Driving Licenses in Northern Ireland to be Extended

27 May 2020

Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, has announced that, due to COVID-19, driving licenses are to be extended for an additional 7 months once a new EU Regulation is introduced (which is expected to become law in the coming days).

The extension will apply to all driving licenses that have expired on, or since, 1 February 2020 or are due to expire up to, and including, 31 August 2020 and means that any such licenses will be treated as valid for a further 7 months.  For some drivers, this will remove the requirement for a medical assessment.

The extension will automatically be applied and new licenses will not be issued during this period.

The extension does not apply to taxi driver licenses, as they are not covered by the EU Driving License Directive; however, the Minister has confirmed that those taxi drivers who do not have a medical condition to declare will have their five-year taxi driver’s license renewed without a medical report.

For further information, contact the Regulatory team at Backhouse Jones on 01254 828300.