Driving Licences

Applications for driving licences may be submitted by post to Driver Licences Section, Galway County Council, Prospect Hill, Galway, or may be submitted at the public counter during opening hours - a receipt will be given if the application is submitted in person. For postal applications, you can send the fee as a Bank Draft, cheque, Postal or Money Order - please do not send cash via post. For applications in person at our office, you can pay the fee as above or via cash or by completing a Credit Card Authorisation Form.

All applications are dealt with in order of date of receipt, therefore, the timeframe for processing your licence will vary according to the number of licences on hand at any given time. You can get an update on the date being dealt with by ringing the direct telephone number for Driving Licences at 091 509305. The only circumstances in which applications are dealt with other than in date order is where the Driving Licence is required urgently, e.g. for your driving test or travel abroad - in these cases, written proof is required in the form of the test letter or travel arrangements.

If your Licence is lost, destroyed or stolen, you can apply for a replacement - please see the section on Duplicate Licences for more detail.

If your circumstances change, e.g. change of address, change of name on marriage, etc., and you want to update your licence, you can apply for an updated licence free of charge - please see the section on Free in Lieu Licences for more detail.

Licence Categories

Motor vehicles in Ireland are divided into different categories for driver licensing purposes – there are 14 categories in total, ranging from motorcycles to agricultural vehicles. Each category of vehicle has a prescribed minimum age for the driver. Whether you have a full driving licence or a learner permit, you are only entitled to drive the category of vehicle for which the licence or permit has been issued.

Category	Minimum Age	Vehicle
A1	16	Motorcycles with an engine size of 51-125cc and/or a speed capability of over 45km/h, and with a power rating not exceeding 11 kW, and with or without sidecar
A	18	Motorcycles with or without sidecar
B	17	Vehicles with passenger accommodation for not more than 8 persons and with a design g.v.w. not exceeding 3,500 kg and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is not greater than 750kg
C1 *	18	Vehicles with passenger accommodation for not more than 8 persons with a design g.v.w. over 3,500 kg but not over 7,500 kg and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is not greater than 750kg
C *	18	Vehicles with passenger accommodation for not more than 8 persons and with a design g.v.w. over 3,500kg and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is not greater than 750kg
D1 *	21	Vehicles with passenger accommodation for more than 8 persons but not more than 16 persons and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is not greater than 750kg
D*	21	Vehicles with passenger accommodation for more than 8 persons and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is not greater than 750kg
EB	17	Vehicles in category B with a trailer attached and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is greater than 750kg
EC1 *	18	Vehicles in category C1 with a trailer attached - the combination must not exceed 12,000 kg and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is greater than 750kg
EC *	18	Vehicles in category C with a trailer attached and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is greater than 750kg
ED1 *	21	Vehicles in category DI with a trailer attached - the combination must not exceed 12,000 kg and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is greater than 750kg
ED *	21	Vehicles in category D with a trailer attached and where the design g.v.w. of the trailer is greater than 750kg
M	16	Two-wheeled vehicles with an engine size not exceeding 50 cc and/or a speed capability not more than 45 km/h
W	16	Work vehicles and land tractors, with or without a trailer attached

* refers to Higher Category of Vehicle