Driving test terms and conditions

In order to book a driving test you must pay the relevant fee. The fees relate to the category or type of vehicle in which you wish to undertake your test. These are set out in the table below and are non-transferable. 

To reduce online fraud, the EU has introduced new safety rules for processing online payments known as the Payments Services Directive 2 (PSD). This requires us to capture cardholder data during electronic transactions and send it to the cardholder’s bank for ID authentication.

Therefore, when you are making a payment for an RSA service, such as booking a driving test, we are legally obliged to capture the necessary cardholder data from your transaction and pass this on to your bank so they can check that you are the official cardholder. In some cases, further authentication may be required, for example, your bank may ask you to submit a code they send to your mobile. This is called Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). If you experience any issues during this stage, please contact your bank directly.

To be eligible to sit a driving test you must have held your first learner permit for at least six months and have completed all mandatory training before taking the test - that is, EDT for cars or IBT for motorbikes.

Exceptions

An exemption to the six-months rule may be granted to someone with a full, valid foreign driving licence if they've held it for at least two years. Know more 

A car driver who got their first learner permit before 4 April 2011 is exempt from having to complete driver training and the same applies to motorcyclists who got their first learner permit before 6 December 2010.  Anyone who holds a full foreign licence may be eligible for reduced EDT. Know more

You can now easily and safely apply for your driving test online by signing up or logging into our MyRoadSafety customer portal. If there are no available appointments at your preferred test centre, you can add yourself to the waiting list. Know more

Please note that we are unable to schedule driving tests over the phone or by email however, you can apply for your driving test by post. You will need to download and complete one of the following application forms and send it, along with the correct fee, to the address listed in the form.

Driving test application form (English)

Driving test application form (Irish)

Once you've applied for the driving test and added yourself to the waiting list, we will email you a booking invitation when test slots become available. Know more

You will have 10 days from receipt of the invitation to select an appointment. If you're not ready to sit the test, don't worry, you can hold off booking a test and add yourself back on to the invitation queue at a later time.

Once your test date is more than 10 days away, you can reschedule twice without losing your fee. 

To reschedule your driving test:

1. Go to the 'My bookings' page of your MyRoadSafety account.
2. Click on the 'Manage Booking' button
3. Select 'Reschedule booking' and click 'Continue'
4. Select an alternative test slot if one is available and confirm.

If there are no suitable slots available, click the 'Cancel booking' button. 

When new driving test slots become available, we will email you another invite and you can log into MyRoadSafety to book another driving test for free. You won't lose your place in the queue. 

If you reschedule for a third time or within 10 days of your appointment, you will lose your fee and have to pay for a new test.

To cancel your driving test, go to the 'My bookings' page of your MyRoadSafety account, click 'Manage Booking' and select 'Cancel'.

Important: Before cancelling your driving test make sure you read our Cancellation policy

If you no longer want to do your driving test and wish to withdraw your application, you can do this on your MyRoadSafety account.

To withdraw your driving test application:

1. Go to the 'Home' page of your MyRoadSafety account
2. Click on 'Check application status or leave waiting list'
3. Select 'Leave waiting list' and click 'Continue' button
4. Click on 'Confirm'

If you have an available service credit, your fee will be refunded. 

In exceptional cases we may have to cancel your test at short notice.
This may be due to:

• hazardous weather conditions
• a tester being absent unexpectedly
• other exceptional circumstances.

We will make every effort to notify you of the cancellation as soon as possible, using the contact details you provided in your application. You will be prioritised and invited to book another test free of charge shortly after.

While the driving test itself has not changed, we have introduced safety measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Please read our Covid-19 safety leaflet carefully, as failure to comply may result in your test not going ahead.

What to do if you have Covid-19 or Covid-19 symptoms

Cancel your driving test on MyRoadSafety.ie selecting ‘Covid-19’ as your reason. You won’t lose your fee and you will automatically be sent another invitation. Please book the new appointment for a date after your isolation period. 

Please make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare and comply with all requirements set out by the RSA.

Plan on arriving a little early for your test. If you are late, the test cannot be carried out and you will lose your fee. In addition, the test can only take place if you meet the following requirements. The driver tester will ensure that:

• your learner permit is in your name, is valid and current, and includes the category of vehicle you are to be tested in
• the vehicle you provide meets the requirements for your test category, as outlined in your booking confirmation.

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

• the vehicle insurance cover is in place and is adequate
• your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.

Further information such as tips for the test, documents to bring on the day, and requirements for your test vehicle, is provided in our Checklist for your driving test leaflet. This document can also be viewed in Irish.

To avoid delays on the day of your test, you can request assistance for the driving test when you make your booking. You may need  assistance if you:

• are deaf or hard of hearing. You are permitted to have an interpreter with you for the first (oral) part of the test. This person must not be a driving instructor, must be 16 years of age or over and may not accompany you during the practical (driving) element of the test;
• are restricted in your movements or have any disability which could affect your driving. If you pass your test with a vehicle adapted to suit a disability (e.g. it has additional controls), this will be recorded on your driving licence

If you do not tell us you require assistance in advance of your test, your test will not go ahead and you may lose your fee.

You can bring an interpreter to the first (oral) part of the test if:

• English is not your first language;
• you are deaf or hard of hearing.

The RSA can arrange for a Sign Language interpreter for you if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

You can arrange for an interpreter to be with you for the oral part of the test if English is not your first language. This person cannot be an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). The interpreter cannot accompany you on the second (driving) part of the test.

If you do not tell us you require an interpreter in advance of your test, your test will not go ahead and you may lose your fee.

Throughout the test, the driver tester will give you directions as to the route to take. If the tester believes the vehicle has become unroadworthy, your driving is dangerous, or the tester or candidate becomes ill, the test will be cut short. In such cases the tester will give you further information on the next steps when you return to the test centre.

On completion of the test, the tester will advise you about the test outcome. If you pass you will be given a certificate of competency and this will allow you to apply for a driving licence. If you are unsuccessful you will be given a statement of driving test outcome. After the test the tester will also give you feedback on your driving.

If you are unsuccessful and you believe your test was not properly conducted, you can appeal to the District Court under Article 33 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.  If the Court finds that the test was not properly conducted, it can direct that a further test be offered to you free of charge.

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