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Does anyone know if a person with who currently holds a US drivers license with years of experience can drive a car without a licensed driver in the car while going through the learning process. - @edwingavin

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

I can't find a definitive answer to your question.  All I can do is refer you to the Irish Government National Driver Licence Service; this will take you straight to the Contact Us section of their website. My advice is that you contact them and ask your question.

I hope this helps.

Cynic

Expat Team

Hello everyone,

Welcome @Edwingavin

Please note that this new thread has been created on the Ireland forum for better visibility.

All the best

Bhavna

@edwingavin

Do you mean you have a provisional license from America?

No I have regular drivers license issued by the state of Pennsylvania. I have had it since 1980. Any help with this would be very much appreciated.

No I have regular drivers license issued by the state of Pennsylvania. I have had it since 1980. Any help with this would be very much appreciated. - @edwingavin

As a visitor to Ireland you can drive on a driving licence from any state outside the EU/EEA for up to one year provided the driving licence is current and valid. However, on taking up 'normal residence' in Ireland you must either exchange your driving licence or apply for a driving licence in Ireland.

The problem is I intend to take up residence as soon as I come to Ireland. Which I can do as an Irish citizen. But then it seems I would have to turn my American license in to become a leaner in Ireland and it seems that process takes weeks if not months and I would only be able to drive with someone in the car with a valid license. I don't know anybody in Ireland with a license so I couldn't drive. Which seems crazy because as the same person only as a visitor I could drive for a year. Further seems crazy because I have driven in Ireland as a tourist very extensively for a month at a time several times. Hard to understand what a very experienced driver who knows .ore about driving in Ireland than most all of the people renting cars as they get off a plane in Dublin do. I wondering if there are any exceptions to experienced drivers driving as they go through the testing process. In fact if I wanted to go to Europe while I'm going through the testing process I would only be able to show a learners license from Ireland. Even though at that time my American license would not yet be expired. Or if I had an emergency and had to go back to America I couldn't even drive there. It's like my world wide driving privileges would be taken away.Must be many people in this position. How do they work around it????

@edwingavin

I guess you could keep hold of your American licence for the first year (don't give it up) and immediately learn to drive, take the test and get an Irish driving license.

You have to take up residence inorder to be eligible for medical care and to buy Irish insurance. And once you take up residence you have to turn your license in and even getting a date for a test takes a considerable amount of time. That's what I'll do if I have to but it all seems so strange to me That I have driven for months at a time in Ireland as a tourist and now to become a resident it is as if I am a teenager who has never driven a car anywhere before. Just looking for someone who has gone through the process to tell me I have the right understand or there is another way.

@edwingavin

Sadly that's the law of the land and it's like that across the world as crazy as it is. At least you only have to have 6 lessons instead of 12.

But I would get in contact with them through the line Cynic gave you.

Good luck.