Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 542) (“the 1996 Regulations”).

Regulation 2 amends the 1996 Regulations to insert a new regulation 55ZB. The new regulation applies to individuals who become resident in Northern Ireland and who are holders of an EEA licence which had been issued in exchange for a licence or a Great Britain licence that was issued on or after 1st January 2021 authorising the driving of any class of motor vehicle. These individuals are authorised, after becoming resident, to rely on their EEA licence to drive in Northern Ireland any class of Motor vehicle as authorised by their EEA licence, for as long as they are authorised to do so by their EEA licence.

The new regulation 55ZB—(6) also applies references in existing legislation to Community licences, and the holder of a Community licence to those individuals who are in scope of that regulation.

An Explanatory Memorandum has been produced and is available from Driving, Vehicle and Road Safety Policy Division, Department for Infrastructure, James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue, Belfast, BT7 2JA or online alongside this Statutory Rule at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr