Why Are Young Irish People Getting Their Driving License in Georgia?

Don’t have your driving license? Lack of mobility getting you down? Have no fear, the great nation of Georgia is calling your name. More and more young people are cutting the red tape and bureaucracy of the Irish driving licensing process and travelling outside of the EU to complete their certification.

Because of the reciprocal agreement between Georgia and Ireland, Georgian licenses can be exchanged for an Irish one even though the nation is not a member of the European Union. This has led to service providers in Georgia offering the unlicensed an easy route to being able to drive. These companies offer licenses in approximately 14 days, with applicants completing a theory test, parking exam and city driving exam for approximately €800.

Seems to good to be true, right? We spoke to a young Irish adult who spent a month in Georgia to acquire their license. “For me and my friend, the full process took four weeks and had a financial cost of less than €1000, including flights, accommodation, lessons and bureaucracy”.

Here in Ireland, to acquire a full driving license, one has to complete 12 lessons, complete a theory test, apply for a learner’s permit, pay for a test and then apply for a full license. The average cost of this process is over €700, not including vehicle insurance or purchase.

Ireland is also experiencing an immense backlog in terms of driving test applications. In February, The Irish Times reported that the number of people on the waiting list for a test has risen by 10,000 in three months. This leaves the average waiting time for a test at 22 weeks nationally, with the worst being in Navan, Co. Meath at 35 weeks.

With this information, it almost seems obvious why young people are resorting to travelling internationally for their certification.

“With the rise of the cost of living, the failure of Irish transport, the need to drive for most working professionals and students who are being boxed out of the rental market in Dublin, young people can’t on the current systems that don’t work”.

We spoke to one of the accounts which has seen great success in welcoming people from across the world to Georgia to facilitate their driving license experience. @driving_license_urgent is an Instagram account which has amassed over 20,000 followers.

“We have many Irish people come to Georgia since last year and the introduction of the bilateral agreement between the two nations”. The company cited long waiting times and frustration in young people as one of the pull factors towards getting their license in Georgia. The completely legal process sees the applicant acquire their license in Georgia and then return to Ireland to exchange it for an Irish one only a week or two after.

At urgendrivinglicense.com, the organisation offers a guide through the nuances of getting your driving license in Georgia. “Georgia offers a great mix: strict and fair process, but no long waiting times in case of a needed retake. Plus a foreigner-friendly policy.” They told us.

Questions over driving and testing standards in Georgia are a fair concern. However, sources such as insurance company RAC cite Georgia as being as safe as any other country across Europe. “Everything is controlled by bother a computer and an inspector who sits in the car. The system analyses your driving style, speed control, even tachometer revs and how you are turning your head to check if there are any pedestrians. No bribes are possible due to the built-in cameras in examination cars.”