Theory test answers

How much is the theory test in Ireland?

Take a timed car mock test before you pay for a sitting Practice setsMore answers

The driver theory test in Ireland costs €45 for a car or motorcycle and €72 for a truck or bus. You book and pay for each attempt, so another go costs the same fee again. Source: Citizens Information, page edited 6 May 2026, checked on 15 September 2026.

By the Irish Mock Test teamFacts checked 15 September 2026How we check facts

Key facts

The facts, with sources

Theory test: car, tractor and work vehicle (BW)
Test fee
€45
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test Car or Bike, dated 2025-02-20, checked on 2026-09-15
Theory test: motorcycle and moped (AM)
Test fee
€45
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test Car or Bike, dated 2025-02-20, checked on 2026-09-15
Theory test: truck (C)
Test fee
€72
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test Bus or Truck, dated 2025-06-13, checked on 2026-09-15
Theory test: bus (D)
Test fee
€72
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test Bus or Truck, dated 2025-06-13, checked on 2026-09-15
Theory test: combined truck and bus (CD)
Test fee
€84
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test Bus or Truck, dated 2025-06-13, checked on 2026-09-15
Theory test: Truck Module Test (TMT)
Test fee
€45
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), CPC Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, dated 2025-06-13, checked on 2026-09-15
Theory test: Bus Module Test (BMT)
Test fee
€45
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), CPC Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, dated 2025-06-13, checked on 2026-09-15
Driver CPC case study test
Test fee
€72
Source: Citizens Information Board, Steps to becoming a professional bus or truck driver, dated 2025-01-01, checked on 2026-09-15
Where the theory test fees are set
Legal basis for the Driver Theory Test fees charged by the test operator
Reg. 5(4) of S.I. No. 52 of 2003, as substituted by S.I. No. 486 of 2014, sets the fees: 45 euro for the B and W test, 45 for A and AM, 72 for C, 72 for D, 84 for the combined C and D test, and 45 for each 40 question module test
Source: Irish Statute Book, European Communities (Driving Theoretical Tests) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, S.I. No. 486 of 2014, reg. 3(e), new reg. 5(4) table of S.I. No. 52 of 2003, dated 2014-10-22, checked on 2026-09-15
Paying again after a fail
Limit on attempts
No limit on the number of attempts; the fee is paid each time
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test FAQs, dated 2026-08-14, checked on 2026-09-15
Cancelling or moving a theory test booking
Notice needed to cancel or reschedule without losing the fee
The official sources disagree. The theorytest.ie reschedule page gives a free change or a full refund at least 7 calendar days before the test, a 50 per cent band from 3 to 6 days and no refund inside 2 days. The theorytest.ie FAQs, Citizens Information and rsa.ie say the fee is lost if the test is cancelled less than 5 business days before, including 3 business days.
The official sources disagree
The reschedule page gives a free change or full refund at least seven calendar days ahead, half the fee from three to six days and nothing inside two days. The FAQs, Citizens Information and rsa.ie instead say five business days.
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Reschedule your theory test, dated 2026-08-06, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Reschedule your theory test, dated 2026-08-06, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test FAQs, dated 2026-08-14, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Citizens Information Board, Driver theory test, dated 2026-05-06, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Road Safety Authority, Theory test: how to apply, undated, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Road Safety Authority, Become a professional CPC driver: 3. Case study test, undated, checked on 2026-09-15
Appealing a theory test result
Appeal window and fee
The official sources disagree on the window: within 10 days of the exam (theorytest.ie FAQs) or within 10 working days (theorytest.ie customer charter and Citizens Information). The fee is 15 euro, refunded if the marking was wrong.
The official sources disagree
All three pages give a 15 euro fee, refunded if the marking was wrong. The FAQs allow 10 days from the exam to appeal; the customer charter and Citizens Information say 10 working days, and they differ on turnaround too.
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test FAQs, dated 2026-08-14, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Policy and customer charter, dated 2025-06-13, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Citizens Information Board, Driver theory test, dated 2026-05-06, checked on 2026-09-15
Learner permit application
NDLS learner permit application, first time or renewal
€45
Source: National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), Fees, undated, checked on 2026-09-15
Essential Driver Training a car learner must complete
Essential Driver Training (EDT) with an RSA Approved Driving Instructor, first car (B) learner permit
12 one-hour lessons
Source: Citizens Information, Learner permit rules for specific vehicle categories, dated 2025-09-29, checked on 2026-09-15
What driving schools charge for that course
Market price charged for the 12 Essential Driver Training (EDT) lessons, early 2026 survey
€500 to €750, commonly about €550
Secondary source: Money Guide Ireland
Source: Money Guide Ireland, Cost of learning to drive in Ireland, dated 2026-01-25, checked on 2026-09-15
Initial Basic Training for mopeds and light motorcycles
Motorcycle Initial Basic Training (IBT) for a first AM or A1 learner permit
16 hours in 4 modules
Source: Citizens Information, Learner permit rules for specific vehicle categories, dated 2025-09-29, checked on 2026-09-15
Standard price for Initial Basic Training
Official or standard price of a motorcycle Initial Basic Training (IBT) course
Not published. There is no set price for a motorcycle Initial Basic Training course. The authority's own page says each instructor sets their own fee, and the Citizens Information learner permit page gives no price. Any prices we show come from named training schools.
Source: Road Safety Authority, Motorcycling lessons (IBT), undated, checked on 2026-09-15
One training provider price list
One motorcycle training provider's published IBT prices
A1 IBT (16 hours) €495; A2 IBT (18 hours) €550; A IBT (18 hours) €550; school bike supplied
Secondary source: Two Wheels Training
Source: Two Wheels Training, Prices, dated 2026-06-02, checked on 2026-09-15
A second training provider price list
One Dublin motorcycle training provider's published IBT prices
A and A2 IBT €650; A1 manual and scooter IBT €600; Module 5 €450
Secondary source: Irish Motorcycle Training
Source: Irish Motorcycle Training, Motorcycle lesson prices, dated 2025-12-31, checked on 2026-09-15
Driving test: motorcycle, car, car and trailer, work vehicle and tractor
Motorcycle, car, car and trailer, works vehicle and tractor
€85
Source: Citizens Information, Driving test, dated 2026-02-25, checked on 2026-09-15
Driving test: all other categories
All categories other than motorcycle, car, car and trailer, works vehicle and tractor
€120
Source: Citizens Information, Driving test, dated 2026-02-25, checked on 2026-09-15
Driver CPC driving test, part 1
Driver CPC driving test for bus and truck drivers, part 1
€120
Source: Citizens Information, Driving test, dated 2026-02-25, checked on 2026-09-15
Driver CPC driving test, part 2
Driver CPC driving test for bus and truck drivers, part 2
€32
Source: Citizens Information, Driving test, dated 2026-02-25, checked on 2026-09-15
Notice needed for a driving test refund
Notice needed to cancel an RSA driving test and get the fee refunded
10 days
Source: Citizens Information, Driving test, dated 2026-02-25, checked on 2026-09-15
Appealing a driving test result
Appeal against a driving test result, lodged with the local District Court Office
€25
Source: Citizens Information, Driving test, dated 2026-02-25, checked on 2026-09-15
First full driving licence
NDLS driving licence application, first time or renewal
€65
Source: National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), Fees, undated, checked on 2026-09-15
Exchanging a foreign licence
NDLS exchange of a foreign driving licence
€65
Source: National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), Fees, undated, checked on 2026-09-15

