Laois Offaly gardaí seize hundreds of L-plate cars

Hundreds of learner drivers have had their cars seized on Laois and Offaly roads by local Gardaí for not complying with a key restriction governing L-plate motorists in Ireland.

The Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has revealed figures showing the number of vehicles seized from learners in the Laois/Offaly Division across 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The Minister was responding to a parliamentary question put forward by Kildare North TD, Deputy Aidan Farrelly.

Deputy Farrelly asked for the number of vehicles seized and or impounded by Gardaí, by county in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 in respect of learner drivers not being accompanied by a full licence holder.

The figures supplied by gardai and published by the minister show that over 300 vehicles were seized in the Laois/Offaly Division since the start of 2023 on the grounds that the vehicle was being driven by an unaccompanied learner driver. 

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In 2023, a total of 125 vehicles were seized and that jumped to 157 on 2024. So far in 2025, a total of 52 vehicles driven by unaccompanied learner drivers have been seized in the Laois/Offaly Division.

Across the country since the start of 2023, over 14,500 vehicles have been seized from unaccompanied learner drivers.

The Road Safety Authority says a learner permit holder must be accompanied at all times by someone who has held a full, valid driving licence in the same category for a minimum of two years.

Under the law, gardaí can seize a vehicle if a learner driver is discovered to be driving without a qualified driver. A learner driver also faces an initial €160 fine and two penalty points.