The Road Safety Authority has confirmed that a a person who held a full driving licence for a car before 13 November 1989 and who did not then avail of the car and trailer licence option may now do so.
To establish whether a driver is entitled to apply for the car and trailer licence the Road Safety Authority (RSA) must be satisfied that the driver held the car licence before 13 November 1989 and this initial assessment is being carried
out by the RSA.
You must have been born before 13 November 1972 and have held a full driving licence for a car before 13 November 1989
in order to apply.
A person who believes that s/he is now entitled to the car and trailer licence should now take the following steps-
1. Complete an Initial Assessment Form.
2. Once completed, you can return the form to the Road Safety
Authority, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
3. The RSA will carry out its assessment and advise you of the outcome.
4. If the initial assessment is positive you must then formally apply for
the licence.
The announcement has been welcomed by leading Driiving School, the Swilly Group. The Swilly Group delivered a number of free information evenings on the regulation around towing of Trailers throughout September and October.
Stephen Sweeney, Director of Driving Services at the Swilly Group said: “We receive a lot of enquires about the requirements on towing a trailer with a car, van, a 4X4 or an SUV”.
“One of which has been the licence category required to tow a medium sized trailer” Drivers who held the car licence category in the old Irish licence prior to 13 Nov 1989, are entitled to receive a car and trailer licence (BE category) reinstated on their current licence if they apply to the RSA before Friday 8th November 2013.”