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Vehicle Owners

Hazardous Goods Vehicle Test (ADR)

About Accord Dangereux Routier (ADR) and how to apply for an ADR test and certificate. 

If your vehicle transports dangerous goods such as petrol, oil, diesel, acid and other chemicals then your vehicle is required by law to meet certain detailed technical requirements. These are designed to help minimise the dangers to you and other road users. 

ADR is a 1957 United Nations treaty that governs the international transport of hazardous materials. ADR is derived from the French name for the treaty: Accord européen relatif au transport international des merchandises Dangereuses par Route. 

How to apply for an ADR test

There are over 30 test centres around Ireland that carry out ADR tests. 

To apply for your ADR test online you will need to : 

  1. Register for MyCVRT
  2. Enter your vehicle details and select your preferred ADR test centre. At this stage, you can also apply for a CVR test if you wish.
  3. Choose your ADR certificate category and vehicle category.
  4. Upload all your declaration documents and certificates.
  5. Book your vehicle’s ADR test, as follows:
  • Choose a date for your test and make a preliminary booking. The test centre will need to confirm the appointment.
  • Pay your ADR admin fee of €91.50 by VISA or Mastercard. The ADR test fee is separate and must be paid directly to the garage on the day.

Before applying for your ADR test and certificate 

  • Before applying for your test, remember to consult your Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) to ensure that your ADR examination is properly completed, e.g. tank code and special provisions code. 

  • In the case of some vehicle types, it may be necessary for vehicles to be presented with covers removed so that markings can be seen, e.g. the battery master switch. 
  • You will need to have passed a commercial vehicle roadworthiness test (CVR test) within 40 days of your confirmed ADR test appointment date. You can apply for your CVR test and your ADR test online at the same time if you wish. 
  • Separate applications must be made for each vehicle, e.g. motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer, for which an ADR certificate is required. 

  • If you are unable to keep an appointment for an examination, you should contact the test centre as soon as possible as you may lose your fee(s) for late cancellation or no shows.  

  • If you are presenting the vehicle for its test, you must bring a valid driving licence, passport or public services card with you to the test centre. 
  • Apply for your ADR test no less than 10 working days before the inspection is required. 
  • When the vehicle has passed its ADR test, the ADR test certificate will automatically be issued by the RSA to the vehicle operator. 

If you lose or damage your ADR certificate, you must apply for a replacement certificate. No re-test is required provided that there have been no changes to the vehicle or the owner and operator. 

You need to make a cheque for €36.30 payable to the Road Safety Authority with the vehicle registration number written on the back and send it to: 

Road Safety Authority 
ADR section 
Moy Valley Business Park 
Primrose Hill 
Dublin Road 
Ballina 
Co. Mayo

Upload the new tank test certificates online  

OR 

Submit copies of your new tank test certificates together with the original ADR certificate to: 

Road Safety Authority 
ADR section
Moy Valley Business Park  Primrose Hill
Dublin Road
Ballina
Co Mayo.

Your ADR certificate will then be extended to its full term. 

Frequently asked questions 

This content is for general information only. It does not, and is not intended to, provide legal or technical advice or to represent a legal interpretation of the matters it addresses.

To register as an ADR operator, you must set up a CVRT online account.

For issues relating to system failure email [email protected].


For issues relating to making payment or uploading documentation contact ADR Section at (096) 25035 or email [email protected] .

You can view an interactive map of all nationwide ADR test centres.
Yes, you must first cancel the test with your original test centre. The new test centre can then pick up test under the registration number. No fee payable.
You can email our authorisations team at [email protected] 
Yes. You have 40 days from the date of your CVR test to get an ADR test. After that you will have to repeat your CVR test.
The 40 days take effect from midnight of test date until midnight of the 40th day. The system will not allow vehicle to be tested outside 40 days.

An exceptional test is required by an accredited body if the tank is manufactured on or after 01 July 2003.

