Learner Permit Rule Changes From 1 November 2026
New learner permit rules start on 1 November 2026. If you're on a second or later permit, you'll need to take a driving test before you can get another one.
What's changing
- Third and fourth permits: you won't get one just by applying for a test. You must have actually taken a driving test in the previous two years.
- Fourth permit: lasts one year, not two.
- No fifth permit.
- Medical exemption: removed.
Who it affects
If your second or later permit expires after 1 November 2026, you'll have to sit a test before applying for your next one. The Road Safety Authority says more than 64,000 learners have held three or more permits, and that it can't make exceptions once the rules apply.
What you can still do
You don't have to stop driving. A valid learner permit stays valid until it expires, with all the usual conditions, including being accompanied.
What to do now
- Check your permit's expiry date.
- Work back from it, allowing for test waiting times, which vary by centre.
- Apply for your test early, and don't wait until your permit is about to run out.
- Use the time to find your weak areas. Start with why people fail.
Checked against the Road Safety Authority's pages on 30 October 2026. This is a summary, not legal advice. Your own case may differ, so confirm with the Road Safety Authority or NDLS.