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Professional drivers

ADI

Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) in Ireland.

What you need to know about being an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), from how to become an ADI and staying qualified to the Essential Driver Training (EDT) portal and ADI regulations. 

Our top five ADI queries

If you can’t access your ADI account, please check the following:

Your username (Email address)

This should be the same username/email address you supplied the RSA originally, unless you updated it since and have advised us of this.
 
If you can’t remember your email address or if you now have a new one you wish to use, please  complete this form and include your new email address so we can update your records.

Your password

Make sure you’re entering your password correctly and that there are no spaces before or after it.
 
If you’ve forgotten your password, please follow these steps:
 
1.     Click on the ‘forgot password’ link that appears on the ADI portal sign-in page.
2.     You will be prompted to enter your username (registered email address) and then click ‘Submit’.
3.     You will be asked a security question (one you originally chose when setting up the portal account). Please type in the correct answer and click ‘submit’.
4.     We will email you your forgotten password. Don’t forget to check your spam/junk folder.
5.     Enter your username (registered email address) and password correctly, click on the sign in button and your portal account homepage should load.
 
If, after following these steps, you’re still having issues logging in, please  complete this form and we’ll be in touch.

Your system registration

You must be registered on our system to log into the ADI portal. If you’re newly registered, please wait until you receive your ADI permit. If all your paperwork is in order, this process takes about 20 working days from the date of application. Once this is completed, you will receive an email to activate your ADI portal account where you can set up your security question answer and your password.

If you’ve been locked out of your account

If you enter either your password, username or answer the security question incorrectly more than 5 times, you will be locked out of your account. If this happens, please  complete this form

If your permit has expired

You need to renew your ADI permit every two years. If it has expired or you are late renewing it, you may be temporarily removed from the official ADI register and your access to the ADI portal will be suspended. 

Other

If none of the above applies to you and you're still having trouble accessing your ADI portal account, please  complete this form and include a screenshot of any error message and we'll be in touch with you directly. 

You must renew your ADI permit every two years. Once all of your paperwork is in order, you can expect to receive your new permit within 20 working days of submitting your renewal application form.

Please note that the process below applies to permit renewals only, not new ADI applications.

1. Pass a check test

This step can be completed anytime in the year before your ADI permit expires.

We automatically schedule a check test appointment for you at your preferred test centre anytime during the year prior to your permit expiring. The details are emailed so please check your spam/junk folder.

If you haven't yet received an appointment or the scheduled check test date has passed, you also have the option to request an appointment when completing the renewal declaration form (see step 3 below).

Important: If you fail to attend your scheduled check test, we can’t guarantee another appointment before your permit expiry date so you risk being temporarily removed from the ADI register.

2. Garda vetting procedure

This step should be completed no less than three months before your permit expires.

Download and complete a Garda Vetting Invitation form. Please read the instructions carefully.

Post it, along with a copy of your driving licence* to: The ADI Unit, The Road Safety Authority, Primrose Hill, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

*If your driving licence doesn’t have your current address, please also provide a copy of a utility bill dated within the previous two months.

Once we receive your completed form and validate your identity, we will email you a link to complete the Gardaí’s online vetting form. Don’t forget to check your Spam/Junk folder.

3. How to re-register as an ADI

This step should be completed no less than one month before your permit expires but no more than three months before it expires.

To renew your ADI registration, please send us the following:

  • A completed Renewal Declaration form. As part of this, you can confirm your preferred driving test centre for the check test (if you haven’t already done one) and/or whether you need any changes to your online ADI register details.
  • Current tax clearance certificate – provide your individual tax clearance access number
  • Renewal Fee of €250 - this can be paid by cheque, postal order or bank draft. It should be crossed and made payable to: The ADI Unit, Road Safety Authority.
  • Two passport photographs signed by you on the back.
  • A photocopy of your Driving Licence (front and back)

All of the above documentation should be posted to: The ADI Unit, The Road Safety Authority, Primrose Hill, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

You can reorder logbooks through your ADI portal account by clicking on the ‘Manage Logbooks’ tab. Here you will see:

  • your current logbook stock levels,
  • what’s on order, and
  • the number you can order (only available if your active* stock is below 25).   

EDT logbook stock limits

Max. active* stock allowance: 75 logbooks

Min. order: 10 Logbooks

Max. order: 50 logbooks

* Includes stock received, on order, or logbooks transferred to you. Logbooks you’ve transferred to another ADI or learner driver are not counted as part of your active stock.

Once you’ve successfully submitted your logbook order you will receive it by courier within 5 working days.

Important: there may be delays with issuing logbooks before or during holiday periods so please ensure that you have adequate stock levels.

If you’re having problems uploading a candidate’s EDT sessions to the ADI portal, please check that:

  • You’re entering the 9 digit driver number correctly
  • You’re entering their date of birth correctly in the following format: dd/mm/yyyy
  • You’re entering the correct logbook number
  • You’re entering the correct lesson type
  • You’re entering the correct completion date
  • There are no spaces before or after any of the details you enter

You should also refer to the EDT portal manual.

If your learner has only recently received their first learner permit or recently renewed their learner permit please allow up to 10 days before uploading their EDT session so that their learner permit details are available on our system. 

When to contact us

If you’ve checked all of the above and you’re still having trouble uploading a session please complete this form and include all of the details i.e. driver number, logbook number etc.

If you need to edit or delete a record you’ve already confirmed and submitted, please complete this form as soon as possible with the details, including the driver number and session name, and we will remove it.

If you get the following message: “More than one licence category returned for licence id” please complete this form and include the learner’s driver number.

 

If you already hold a vehicle category on your driving licence and wish to have it added to your ADI permit, please complete this form and advise us which category you wish to add.

Provided you’re eligible, we will email you an eligibility number to sit your ADI theory test in the required category. Once you pass the theory test you will be emailed details on how to apply for the stage 2 category driving test. On successful completion of this, we will add the category to your ADI permit and certificate of registration and issue this to you by registered post within 10-15 working days. We will also update your online register details, if applicable.

Rules around adding vehicle categories to your ADI permit

  • You must be a registered Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) before you can apply to have a vehicle category added to your ADI permit.
  • You can apply to add ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘CE’ or ‘D’ categories to your ADI permit as long as you hold a full, valid driver’s licence in that category.
  • If you wish to add category A you must have held a full, valid category ‘A’ driving licence for the previous two years.

Further information about adding a category to your ADI permit

How to add a vehicle category to your driver’s licence

Choose from one of the following areas