05/11/2025
Dear ADI
We are writing to inform you of important upcoming changes to the learner permit system which were announced by the Minister for Transport and will take effect from 1 November 2026.
These new rules are designed to help learner drivers progress more effectively from a learner permit to a full driving licence, while ensuring that everyone learning to drive does so safely, with appropriate training and up-to-date skills.
What’s Changing
From 1 November 2026, new conditions will apply to learner drivers applying for their third or subsequent learner permit across vehicle categories B (car), W (tractor/work vehicle), A, A1, A2 (motorcycles) and AM (mopeds):
To obtain a third or fourth learner permit, a person must have taken a driving test in that category within the previous two years.
The fourth learner permit will be valid for one year only.
After seven years (four permits or more), a learner will no longer be able to renew and will instead need to restart the learning-to-drive process — beginning with the driver theory test, learner permit, and the required12 EDT sessions with an RSA Approved Driving Instructor.
If a learner permit has expired for two years or more, the holder must also restart the process.
There will no longer be exemptions from taking a driving test for medical reasons, and learners who previously received reduced Essential Driver Training (REDT) sessions (for example, due to holding a foreign licence) will not be able to avail of that exemption again.
Why the Change Is Being Made
The purpose of these changes is to ensure that learner permits are used for their intended purpose — for example, learning to drive under supervision, so that the learner driver can progress to a full driving licence, rather than being used indefinitely for general driving.
Kind regards
