The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has announced a raft of measures to help motorist cope with the COVID-19 lockdown. The latest moves include an extension to the length of NCT certificates and drivers' licences.
NCTs extended by four months
As of this week, new measures include the extension, by four months, of any NCT certificate that was due for renewal by March 28th. Commercial vehicle tests due by the same date have been extended for three months.
Extensions for licences and learner permits
Anyone who has a drivers' licence that was due to expire between 1st of March 2020 and the 30th of June 2020 will be given a four-month extension. Learners' permits due for expiry in the same period will be extended by four months.
Any driver theory test certificates which would have expired between the 1st of March and the 30th of June will also be extended by four months. The same goes for certificates of competency - issued when someone passes their test but before they receive their full licence.
The same four-month extension is being granted to Initial Basic Training certificates for motorcycle learners, which were due to expire between the 1st of March and the 30th of June.
You will still need to renew your motor tax, as normal, but you won't need a current Certificate of Roadworthiness (CRW) to do so.
'Stressful times for all of us'
Speaking from his home today, Minister for Transport Shane Ross said: "When I announced the suspension of a number of RSA services on 28 March, I said that I had asked my officials and the RSA to work on measures to extend the validity of certain documents which people would not be able to renew during the suspension period. I am happy to be able to announce today that I have signed a number of regulations to bring this into effect. If you have a driving licence or learner permit which has an expiry date from 1 March to 30 June inclusive, it will be valid for a further four months. This means, for example that if your driving licence was due to expire on 20 April, it will now expire on 20 August. Likewise, if you have an NCT due date on 20 April, it too will now become 20 August.
"As people will understand, because driving licence offices and NCT facilities are closed there will be no issuing of new documents - you will not be receiving a new driving licence with the new expiry date on it, nor will you be receiving a new NCT. However, the Garda Síochána are aware of the changes and will accept your current licence or disc as being valid for the new period. Similarly, if you have an out of date CRW or commercial motor tax disc, the Garda Síochána are aware of the issue and a pragmatic approach will be taken at this time, given that it is not possible to have these vehicle tests done or, in some cases, to have commercial motor tax renewed.
"I am pleased to see that Insurance Ireland have said that their members will treat licences and NCTs covered by these measures as valid for the extended period, and I would like to thank them for acting in the public interest at this time.
"These are stressful times for all of us, and I would like therefore to reassure those who have been concerned about how to renew their licence or NCT during this period that they have not been forgotten, and that their documents will continue to be recognised with the extended period of validity.
"Finally, I would like to reiterate that people should confine themselves to strictly necessary journeys only - it is essential that we keep up the pressure to slow the spread of COVID-19 by observing the HSE guidelines and the restrictions introduced by the Government on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer. If you do have to travel, please remember to drive safely and observe the rules of the road. While we all focus on defeating the virus, we should not lose sight of the need to take care of ourselves and other road users when driving."