February 24, 2021
Cavan– Monaghan TD and Fine Gael Minister Heather Humphreys has welcomed today’s announcement that there will be a further extension to the expiry dates of driving licences.
The move which has been announced by Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton comes as the EU and national Governments take steps in response to the disruption caused by Covid-19 to driver licensing services across the EU.
The extension will apply to different groups of licence holders including those who benefited from extensions in 2020.
Drivers who are affected by the extension are encouraged to check the new expiry date of their driving licence by using the expiry date calculator on www.ndls.ie. Enter the expiry date printed on your driving licence into the calculator and it will tell you the new expiry date.
Commenting on the extension to driving licences Minister Heather Humphreys said that “This extension to driving licences will address the concerns that drivers in both Cavan and Monaghan have in renewing their licence. I would strongly encourage drivers to check the new expiry date of their driving licence by using the expiry date calculator on www.ndls.ie.”
Meanwhile, Minister Hildegarde Naughton said, "Anyone who receives the licence extension will not be sent out a new licence. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) which manages the NDLS will automatically update driver records to show the new expiry date. A letter will then be sent to every customer who is entitled to the extension, explaining that the expiry date of their licence is being extended. The RSA has also told Insurance Ireland and An Garda Síochána about the new expiry date of driving licences.”
The change will apply as follows -
Drivers who have been granted an extension and who have already booked an appointment at an NDLS centre, to renew their licence, are being asked to cancel the appointment, to make it available for others who need it.
National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centres remain open to essential workers.
Anyone who posted an application form to renew their licence is being advised that the NDLS may not be able to process their application. This will happen if the driver record has been updated and is already showing the new expiry date of your driving licence. Any original supporting documents, submitted with an application form, will be returned. Refunds will be made where applicable (licence renewal for over 70s is free).
Any driver can renew a driving licence within three months of the new expiry date. When your driving licence is due for renewal, you can renew it online on www.ndls.ie. To renew it online, you must have a Public Services Card (PSC) and a verified MyGovID account. You will get more information about a PSC at www.mywelfare.ieand about a verified MyGovID account at www.mygovid.ie.
For further information on extension of driving licences, please visit the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) www.ndls.ie or the Road Safety Authority (RSA) www.rsa.ie