Over 71,000 drivers change UK licenses to Irish due to Brexit

LONDON (CU)_Brexit has caused for more than 71,000 drivers to transfer their UK driving licenses to the Irish version.

As believed by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), it has by-passed its “peak” with the level of persons changing their licenses

According to Declan Naughton, Director of Driver Testing and Licensing at the RSA, there is a possibility that it could well be more than a period of 20 weeks that the essential drivers would have to wait before they do the test. Director of Driver Testing and Licensing at the RSA Declan Naughton says essential workers could be waiting more than 20 weeks for a test.

UK license holders

Mr Naughton said: “There was a number going around in 2019 that there was probably around 70,000 to 80,000 UK and Northern Ireland license holders resident here, right now we’ve exchanged just over 71,000 and the numbers are falling in terms of intake, that would suggest we have pretty much hit peak exchange.”

In a recent announcement, it was stated that driving licenses which are to expire will be automatically extended sighting the reason as being the ongoing lockdown.

For those of whose licenses are due to expire between 1^st march and end May will be given a new date in July, while the licenses that are due to expire between June and end August will be provided with a date of 30^th September.

The Government say the change has been notified to Gardaí, and expiry dates can be checked on the National Driver License Service (NDLS) website.

The Government has informed that the change has been notified to Gardaí and the new dates can be verified on the National Driver License Service (DLS) website.  

Junior Transport Minister Hildegarde Naughton has informed that letters of notification will be sent out to of those whose licenses are up for renewal.

“You won’t be reissued a new license on foot of that extension but the Road Safety Authority (RSA) will automatically update the driver records to show your new expiry date and then people who are entitled to this extension will receive a letter explaining that the expiry date of their license has been extended.”