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The fixed fees for learning to drive a car in Ireland add up to €240 as of November 2026: €45 for the theory test, €45 for the learner permit, €85 for the driving test and €65 for your first full licence. On top of that you pay for 12 Essential Driver Training (EDT) lessons, insurance and any extra lessons, and none of those have a set price. This guide lists every fee in the Republic of Ireland, what a resit costs, and how to budget.
Every official fee in Ireland (as of November 2026)
| Step | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driver theory test (car, BW) | €45 | 40 questions, pass mark 35. Certificate valid 2 years. You must be at least 15 on the test date. |
| Learner permit | €45 | Up from €35 on 1 January 2025. |
| Essential Driver Training | Set by each instructor | 12 one-hour lessons with an RSA Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). |
| Driving test (category B) | €85 | Same fee for categories A, A1, A2, AM, B, BE and W. |
| First full driving licence | €65 | Up from €55 on 1 January 2025. |
The costs with no fixed price
EDT lessons
The RSA does not set EDT prices. Each ADI is self-employed and sets their own fee, so compare a few. The RSA notes that paying for more than one lesson at a time makes it harder to switch instructor or change lessons mid-course. Only lessons with a currently approved ADI count towards EDT, and you cannot be scheduled for your test until your ADI has recorded all 12. See Essential Driver Training explained.
Extra lessons and test car
You may want lessons beyond EDT, such as a pre-test lesson, and you may use the instructor’s car for the test. Agree the price and what is included in advance. If you use your own car, it must meet the test car rules, including tax, NCT where needed and insurance. See your car for the Irish driving test.
Insurance
You must be insured to drive as a learner, whether on your own policy or named on a family car’s policy. See learner driver insurance in Ireland.
Work out your own total
- Fixed fees: €45 + €45 + €85 + €65 = €240.
- EDT: your ADI’s price per lesson × 12.
- Extra lessons: your ADI’s price × the extra lessons you expect.
- Insurance: learner cover for the months until your test.
- Car costs: fuel, and tax and NCT if you use your own car.
- Buffer: one theory resit (€45) and one driving test resit (€85) to be safe.
What a resit or a change costs
| Situation | Cost |
|---|---|
| Failed the theory test | €45 to book again. There is no limit on attempts; theorytest.ie advises waiting at least 3 business days. |
| Theory test rescheduled or cancelled 7 or more calendar days before | Free |
| Theory test rescheduled within 6 days of the test | Admin fee of 50% of the test fee. No rescheduling on the day. |
| Theory test missed, or arriving without the right ID | Fee lost |
| Failed the driving test | €85 to apply again |
Next steps after a fail are in failed the Irish driving test: what next.
Ways to keep costs down
- Pass the theory test first time: revise the official question topics. See the Irish driver theory test.
- Practise between EDT lessons with an accompanying driver who has held a full licence for at least 2 years, so you need fewer extra paid lessons.
- Pay per lesson rather than in big blocks, so you can change instructor if needed.
- Give 7 days’ notice to change a theory test free.
- Only sit the driving test when ready. A fail means €85 again plus more lessons and waiting.
Common questions
How much is the learner permit in Ireland?
€45 for a car learner permit, as of November 2026. It went up from €35 on 1 January 2025.
How much is the driving test in Ireland?
€85 for a car (category B), as of November 2026.
Is EDT included in the test fee?
No. You pay your ADI directly for the 12 EDT lessons, at the price they set.
Can I skip EDT to save money?
No. Car learners must complete EDT before they can sit the driving test. Some foreign licence holders can do a reduced course; check with the RSA.
Is it cheaper in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has its own DVA fees and rules. See cost of learning to drive in Northern Ireland.
Back to the full guide to learning to drive in Ireland. See also how to get a learner permit.
Sources
- Theory Test Service, “Driver Theory Test: Car or Bike” (theorytest.ie)
- Theory Test Service, “FAQs” (theorytest.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “Fee adjustments for RSA services to take effect from January 1st” (rsa.ie)
- National Driver Licence Service, “Fee increases to take effect from 01 January 2025” (ndls.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “About the driving test in Ireland” (rsa.ie)
- Road Safety Authority, “Car driving lessons (EDT)” (rsa.ie)
- Citizens Information, “Steps to learning to drive” (citizensinformation.ie)