AQW 41590/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 27/02/2026
Answered On Date: 18/03/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether her Department will reduce the cost of a renewal of a driver licence, for those who need a three-yearly renewal of a licence.

Answer:

The fees for driving licences in the north are prescribed in Schedule 2 to the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 and are set to reflect the administrative costs of processing applications.

The duration of driving licences is determined by Article 15 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. Under these provisions, applicants aged under 60 are ordinarily issued with a ten‑year licence. Those aged 60 or over receive a licence valid either until their 70th birthday or for three years, whichever is longer. From age 70, all drivers move onto a free three-year renewal cycle.

Medically restricted licences valid for one, two, or three years are also renewed free of charge.

Given the legislative basis for both licence durations and associated fees, there are no plans to reduce the cost of renewing licences for applicants who receive a three-year licence before the age of 70.