Explainer · for ADIs in Ireland · from 1 November 2026

The new learner permit rules, and what they mean for your diary.

From 1 November 2026 a learner on a second permit or later must have sat a driving test in the previous two years to get another one. There is no fifth permit. A permit expired for two years is dead. And a learner who has to start again does the theory test, the six-month wait and all twelve EDT lessons again — reduced EDT or not. Here is the whole thing, and what it does to an instructor's year.

6 min readRSA notice, read 15 Oct 2026

The rules What it means for you

From the RSA's own notice, read on 15 October 2026. The RSA's page is the authority; check it before you advise a learner.

What changes on 1 November 2026

The rules, in one place.

A third or fourth permit needs a recent test. You can no longer get one just by applying for a driving test. To be eligible, the learner must have taken a driving test within the previous two years.
There is no fifth permit. After the fourth, the learner starts the learning-to-drive process from the beginning. The life of the fourth permit is the time they have to pass.
No medical exemption from the test when renewing a learner permit.
A permit expired for two years or more can't be renewed. The learner starts again. This one applies to every learner-permit category.
No exceptions. A test cancelled by the RSA, missed through illness, or not conducted because of a documentation problem does not count as a test taken. The RSA says it has no discretion under the law.

It applies to cars (B), work vehicles (W) and motorcycles and mopeds (A, A1, A2, AM). A learner who already holds a full licence in a category — an automatic licence, say — is not affected in that category.

The ladder

Permit by permit.

1stNothing changes. A learner on a first permit can get a second without sitting a test, even if it expires after 1 November. The six-month wait and the twelve EDT lessons apply as they always have.

2ndThe one to watch. If it expires after 1 November 2026, the learner must have sat a test before they can get a third. If they haven't and it expires, they stop driving and start again.

3rdAfter four years on permits. Only with a test in the previous two years. Valid two years.

4thAfter six years on permits. Only with a test in the previous two years. Valid one year. It is the last one: after seven years or four permits, no renewal.

RestartTheory test. New first permit. Six months before a test can be booked. All twelve EDT lessons — the RSA says a learner who previously qualified for reduced EDT does all twelve the second time. An in-date IBT certificate does not carry over either.

For instructors

What it means for your diary.

A pre-test rush before and after November

Every learner on a second permit expiring after 1 November now has a hard reason to sit the test inside the permit's life. Expect more pre-test lessons, more mock tests and more "can you get me ready by March" from people who were drifting. Test centre waiting times decide how early that starts; the RSA's advice to learners is to check now.

A second wave of full-EDT learners

Anyone who lets a second or later permit lapse does the twelve sessions again from module one — including learners you taught before. Treat them as new on the RSA side: a new permit number, a new logbook, twelve new logs.

The test date is now the diary's anchor

"Taken a test" means a test conducted. A date lost to weather, illness or a missing document does not count, and there is no appeal. Book early, remind hard, and keep the week before a test clear for the learner.

What to do this month

Four things to do now.

Go through your learner list.For each one: which permit are they on, and when does it expire? A learner on a second permit expiring after 1 November, with no test in the last two years, is the one to ring this week.

Ask every new learner the same two questions.Permit number and expiry date, at the first lesson. Write it on their record. It decides whether you are teaching toward a test date or toward a restart.

Push the test application forward.The test must be sat inside the permit's life, and waiting lists are not under anyone's control. A learner who is ready in month eighteen of a two-year permit is late.

Send one message, now.Most learners have not read the notice. The text below is written to be sent as it is; change the bracketed parts.

Ready to send

The message to send your learners.

WhatsApp · to every learner on a second permit or later

Hi [name] — a heads-up on a rule change from the RSA. From 1 November 2026 you can only get another learner permit if you've sat a driving test in the previous two years, and there's no fifth permit at all. If your current permit runs out without a test, you'd have to start again: theory test, a new first permit, the six-month wait and all 12 EDT lessons.

Can you check the expiry date on your permit and send it to me? If it's a second permit or later, let's get your test applied for now and plan the lessons back from the date.

Questions instructors ask

Good to know.

My learner is on a first permit that expires in December. Do they need a test first?

No. A first permit renews to a second without a test. The test requirement starts when they want a third.

They applied for a test before 1 November but have no date yet. Are they safe?

No. The RSA says the date of application makes no difference: to renew a second or third permit after 1 November the learner must have taken a test in the previous two years.

They failed the test. Does that count?

Yes. A test taken and failed is a test taken. They can retake it as often as needed while the permit is valid, up to the seven-year limit.

They did reduced EDT the first time. If they restart, is it six lessons?

No. The RSA says a restart means all twelve EDT sessions, whatever the learner qualified for before.

Does a learner who restarts have to wait six months again?

Yes. The new permit is treated as a first permit: six months and the EDT before a test can be applied for.

Where does Pamio come in?

Pamio tracks each learner's EDT progress and logs each lesson with the RSA from your phone, so you can see at a glance who has finished the twelve and who is heading for a test. Pam reminds learners the day before each lesson and asks for a reply. Nothing on this page needs it — the rules are the RSA's, and the first thing to do is read your learner list.

Source: the RSA's notice Multiple learner permits (rsa.ie › Learner drivers › Learner permit), read on 15 October 2026. The RSA's page is the authority on the rules; if anything here and there differ, the RSA's page is right. A learner with a question about their own permit can contact the NDLS through its webform or on 0818 700 800.