Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
198. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if he will change the rules where a person who does their driving test in an automatic car currently will not be licensed to drive a manual car to allow the automatic licence to include a manual licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/24]
View answerI have no plans to change the rules to allow a person who holds a driving licence for an automatic transmission car to drive a manual transmission car.
A person must pass their driving test in a manual transmission vehicle if they wish to obtain a driving licence to drive a manual transmission car.
If a person passes their driving test in an automatic transmission vehicle, the driving licence issued restricts the driver to driving automatic transmission cars only and this is indicated by a code on the licence. A person with such a licence cannot drive a manual transmission car legally as they have not displayed in the driving test that they possess sufficient ability to safely drive a manual car on a public road.
A holder of a licence restricted to driving cars with an automatic transmission only can remove this restriction by passing a test in a car with a manual transmission. Details can be found on the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) website here: www.ndls.ie/about/upgrade-an-automatic-car-licence-to-manual-licence.html .
