Useful Information

We realise learning to drive and applying for your driving test can seem quite daunting, with all the forms you need to fill out and other stuff you have to remember to do. Don't worry - we've created this page to give you everything you need to know about getting hold of your provisional licence and starting your driving lessons.

So you have already started on the road to applying for and ultimately passing your test. We have also included useful links to the sites you can click through to, when applying for both your licence and your test. We hope you'll find our info useful and that you will give us a shout if there is anything else we can do for you:

FREEFONE 1800 84 85 86

Applying for a Theory Test
Recommended reading for the Driver Theory Test
Applying for your Learner Permit
Applying for your Practical Driving Test
The Practical Driving Test
Applying for your Full Driving Licence

Applying for a Theory Test

You can apply and pay for your Driver Theory Test online, here, http://theorytest.ie/.

To book a test over the phone call 1890 606 106 (Lo-call rate) and have your PPS number (formally RSI), Credit/DebitCard details or Payzone Voucher to hand and Driving Licence if you have one. If you are not the card holder, the card holder must be present to authorise the use of the card.

When your application has been received, you will receive notification of the date, location and time of your test in advance. You can re-schedule or cancel a theory test online or you can contact RSA on 1890 606 106 Monday-Friday 8.00am-6.00pm.

On the day of the test you must remember to bring with you some form of identification (i.e., a passport, a student identity card, or any other authorised identity (as long as they have a photograph attached). You will then be taken to a work station to complete the test.

Applying for your Learner Permit

Learner permits are processed and issued by Motor Taxation Offices. You can get an application form for a learner permit from your Motor Tax Office, Garda Station or local library.

A learner permit is generally issued for two years and costs €15. No fee will apply where the applicant is 70 years of age or more on the commencement date of the license.

Important note: The law requires that any person driving a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place must hold a current learner permit or driving license in respect of the vehicle category being driven. Any person applying for a learner permit or driving license shall not supply false or misleading information in connection with such application.

Any person contravening either of these requirements is liable to prosecution and penalties.

Learner permits and vehicle categories

There are restrictions on what type of learner permit you're entitled to as a learner driver; you need to know these before you apply. You will also need to understand the lettering system/code for vehicle categories.

You may apply for your first learner permit for vehicles in categories:

A1, A, B, M or W - without any previous driving experience
C1, C, D1 or D - if you hold a driving license for category B
EB, EC1, EC, ED1 or ED - if you hold a driving license for the appropriate drawing vehicle. For example, you must hold a driving license for category C in order to apply for a learner permit for EC

More Information Read More

Note: you will be treated as a first-time applicant in relation to a particular vehicle category if you have not held a learner permit in that category within the preceding five years. A first time permit holder will have code 991 on the learner permit in the column marked 'restrictions/information' opposite the license category.'

What your application or renewal should include

A completed application form (D201), which can be obtained from your local Motor Tax Office, Library or Garda station.
Two passport-type photographs (signed on back)
Your current or most recent driving license (if you hold a driving license or held one within the previous 10 years) and/or:
Your current/most recent learner permit (if you hold a current learner permit or held one within the previous five years - unless your most recent learner permit has been superseded by the issue of a driving license)
The appropriate fee

The following may also be required:

An original birth certificate/passport
An original certificate of registration
An medical report D501 form (if you are downloading the Medical Report form you must print it back to back)
An eyesight D502 form
Evidence that you underwent a driving test in the last two years if applying for a third or subsequent learner permit
Evidence of a forthcoming driving test if applying for a third or subsequent learner permit and you have not sat a driving set in the last two years
Lost license declaration
Theory test certificate

You can't apply for a learner permit if you:

Are disqualified from driving due to age or ill health
Do not have your normal residence in Ireland (see below: 'Normal residence in Ireland')
Already hold a full driving license for the category in which the application will be made, which has been issued by the competent authority in a member state of the European Union or European Economic Area.

Normal residence in Ireland

Being 'normally resident' in Ireland means you live here for at least 185 days in each calendar year. Even where you work or study abroad for lengthy periods you may still be regarded as being normally resident in Ireland provided that you have personal ties in Ireland and return here regularly.

Birth certificate/passport

Your application must be accompanied by an original birth certificate or passport unless you:

Hold a current driving license or learner permit
Held a driving license within the last ten years or a learner permit within the last five
Hold a current valid driving license issued by another EU member state or another “recognised country”.

In certain instances, a certificate of registration may be submitted with a learner permit application instead of a birth certificate or passport.

ID

The licensing authority may ask you to provide personal identification as part of the application process. You are advised to bring ID with you if applying in person.

Acceptable ID includes:

Passport
Employee or student identity card

Medical requirements

Eyesight report D502 (PDF)

A first-time application for a learner permit must be accompanied by a satisfactory eyesight report. This report may be completed by a registered opthalmic optician or medical practitioner. You must sign the eyesight report form in the presence of the optician or doctor.

Medical report D501 (PDF)

Your application must be accompanied by a medical report if you:

Are applying for a learner permit in any of the categories C1, C, D1, D, EC1, EC, ED1 or ED.
Will be 70 years of age or more on the first day of the period for which the license is being granted.
Suffer from certain disabilities or diseases
Have ever suffered from alcoholism or epilepsy
Are taking, on a regular basis, drugs or medication which would be likely to make you an unsafe driver

The medical report must be completed by a registered medical practitioner and you must sign the declaration in his/her presence.
Important notes:

Anyone suffering from serious arrhythmia which has at any stage resulted in loss of consciousness should consult his/her doctor before applying for a license.
Anyone dependent on or regularly abuses a psychotropic substance is disqualified from holding any learner permit or driving license. If you have any doubts about your physical or mental fitness to drive you should consult a doctor.

