Just passed test driving solo

Things must have changed a bit since I did the test because the tester gave me a certificate of competency to show I had passed until the licence arrived in the post.

Did he /she give you their marking sheet . To tell you the truth ring the local barricks snd ask them . And congratulations

Just in case there’s a legal quirk i’d call to the local station and ask .

RSA are quite clear on this. You can not drive unaccompanied until you are in possession of your physical full licence.

But in the real world, I'd think you would have to be quite unlucky for it to become an issue.

You would want to be absolutely off your rocker to call the Gardai, and ask them whether or not the (technically) illegal thing you plan on doing is OK or not. They'll tell you it's OK, and promptly pull you over as an easy target to boost the numbers.

A friend of mine realised that her car was out of tax a few weeks, called into the station to ask what she should do. Garda said it was grand and to just buy online and keep the receipt. Got a fine in the post a week later for no tax. Where was the location? Garda station car park.

If you ask the RSA or Gardaí they'll tell you not to drive.

I generally I think your safe to drive now. Most Gardai would be fine.

I take it your a normal citizen and don't have run ins with the Gardaí.

I'm fairly sure when I passed my test my instructor said to drive away but not to go on the Motorway.(I think).

I applied for my license on a Tuesday and it come on a Monday.

I know, I said the same thing...

In any case, intentionally involving the Gardai makes it much more difficult for them to turn blind eye or exercise discretion, even if they wanted to.

just as side note on this, the driver number remains the same just the type of licence itself

I remember when my wife passed her test a few years ago, she was told to keep following the learner rules until she had the new full licence in her hand.

Welcome to the world of BS bureaucracy and laws that are not fit for the real world. If the system was right, you should be given a license immediately after passing and not enter some legal grey area where you have to rely on a Guards common sense. You should ask your local TDs what you're supposed to do.

It's the same craic as they were saying back when there was a massive NCT backlog forcing people to drive 'illegally', but we were given the official 'nod and wink' that we'd be fine as long as we had a test booked:

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/gardai-clarifiy-nct-rules-massive-27604149

But with such a backlog, many are concerned they could be caught out without an NCT while waiting for a test.

However, they needn't worry too much.

A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Mirror: "It is a legal requirement for a vehicle over a certain age (4 years) to have a valid NCT certificate."

"An Garda Síochána is cognisant of the delays experienced by the Road Safety Authority in the provision of dates for the NCT ."

"Where a motorist is detected driving a vehicle without a valid NCT certificate and no date of re-examination can be produced in evidence by the driver, the driver may be prosecuted for not having a valid NCT certificate and they are liable to have their vehicle seized.

"Where a vehicle is detected without a valid NCT certificate and the driver is able to produce evidence of a date for a test having been scheduled, a Garda will take this evidence into consideration."

And just FYI on the motor tax, if the tax is out over 2 months the car can be seized, under 2 months is just a fine.

https://www.garda.ie/garda/en/faqs/?id=4853

"Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 as amended by Section 19 Road Traffic Act 2006 applies. A member of An Garda Síochána may seize a vehicle being used in a public place where – 

.............

There is no road tax in force for a period of 2 months or greater."

It's highly unlikey in that situation that the car would be seized, you'll normally be given the 10 days to produce it and an offence is only committed if you fail to produce it within that timeframe. Everything can be checked at the roadside on the Garda Mobility app now also which should show your current driving licence status.

https://www.garda.ie/garda/en/faqs/?id=4853

"Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1994 as amended by Section 19 Road Traffic Act 2006 applies. A member of An Garda Síochána may seize a vehicle being used in a public place where – 

• A member of An Garda Síochána is of the opinion that the vehicle is being used in contravention of Section 56 Road Traffic Act 1961 i.e. The person driving the vehicle is not insured to drive the concerned vehicle.
• The person driving the vehicle refuses or fails to produce there and then a driving licence then having effect and licensing him/her to drive the vehicle, when production of such a licence is demanded of him/her by a member of An Garda Síochána under Section 40(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and the member is of the opinion that the person is by reason of his/her age ineligible to hold a driving licence, licensing him/her to drive the vehicle.
• There is no road tax in force for a period of 2 months or greater."

I would strongly urge you and anyone else in that situation to contact your TD's and the Minister to ask for their advice on the situation you're in, it's the only way anything will change.

What are the chances of being pulled over these days anyway? I have been driving for 28 years and only been stopped 3 time, all at Garda checkpoints (Tax and Drink Driving). I can't even remember when the last time I came across a checkpoint was so I imagine the chance that the OP will be stopped and checked before their full licence arrives in the post are minimal.

Also, Gardaí don't seize cars when someone does not have a licence on them, unless they are an unlicenced driver of course, but then the likelihood of having Tax, Insurance and NCT is quite low in that circumstance. You will be asked to produce your licence at a Garda station within 10 days.

Enforcement, in general, is a joke in this country so as long as the car is taxed, insured and has a valid NCT, it will likely be fine. Just don't draw attention to yourself on the road by acting the maggot.