Photo: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels. Illustrative photograph.
After passing the driving test in Ireland, you are a novice driver for 2 years from the date you receive your first full licence, and you must display N plates for that whole time. This explainer covers where the plates go, what novices cannot do, the lower penalty point and alcohol limits, and the fine for not displaying them, as of November 2026.
Key facts
- Novice period: 2 years from the date of your first full driving licence.
- N plates on the front and rear of any vehicle you drive in that period.
- Not displaying N plates: €120 fixed charge and 2 penalty points (4 points on conviction in court).
- You cannot accompany or sponsor a learner driver during the novice period.
- Alcohol limit: 20 mg per 100 ml of blood, the same as for learners.
- Disqualification at 7 penalty points in 3 years, if your first learner permit was issued on or after 1 August 2014.
When do the N plates go on?
The 2 years run from the date you receive your first full licence, not from the test date. Passing gives you a Certificate of Competency. You exchange it at the NDLS for a full licence, and you must do this within 2 years of the certificate date. See after you pass in Ireland.
Learner vs novice: what changes
| Rule | Learner (L plates) | Novice (N plates) |
|---|---|---|
| Accompanying driver needed | Yes, always | No |
| Motorways | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Can accompany a learner | No | No, for 2 years in that category |
| Alcohol limit | 20 mg/100 ml blood | 20 mg/100 ml blood |
| Penalty points before a ban | 7 | 7 |
| Plates | L front and rear | N front and rear |
For your first motorway drives, see motorways and tunnels for new drivers.
What is the fine for not displaying N plates?
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Within 28 days | €120 and 2 points |
| In the next 28 days | €180 and 2 points |
| Convicted in court | 4 points and a fine set by the court |
Road traffic fixed charges doubled from 27 October 2022, which is why some older sources still quote €60. These points count towards the 7 point threshold below. See penalty points in Ireland.
The 7 point threshold
Fully licensed drivers are disqualified for 6 months at 12 penalty points in 3 years. For learners and novices whose first learner permit was issued on or after 1 August 2014, the threshold is 7. At 2 points each, a few N plate offences alone can bring you close to a ban.
Drink driving as a novice
The limit is 20 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. A novice found between 20 mg and 80 mg can face a 3-month disqualification and a €200 fine. In practice, the RSA’s advice is never to drink and drive. See drink-driving limits for learners and novices.
Does the novice period start again for a new category?
No. The novice period applies only once. If you get a full licence for another category during your first 2 years, you must display N plates on that vehicle too. If you get a new category after the 2 years are up, you are not a novice for it.
Common questions
How long do you have N plates in Ireland?
Two years from the date you receive your first full driving licence.
Can I drive on the motorway with N plates?
Yes. The motorway ban applies to learner permit holders, not novices.
Do I need N plates when driving someone else’s car?
Yes. The plates must be displayed on any vehicle you drive during your novice period.
Can I supervise my younger brother on his L plates?
Not until you have held a full licence in that category for 2 continuous years.
I held a full licence abroad. Am I a novice in Ireland?
The rule applies to first-time holders of a full licence. If you exchanged a foreign licence, check your status with the RSA.
Back to learning to drive in Ireland: the full guide. See also who can accompany a learner.
Sources
- Road Safety Authority, “Novice plates or N-plates” (rsa.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “Driving offences incurring penalty points” (rsa.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “The penalty points system in Ireland” (rsa.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “After you pass your RSA driving test” (rsa.ie)
- Irish Statute Book, “Road Traffic Act 2014” (irishstatutebook.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “Rules of the Road” (Revision 5, hosted on garda.ie)