Medical report and eyesight report forms may be obtained from your local motor taxation office or downloaded from this webpage.

If you are downloading the Medical Report form you must print it back to back.

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Applying for Your Practical Driving Test

Driver testing in Ireland is carried out directly by the Road Safety Authority to a standard that complies with the EU Directive on Driving Licenses.

From 7 April 2009 the driving test fees are: €75 for the B License

You can now apply and pay for your driving test online. You will need a credit card to do this (Visa or MasterCard) or a debit card (Laser) plus a valid e-mail address. Alternatively, you can download a driving test application form, or obtain a copy from any motor tax office.

Payment should be made by cheque, postal order or money order. These should be crossed and made payable to the Road Safety Authority. The correct fee must accompany your completed application form. Fees are non-refundable but you can cancel your test twice before your fee is forfeit as long as you give the mandatory 10 day’s notice.

The Practical Driving Test

The driving test is a rite of passage for most people – up there with your first day at school and learning to ride a bicycle. The test has a bit of a daunting reputation but the pass rates are probably higher than you think. And, as with any examination, with a good instructor and proper preparation you have a good chance of passing.

To pass the driving test you will need to:

Maintain proper control over the vehicle at all times
Show anticipation and awareness
Take proper precautions when moving off, stopping, overtaking, changing direction and meeting other traffic
Make safe and reasonable progress when driving and when meeting and crossing the path of other vehicles

But first…

To do the test, you must have held a valid learner permit for at least six months on the day of the test (in the case of a first time learner permit holders, the code 991 will be printed under the restrictions/information section on your learner permit opposite the vehicle category) . This only applies to cars, motorcyclists and works vehicles. You must also have the use of a suitable vehicle.

Preparing for your driving test

Do:

Study the Rules of the Road booklet
Study the Preparing for your test booklet
Use the services of an approved driving instructor (ADI)
Practise driving on all types of road and in all types of traffic situations, including driving at night
Build up your driving experience and confidence before applying for your test

Don’t:

Unnecessarily obstruct traffic or annoy other road users
Practise on driving test routes for the most part; congestion on these routes causes inconvenience to residents and test applicants alike

Your appointment

Appointments for driving tests are organised on a first-come-first-served basis approximately one month in advance of your test. This will indicate the time, date and venue for the test together with conditions which must be met. Please read this notice carefully as it may help avoid problems on the day of the test.

It will also set out the arrangements for cancelling your appointment should this prove necessary.

Testing is conducted out of many test centres throughout the country. Where possible, your test will be arranged for the centre you nominate on your application form.

You can apply for your driving test to be conducted through Irish (just complete the Irish language version of the application form and submit as normal).

Day of the test

You should be present in the test centre before the appointed time of your test. If you are late, the test cannot be conducted and the fee will be forfeit.

The driver tester will check your learner permit to establish that it is:

Yours and not someone else’s
Current
For the correct category of vehicle

You will be asked to read and sign a statement confirming that:

The vehicle insurance cover is in place and adequate
Your vehicle is in roadworthy condition (download the Final Checks document(PDF) for more information)

The test

The driving test for cars lasts half-an-hour to 40 minutes and includes:

Questions on the Rules of the Road (including identifying road signs)
Demonstrating hand signals
Reversing round a corner
A U-turn in the road
A hill start
Driving approximately five miles in a variety of road and traffic conditions

Your driving will be assessed in the following situations:

Moving off
Driving in traffic
Stopping Reversing around a corner
Turning about, to face in the opposite direction
Starting on a hill

Parking Aspects of your driving assessed will include:

Road positioning
Overtaking and passing
Anticipation and observation
Use of mirrors and signals
Progress Speed
Compliance with traffic lights, road signs and markings
Use of the vehicle controls (accelerator, clutch, gears, brakes and steering)
Use of secondary controls such as wipers, de-misters, etc.

Applying for the Full Driving Licence

In order to apply online you should note the following:

Verify that you are eligible to sit your test - 6 month rule
Your current valid driver number - this is item 5 on your learner permit
Your name should be entered exactly as it appears on your learner permit - for example if you have a first and second name on your permit then you must enter both when applying online ( this is item 2 on your permit)
Your date of birth should be exactly the same date as appears on your learner permit ( this is item 3 on your permit)

Where can I find these details on my permit?

You will also need:

Your PPS number - this can be found on tax documents or your pay slip and it is often on correspondence from a social welfare or tax office.
A valid debit, laser or credit card ( Visa and MasterCard are currently accepted)
A valid email address as this will be used for notifying you of your test date and for other neccessary communication. Please make sure you check your email (including junk/spam folders) often as all emails relating to your test will be sent to this address.

Can I book my test date online

At the moment we are running a pilot scheme which will allow some applicants to select and book a test date which suits them.

Next Step....

Once you have all the information above the next step is to apply online. You can do this in either English or Irish:

Contact

If you are having problems applying for your test online you can contact our driving test section on 1890 40 60 40 - LoCall (from within Ireland) or by emailing DrivingTest@rsa.ie

Driving Lessons in the West of Ireland