Get a learner permit in Ireland

To learn to drive a car you need to pass the theory test, get an eyesight report and apply to the NDLS. This guide covers every step, the fees, the 12 lessons you must take and the new rules from 1 November 2026.

First you pass the driver theory test at theorytest.ie. Then you apply to the NDLS (National Driver Licence Service) online or at a centre, with an eyesight report. The permit costs €45.

New from 1 November 2026: you can no longer keep renewing your permit just by applying for a test. To get a third or fourth permit, you must have sat a driving test in the previous two years.

Who this is for

• You must be at least 17 for a car (category B). It is 16 for a moped.
• You must normally live in Ireland, which means at least 185 days a year.
• From 1 November 2026 you must be at least 15 to sit the theory test.
• You cannot take driving lessons on public roads without a valid learner permit.

What you need

• A pass in the car theory test, taken in the last 2 years
• An eyesight report form, completed by a registered optometrist or doctor in the last month
• A medical report form, dated in the last month, if you have a condition that needs one
• To apply online: a Public Services Card (PSC) and a verified MyGovID
• To apply in person: photo ID and proof of your PPSN (Personal Public Service Number)
• Proof of address from the last 6 months (online only if it differs from your PSC address)
• Proof you normally live here, if you were born outside and are not a citizen of the EU, EEA, Switzerland or UK
• A debit or credit card for the €45 fee

Step by step

1. Book the car theory test at theorytest.ie by choosing Driver Theory Test: Car or Bike. It costs €45.
2. Bring acceptable photo ID on the day. You answer 40 questions in 45 minutes and need 35 right to pass.
3. Get your eyesight report filled in by a registered optometrist or doctor. Apply within one month of the date on it.
4. Apply online at ndls.ie using your verified MyGovID, or book an appointment at one of 34 NDLS centres. There are no walk-ins.
5. Pay the €45 fee. At a centre you can also use Google Pay, Apple Pay or a Payzone voucher.
6. When your permit arrives, find an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) on the RSA register) and start your 12 EDT lessons.
7. Put L plates on the front and back of any car you drive, and always have a qualified driver with you.

Your 12 lessons (EDT)

Essential Driver Training (EDT) is 12 one-hour lessons with an ADI. The RSA (Road Safety Authority) suggests about two weeks between lessons, over roughly six months. Your instructor records each lesson in your logbook and on the MyEDT portal.

There is no set price. Instructors set their own fees, so compare a few. If you hold a full car licence from a country with no licence exchange deal with Ireland, you may only need 6 lessons.

Rules while you are learning

• Always drive with an ADI or someone who has held a full car licence for more than 2 years.
• Display L plates at all times.
• Do not drive on motorways or tow a trailer.
• Do not carry passengers for payment.
• Driving alone means a €160 fine and 2 penalty points, and the car can be seized. An owner who lets you drive alone can be fined up to €1,000.

How much it costs and how long it takes

Common mistakes

• Letting your theory test pass go over 2 years old. You then have to sit and pay for it again.
• Using an eyesight report more than one month old.
• Booking the theory test on an unofficial website. The RSA warns these are fraudulent. Use theorytest.ie only.
• Missing or cancelling your theory test within 5 days, which means losing the fee.
• Thinking you can renew forever. From 1 November 2026, a cancelled test does not count as sitting one.

Related guides

• How to book your driving test
• How to get a verified MyGovID
• How to get a Public Services Card
• How to get a PPS number