An ADR certificate can only be issued for 44 tonne. For a vehicle with a design gross vehicle weight (DGVW) over 44 tonne, the endurance brake performance only has to be tested at a load of 44 tonne to comply with ADR requirements.
S.I. No. 349 of 2011 to 2019 of EC (Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment) Regulations 2011 (as amended) apply to the transport of dangerous goods by road in tanks, in bulk and in packages and the packing, loading, filling, and unloading of these dangerous goods in relation to their carriage. View the consolidated version of these regulations.

Bowsers with a capacity of less than 1,000 litres do not require the driver to have ADR certification.


Bowsers over 1,000 litre - 3,000 litre capacity require the following: 


  1. Certificate from manufacturer stating it is an intermediate bulk container (IBC)
  2. UN numbers on both sides with orange plates front and rear
  3. Pressure test 2.5 and 5 years
  4. Fire extinguisher
  5. Driver needs ADR licence
  6. Towing vehicle will not require ADR certification

Yes, provided it is carried in portable fuel containers not exceeding 60 litres with an overall transport unit of 240 litres.
No. However, you must ensure that it is securely stored either under the seat or in the boot. It is good practice to display signage on the outside of the vehicle to show you are carrying oxygen and alert emergency services in the event of a collision.
  • For tractor units and rigid vehicles, it must be carried in the vehicle.
  • For trailers it must be produced within 10 days if requested.

Yes. You need to make a cheque for €36.30 payable to the Road Safety Authority and send it to:

Road Safety Authority

ADR Section

Moy Valley Business Park

Primrose Hill

Dublin Road

Ballina

Co Mayo

You need to upload the new tank test certs online

OR

Submit copies of your new tank test certificates together with the original ADR certificate to:

Road Safety Authority

ADR Section

Moy Valley Business Park

Primrose Hill

Dublin Road

Ballina

Co Mayo


Your ADR certificate will then be extended to its full term.


 

Refer to Tank Type Approval Cert (TC1)

OR

Refer to Chapter 4.3.4.1 of ADR Manual

Contact your Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser (DGSA).

Refer to Chapter 3.2 of ADR Manual and check under UN No.

A DGSA can be an operator, or somebody employed outside the company who is certified by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) to advise on health, safety and environmental matters relating to the carriage of dangerous goods.
Yes. For information on training email CILT at [email protected] or visit their website.

Declarations and Certs are submitted to the RSA on first application only and are held with vehicle history. Tests are then submitted every 3 and 6 years. 

DocumentsFLATEXIIEXIIIMemu
Brake Declaration✓✓ ✓✓
Cab Declaration  ✓✓ 
Body Declaration (IVA Cert)*  ✓✓ 
Sheet Declaration  ✓  
Combustion Heater Declaration✓   ✓
Explosive Compartment Certificate    ✓
Battery Master Switch Declaration✓   ✓
Automatic Fire Extinguisher Declaration   ✓✓
Stability Declaration (maximum pressure < 4bar)✓   ✓
Manufacturer’s ADR Type Approval Cert**✓✓ ✓✓
Tank Type Approval Cert (TC1)✓✓  ✓
Initial Approval Cert (TC2)✓✓  ✓
Leakproof Test✓✓  ✓
Periodic Test✓✓  ✓
Exceptional Test✓✓  ✓
  • Where IVA is supplied for new individual vehicles first registered after 01 October 2014 a body declaration is not required.

** Where IVA is supplied for new individual vehicles first registered after 01 October 2014 a body declaration is not required.

DocumentsTractor UnitRigid TruckSemi-Trailer + Fixed TankDrawbar Trailer
Manufacturer’s ADR Type Approval Cert (vehicles manufactured on or after 01 July 2003)✓✓✓✓
Stability Declaration (vehicles first registered on or after 01 July 2003 and where test pressure (gauge) is less than 4 bar as shown on Tank Type and Initial Approval Cert ✓✓✓
Tank Type Approval Cert (tanks manufactured on or after 01 July 2003 or any tank requiring international certification) ✓✓✓
Tank Initial Approval Cert (this cert can be used to determine date of manufacture of pre-July 2003 tanks ✓✓✓
  • Tank certs must be submitted every 3 years (Leakproof) and 6 years (Periodic) 
  • Exceptional test must be submitted where any excessive hot work or major repairs have been carried out since last inspection