Learner Drivers Face New Four-Year Test Deadline Under Road Safety Legislation

Learner drivers across Ireland will no longer be able to repeatedly renew their permits without sitting a practical driving test, following new regulations signed today by Minister of State for Road Safety Seán Canney. The changes, which come into effect from 1st November 2026, aim to end the practice of indefinite permit renewals and encourage learners to become fully qualified drivers.

Under the new regulations, learner drivers who have held permits in categories A, A1, A2, AM, B or W for four years will be required to take a practical driving test before they can renew. Those who have held learner permits for seven years will need to restart the entire learning process from the beginning.

The move addresses a significant issue within Ireland's driving system. Data from the Road Safety Authority reveals that nearly one in five holders of category B (car) learner permits have renewed their licences three or more times. Remarkably, almost 60% of this group, approximately 38,000 people, have yet to sit a driving test.

Currently, learners can renew their permits multiple times simply by booking or scheduling a driving test, without actually having to sit it. The new regulations close this loophole.

For category B learners who reach the seven-year threshold, restarting the process means taking a theory test, obtaining a new learner permit, completing 12 Essential Driver Training lessons, and sitting a practical test. It's a sobering prospect that should focus minds on those who've been putting off the test while happily navigating Cork's N40 and beyond with their L-plates.

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said:

"Road safety is a priority for this Government, and ensuring that all drivers are properly trained and qualified is essential to achieving this goal. The purpose of these regulations is to encourage learners to become fully qualified drivers. It is vital that learner drivers complete the learning process, and are discouraged from holding learner permits without ever taking a driving test."

He added that the regulations form part of a range of actions under the Road Safety Strategy, which aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030, working towards the ultimate goal of Vision Zero (no road deaths or serious injuries) by 2050.

Minister of State Séan Canney said:

"These regulations are an important development in advancing road safety and will fulfil one of the key actions of Phase 2 of the Road Safety Strategy Action Plan, to end the practice whereby learner drivers can roll over learner permits without the requirement to sit a test."

He emphasised that a learner permit is not a driving licence, adding:

"It permits people to drive on public roads when accompanied by a qualified driver, to gain the experience necessary to drive safely. Until a learner can meet the required standard and pass a driving test, they cannot be judged safe to drive unaccompanied on public roads."

The regulations amend the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations (S.I. 537 of 2006). An approach to implementing the legislation has been agreed with the Road Safety Authority, and a detailed plan is being finalised.

The RSA, which has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, publishes detailed monthly information on the driver testing service on the CSO website, including waiting times and test centre capacity.

With just under a year before the regulations take effect, learner drivers who've been putting off that test may want to start practising their three-point turns sooner rather than later.