UK Full Motorbike Licence

mobpd

Hi there
I have recently passed the category A (full) motorcycle test in UK. So will be added to UK licence.
Does this mean that as in the UK I can now ride any cc'ed bike over here on this licence? In other words I dont have to have the 2 year period with restricted bikes here ?

thanks

seamus

I'm not sure. Some sources would seem to imply that if you swap your UK licence for an Irish one, you will have the two year restriction (regardless of how long you've been driving in the UK), but if you hold onto your UK licence, you should be able to drive unrestricted, no problem.

Dept. of transport might be a good place to start.

a_ominous

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm interested to see what happens. Did you do Direct Access as well? I'm not even sure if that's a separate test.
I think the UK licence is in 2 parts: one card you carry with you and a separate document that has all the details. Is there a restriction period listed on this document? If so, I'd reckon the restriction applies.
Then again race cans that are legal in Ireland and illegal in UK can be used in UK so long as it has Irl plates.
So inconsistency may allow you to ride a bigger bike. But the insurance will break the bank

spockety

Did you do the Direct Access test in the UK?

You would know if you did.

mobpd

Hi

I originally asked because I found it hard to get hold of anyone in the Dept of Transport in Ballina to confirm to me - but I persevered on the phones just now and got through to someone who said that if there is no restriction on which bike I can ride on my UK licence in the UK (which there isnt - I did the Direct access test there) then there is no restriction applicable in Ireland if I keep my UK licence (which I intend to do)

Thanks

Hotblack Desiato

seamus wrote:

I'm not sure. Some sources would seem to imply that if you swap your UK licence for an Irish one, you will have the two year restriction (regardless of how long you've been driving in the UK), but if you hold onto your UK licence, you should be able to drive unrestricted, no problem.

If the UK (or other EU) licence is unrestricted, then you are entitled to swap it for an unrestricted Irish one.

It will say on the licence whether it is restricted or not.

That doesn't imply that the muppets in the road tax office won't get it wrong, they do frequently. Some of the road tax offices refer queries about their own regulations to MAG Ireland because they can't answer them :rolleyes:

BTW you're not obliged to swap the licence for an Irish one after 12 months any more. You can if you want.