Driving Licences
Licence Categories
- M - Moped up to 50cc (45KmH)
- A1 - Motorcycle up to 125cc (11kW)
- A "restricted" - Motorcycle over 125cc up to 350cc (25kW)
- A - Motorcycle over 125cc
- B - Vehicle up to 3,500kg design gross vehicle weight - max. 8 passengers
- EB - Car and Trailer
- W - Tractors and Work vehicles
- C1 - Small truck less than 7,500kg DGVW
- C - Large truck over 3,500kg DGVW
- EC1 - Small truck and trailer combined weight no more than 12,000kg dgvw
- EC - Large truck and trailer
- D1 - Small bus max. 16 passengers
- D - Large bus more than 8 passengers
- ED1 - Small bus and trailer combined weight no more than 12,000kg dgvw
- ED - Large Bus and trailer
NOTE: Applicant must have a Louth Address to obtain a driving licence/learners permit in Louth and all licences/permits must be posted out to the applicant even if they are handed in over the public counter. You can not apply for a Driving Licence/learners permit online (as there is a sticker part on the form for the persons signature that is then removed & attached to the permit/licence once issued).
You may apply for a first learners permit for vehicles in Category: -
- A1, A, B, M or W without any previous driving experience on completion of a Driver Theory Test in the relevant categories.
- C1, C, D, D1 after they have been granted a full driving licence for category B and on completion of a Driver Theory Test in the relevant categories
- EB, EC1, EC, ED, ED1 after they have been granted a driving licence for the appropriate drawing vehicle e.g. you must hold a driving licence for category C in order to apply for EC and on completion of a Driver Theory Test in the relevant categories.
In order to get
- A1 you must have Theory Test + eyesight
- A you must have Theory Test + eyesight
- B you must have Theory Test + eyesight
- M you must have Theory Test + eyesight
- W you must have Theory Test + eyesight
- C1 you must hold full B, Theory Test + Medical
- C you must hold full B, Theory Test + Medical
- D you must hold full B, Theory Test + Medical
- D1 you must hold full B, Theory Test + Medical
- EC1, you must hold full C1+ Theory Test + Medical
- EC, you must hold full C + Theory Test + Medical
- EB, you must hold full B + Theory Test + eyesight
- ED, you must hold full D, Theory Test, Medical (no test is required if already hold full D & EC)
- ED1, you must hold full D1, Theory test, Medical (no test is required if already hold full Cat D1 & Cat EC1)
Since 21st October 2006 there are four sets of theory test
- Category A,M,
- Category B,W
- Category C – covers C, C1, EC, EC1
- Category D – covers D, D1, ED, ED1
If an applicant has a full C, C1 issued before 25/4/2001, they will need to submit a theory test and a cert of competency to add any further C Categories to a full licence.
A restricted
A = this category is restricted to 25Kw (up to 350cc) – restriction also continues for first two years after taking out a full licence in Category A. Please note if an applicant took out a provisional licence before 15/11/1999 & kept the licence renewed since in category A, when converting to a full – this restriction does not apply.
The following age restrictions apply to the different licence categories
- Must be 16yrs: A1, M, W
- Must be 17yrs: B, EB
- Must be 18yrs: A ,C1, C, EC1, EC
- Must be 21yrs: D1, D, ED1, ED