the last minute to exchange their British driving license for an Irish one.

Since 2018, the National Driver’s License Service (NDLS) said around 53,000 UK licenses have been swapped for the Irish version.

The mechanism that has allowed the recognition and exchange of UK licenses for an Irish license expires tonight.

Tonight Eamon Ryan confirmed that he has signed an agreement with the UK to allow this exchange to continue.

“This arrangement will be of particular benefit to anyone planning to live in Ireland as it will allow them to exchange their UK license for an Irish driver’s license,” the Department for Transport said in a statement.

It will also allow anyone who has not redeemed their UK license in time, before the 11pm deadline on December 31st, to redeem it under this new agreement.

However, anyone living in Ireland who has not yet redeemed their UK license will no longer have a valid license to drive here after tonight’s deadline.

The UK license will only be valid for exchange purposes and the department said “it is imperative that it be redeemed immediately.”

The change only applies to UK licensees living in the Republic of Ireland, not people living in Northern Ireland or people visiting or driving in the state.

Individuals with an Irish driver’s license residing in the UK do not need to take any action as the UK accepts any driver’s license from an EU member state as valid.

Individuals with a UK license currently living in Ireland or who intend to move here can exchange for an Irish license by visiting ndls.ie.

– With report by Gráinne Ní Aodha.