Two forms trip up a lot of applications: the eyesight report (D502) and the medical report (D501). Both must reach the NDLS within one month of being signed, and both must be signed by you in front of the optometrist or doctor.
When you need an eyesight report (D502)
- Your first learner permit
- Exchanging a licence issued outside the EU
- Removing code 01 (glasses or contact lenses required), for example after laser eye surgery
You do not need one to renew a licence or permit, or to exchange an EU licence. If you are already submitting a medical report, a separate eyesight report is only needed if your doctor says so.
When you need a medical report (D501)
- You are 75 or over, or the licence you are renewing expires the day before your 75th birthday
- You are applying for a bus or truck category (C1, C, D1, D, C1E, CE, D1E or DE)
- Your licence or permit shows code 101 (renewal subject to a medical report)
- You have ever had epilepsy or alcoholism
- You regularly take drugs or medication likely to make you an unsafe driver
- You have a reportable medical condition (list below)
Conditions you must declare
The NDLS list is not exhaustive, but includes: diabetes treated with insulin or sulphonylurea tablets; epilepsy; stroke or TIA with symptoms lasting over a month; fits or blackouts; brain surgery, serious head injury, brain or spinal tumour; a pacemaker or ICD; repeated sudden disabling dizziness; chronic neurological conditions such as MS, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's or Huntington's; serious memory problems; persistent alcohol or drug misuse; serious psychiatric illness; sleep apnoea; narcolepsy; serious vision or hearing problems; severe learning disability; and limb problems that restrict you to an automatic or adapted vehicle.
If you are unsure whether something applies, ask your GP before applying.
How the forms work
- Download the right form from the NDLS Forms & Reports page (English or Irish). Print the medical report double-sided.
- Fill in your part. On the medical report you complete part 1; the doctor completes part 2.
- Attend in person. The medical consultation must be face to face, not online, and you sign the form in front of the doctor or optometrist.
- Submit within one month of the date it was signed, with your online or centre application.
The doctor certifies whether you meet the Group 1 (cars, motorcycles) or Group 2 (trucks, buses) standard and for how long. That can mean a one or three-year licence instead of ten. See Renew your licence for licence terms by age.
Where to go
Popular centres: Santry, Leopardstown, Citywest, Clarehall, Cork City, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Athlone, Sligo, Letterkenny, Drogheda, Tralee. All 34 centres.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an eyesight test to renew my driving licence in Ireland?
No, not for a normal renewal. You only need one for a first learner permit, a non-EU exchange or to remove code 01.
At what age do you need a medical to drive in Ireland?
From 75. Drivers 75 and over must include a medical report with each application.
How long is a medical report valid for the NDLS?
One month from the date the doctor signs it.
Can my doctor do the driving medical online?
No. The NDLS requires an in-person consultation and you must sign in front of the doctor.
Official source: www.ndls.ie/medical-fitness/do-i-need-to-submit-a-medical-report.html. Fees and rules checked 2 October 2026. If anything differs, the NDLS website takes priority.