Extension alleviates driving licence stress
A FURTHER extension to the expiry dates of driving licences to combat the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has been welcomed by local TD John Paul Phelan, who said the issue has become a major cause of concern, particularly for some older licence-holders who feared potential prosecution.
The move 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. They can simply enter the expiry date printed on their driving licence into the calculator and it will tell them the new expiry date.
‘ This extension to driving licences will address the concerns that drivers have in renewing their licence,’ said Deputy Phelan.
‘I would strongly encourage drivers to check the new expiry date of their driving licence by using the expiry date calculator.
‘I’ve been contacted by several older constituents who were worried about being stopped at checkpoints as the expiry date for their licenses neared. It was causing them a lot of anxiety and stress. 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.
‘ There is therefore no need for anyone to be worried, to fear prosecution.’
The change will apply as follows: any licence holder, who has not already renewed, and whose licence expired between March 1 and May 31.
They will have a new expiry date of July 1, 2021.
Any licence holder, who has not already renewed, and whose licence expired between June 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020, will have 13 months (which includes the previous extension) added to their expiry date. By way of example a licence which expired on August 31, 2020 will have a new expiry date of September 30, 2021.
Any licence holder, who has not already renewed and whose licence expiry date is between September 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, will have an extra ten months added to their expiry date. By way of example a licence which expires on June 30, 2021, will have a new expiry date of April 30, 2022.
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).
I’VE BEEN CONTACTED BY SEVERAL CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE WORRIED ABOUT BEING STOPPED AT CHECKPOINTS AS THE EXPIRY DATE NEARED