The driving test

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check you are eligible and apply for a test
• You can book an appointment when invited and manage your booking
• You can prepare the car and documents the RSA requires
• You can describe each part of the test from arrival to the end of the drive

What you need to know and understand

• For a first learner permit you must have held it for at least six months and completed all 12 EDT lessons, uploaded to MyEDT, before you can be given a test.
• You apply through the MyRoadSafety portal using your driver number (4d on your permit) and PPSN, and join the waiting list for your chosen centre.
• When invited, you have 10 days to choose an appointment. The car test fee is 85 euro.
• You can cancel or reschedule twice without losing your fee if the test is more than 10 days away.
• You must bring your valid learner permit and a certificate of motor insurance showing you are insured to drive the test vehicle.
• The car must be roadworthy, with L plates front and rear and valid insurance, motor tax and NCT discs (if applicable) on display.
• Depending on the category, the test takes between 50 and 100 minutes.

On the day, step by step

1. Arrive early and wait inside the test centre, not in your car.
2. Show your learner permit and proof of insurance, and sign a statement that the car is roadworthy and insured.
3. Answer questions on the Rules of the Road and road signs, and demonstrate hand signals.
4. Complete the technical checks (for example tyres, lights and oil) and in-car checks such as seat and mirror adjustment.
5. Show you can use secondary controls such as wipers, washers, demisters and lights.
6. Drive about 8 km in varied traffic, including a reverse around a corner, a turnabout and a hill start.
7. Return to the centre, park, and get your result.

Things that stop a test going ahead

If your test cannot go ahead for one of these reasons you will usually need to rebook and pay again.

• Arriving late or at the wrong centre
• An invalid, out-of-date or wrong-category learner permit
• No valid proof of insurance, or missing tax or NCT disc
• L plates missing, faded or the wrong size
• A dashboard warning light showing a fault, defective tyres or a space saver spare wheel fitted
• Recording devices left switched on in the car

Your tester and getting there

Your tester will not coach or encourage you; that keeps every test fair. If you do not understand a direction, ask them to repeat it. No passengers can come with you, although an RSA supervisor may sit in.

You must still be accompanied when driving to and from the centre, even after you pass, until you hold your full licence. If English is not your first language, or you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can arrange an interpreter for the questions and checks at the start.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until the night before to check documents. Check permit dates and insurance a week ahead.
• Driving to the centre alone. That is illegal on a learner permit.
• Presenting a car with a warning light on. Get faults fixed before test day.
• Not practising hand signals and secondary controls. They are part of the test.

Test yourself: The driving test

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Irish Driving Test Pre Test Checks