No need to panic after all.
The AA says it will be “very unlikely” that UK driving licences held by Irish residents will be invalid in Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
On Friday, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) revealed that “in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the driving licence of a UK licence holder living here in Ireland will not be recognised and the driver will not be able to continue to drive here in Ireland on that licence”.
Affected motorists still have plenty of time to exchange their UK driving licence for an Irish driving licence before Britain’s scheduled exit from the EU on 29 March, but in a statement on Friday, the AA revealed that such a move will probably not be necessary after all.
An emergency change to the law, the AA says, can be prepared and be ready in time for the end of March should a no-deal Brexit come into effect.
The AA says that an emergency ‘patch’ in legal regulations would be required to recognise those licences but also revealed that the Department of Transport is aware of the issue and has already discussed it with the AA.
The AA did, however, point out that “Brexit or no Brexit” motorists are supposed to swap a UK licence for an Irish one if they are resident in Ireland for more than 100 days.
That law has never been enforced and didn’t matter while both licences were European, which, of course, won’t be the case if and when Brexit goes ahead at the end of next month.
The AA has provided a helpful guide for motorists who may be affected by the implications of Brexit, which can be read here, while an FAQ on the same matter on the RSA website can be accessed here.
