Minister Announces Extension to validity periods of learner motor cycle IBT training certs

Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton TD has announced a further extension to certificates for motorcycle Initial Basic Training (IBT), in order to take account of the impact of the pandemic. 

Learner motorcyclists must complete IBT before they can legally ride solo on public roads, and their IBT certs must be in-date for them to continue riding and to take a driving test.  During the pandemic, test services have been closed or limited and it has not always been possible to retake IBT after the expiry of certificates. 

Learner motorcyclists therefore face the double risk of losing their eligibility to drive on public roads and eligibility to take a test. The validity period of these certs was extended in 2020, and regulations for a further extension have now been signed by Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton.

This extension will also allow people to avail of tests as the driver testing service increases its capacity. 

Commenting on the extension, Minister Naughton said; “I am glad to be able to make this extension to IBT certificates, which will help learner motorcyclists who are waiting to take their motorcycle driving test but who may not have been able to do so throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As the driver testing services continue to ramp up with the easing of restrictions, I hope that people will now be able to get a test and move on to become fully qualified motorcyclists. Anyone who receives the extension will not be sent a new cert, however, driver records will be updated to reflect the new validity period.”

The extension is being made depending on when an IBT cert was issued, with three groupings as follows -

(a) an IBT certificate issued during the period beginning on 01 March 2018 and ending on 30 June 2018 is valid until 01 October 2021,

(b) an IBT certificate issued during the period beginning on 01 July 2018 and ending on 31 August 2018 is valid for a period of 3 years and 2 months from the date of issue, and

(c) an IBT certificate issued during the period beginning on 01 September 2018 and ending on 30 June 2019 is valid for a period of 3 years from the date of issue.

By way of example:

If a person received an IBT cert on 19 of March 2018 it would have expired on 19 March 2020 but will now be valid until 1 October 2021;

If a person received an IBT cert on 15 July 2018 it would have expired on 15 July 2020 but will now be valid until 15 September 2021;

If a person received an IBT cert on 10 February 2019, it would have expired on 10 February 2021 but will now be valid until 10 February 2022.

Validity periods of IBTs are being staggered so as to ensure adequate testing capacity will be available at the time of or before the new IBT expiry date.