Common questions

Questions people ask

Do you pay again if you have to retake the theory test?

Yes. There is no cap on the number of attempts and the fee falls due on each booking, so a second sitting costs what the first one cost. The amount for your category is in the table above.

Who sets the theory test fee?

The Regulations do. The row above names the provision beside the amount for each test, so the charge for a category is a legal figure rather than a quoted price, and it changes only when the Regulations change.

Can you get the theory test fee back if you cancel?

It depends which official page you read, because the official sources disagree on the notice period. One theorytest.ie page sets out a calendar day rule with a part refund band in the middle, while its own FAQs, Citizens Information and rsa.ie set out a business day rule. Every wording is shown above rather than picked between.

What does the learner permit itself cost?

The permit is a separate NDLS charge, listed above, and the same amount is due at each renewal. A theory test pass is what lets the application go in; it is not folded into the permit fee.

How much are driving lessons in Ireland?

There is no official price. A car learner completes the Essential Driver Training course and a rider completes Initial Basic Training, and the RSA publishes no standard fee for either. The rows above carry a market survey figure and two published provider price lists, each named as a secondary source rather than as a going rate.

What is the total cost from theory test to full licence?

Add the theory test fee, the learner permit, the training course, the driving test fee and the licence itself, each of which is a row above with its own source. We do not print a single total, because the training price is not published and the number of permit renewals differs from person to person.

Does appealing a result cost anything?

Both appeals carry a fee, and they are separate things. A theory test result is appealed to the test operator for a fee that comes back where the marking was wrong, while a driving test result is appealed by lodging a fee in the local District Court Office. The official sources disagree on the theory appeal window, so both wordings sit in that row.

Open questions

What we could not confirm, and where we looked

Official or standard price of a motorcycle Initial Basic Training (IBT) course
Not published. There is no set price for a motorcycle Initial Basic Training course. The authority's own page says each instructor sets their own fee, and the Citizens Information learner permit page gives no price. Any prices we show come from named training schools.
Source: Road Safety Authority, Motorcycling lessons (IBT), undated, checked on 2026-09-15
Driver Theory Test: notice needed to cancel or reschedule without losing the fee
The official sources disagree
The reschedule page gives a free change or full refund at least seven calendar days ahead, half the fee from three to six days and nothing inside two days. The FAQs, Citizens Information and rsa.ie instead say five business days.
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Reschedule your theory test, dated 2026-08-06, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Reschedule your theory test, dated 2026-08-06, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test FAQs, dated 2026-08-14, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Citizens Information Board, Driver theory test, dated 2026-05-06, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Road Safety Authority, Theory test: how to apply, undated, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Road Safety Authority, Become a professional CPC driver: 3. Case study test, undated, checked on 2026-09-15
Driver Theory Test: appeal window and fee
The official sources disagree
All three pages give a 15 euro fee, refunded if the marking was wrong. The FAQs allow 10 days from the exam to appeal; the customer charter and Citizens Information say 10 working days, and they differ on turnaround too.
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Driver Theory Test FAQs, dated 2026-08-14, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Prometric Ireland Ltd (Driver Theory Test Service), Policy and customer charter, dated 2025-06-13, checked on 2026-09-15
Source: Citizens Information Board, Driver theory test, dated 2026-05-06, checked on 2026-09-15

Try a full mock test next

Take a timed car mock test before you pay for a sitting