In brief
- Car tests in Ireland passed at 52.4% over the 12 months to August 2026, on 267,818 tests, our figure from Road Safety Authority data published by the CSO.
- Newcastle West (Longcourt House Hotel) was highest at 70.9%, and Waterford and Carlow lowest at 42.1%.
- A pass rate cannot show whether a centre is easier: small centres swing on chance and the tables do not show who sits where.
- At the end of August 2026 the wait for a test invitation was 11.6 weeks, from 1 week at Raheny to 23 at Tallaght.
- Motorbike tests passed at 69.4%, trucks at 74.4% and buses at 65.7% over the same 12 months.
- The variables you control are your theory pass, your EDT lessons and your own driving.
52.4%
Source: Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA30, Driving Tests Delivered and Pass Rate, checked on 2026-09-16
What is the car driving test pass rate in Ireland right now?
Car (category B) tests in Ireland passed at 52.4% over the 12 months to August 2026, on 267,818 tests, our figure from the monthly rows in CSO PxStat ROA30. Calendar years: 53.3% in 2021, 50.2% in 2022, 50.6% in 2023, 49.0% in 2024, 51.8% in 2025. The 12 months to August 2025 were 50.5% on 217,899 tests, so the latest window had 22.9% more tests and a rate 1.9 points higher.
- 52.4%category B pass rate, 12 months to August 2026
- 267,818category B tests delivered in that window
- 50.5%the same rate a year earlier
- 22.9%more car tests than the year before
Source: Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA30, Driving Tests Delivered and Pass Rate, checked on 2026-09-16
| Year | Category B tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 143,806 | 53.3% |
| 2022 | 160,084 | 50.2% |
| 2023 | 189,235 | 50.6% |
| 2024 | 229,332 | 49.0% |
| 2025 | 238,409 | 51.8% |
2026 is not shown as a calendar year: the latest figures are the rolling 12 months to August 2026, on 267,818 tests at 52.4%.
Source: Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA30, Driving Tests Delivered and Pass Rate, checked on 2026-09-16
All licence categories together, leaving out the CPC practical tests, passed at 53.9% on 289,486 tests. The All Test Categories row (54.8%) includes 4,967 CPC practical tests, so we never quote it as a driving test rate.
Practise the rules the driving test and theory test shareNumbered car practice sets cover the Rules of the Road, with an explanation and a source after each answer.Open car practiceWhich driving test centres have the highest pass rates?
Among the 57 centres with 500 or more car tests in the window from September 2025 to August 2026, the highest rate was 70.9% at Newcastle West (Longcourt House Hotel), Co. Limerick.
| Rank of 57 | Centre | Tests | Pass rate | Rough 95% range | 12 months to August 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle West (Longcourt House Hotel), Co. Limerick | 774 | 70.9% | plus or minus 3.2 points | 53.2%, rank 27 |
| 2 | Newcastle West, Co. Limerick | 1,842 | 67.2% | plus or minus 2.1 points | 51.9%, rank 33 |
| 3 | Thurles, Co. Tipperary | 1,740 | 66.0% | plus or minus 2.2 points | 63.9%, rank 4 |
| 4 | Loughrea, Co. Galway | 3,004 | 65.0% | plus or minus 1.7 points | 64.2%, rank 3 |
| 5 | Buncrana, Co. Donegal | 1,342 | 62.9% | plus or minus 2.6 points | 58.6%, rank 8 |
Centre names printed as published. The range is our approximation.
Source: Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA30, Driving Tests Delivered and Pass Rate, checked on 2026-09-16
Two rows had tests but fewer than 500. Clifden, Co. Galway passed 74.4% of 460 tests, but its rough range is plus or minus 4.0 points. We keep a 500 test floor because below it a rate swings on a handful of results.
Which driving test centres have the lowest pass rates?
Waterford and Carlow (Co. Carlow) were lowest at 42.1%, then Finglas 45.0%, Mulhuddart 45.9% and Athlone 46.3%. Wexford at 46.4% sits one tenth of a point above Athlone, so the line between fifth and sixth means nothing in practice.
Window: September 2025 to August 2026. The three highest and three lowest of the 57 centres with 500 or more category B tests. Carlow and Waterford tie at one decimal.
Source: Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA30, Driving Tests Delivered and Pass Rate, checked on 2026-09-16
The lowest five delivered 34,040 tests between them, against 8,702 for the top five. Tallaght delivered 27,547 at 49.6%, 45th of 57.
Is there an easiest driving test centre in Ireland?
The data cannot show one. A centre's rate mixes who sits there with how they drive, and the rankings move a lot from year to year.
- Small numbers wobble: the rough 95% range is plus or minus 3.2 points at Newcastle West's 774 tests, but 0.6 at Tallaght's 27,547.
- Months swing: Thurles went from 55.6% in one month to 86.8% in another, finishing the year at 66.0%.
- Rankings churn: 21 of 55 centres moved ten or more places, and only two of the previous top five remain there.
- One town can have two rows: both Newcastle West rows recorded car tests side by side from September 2024 to February 2026, and five other towns also have two rows each. No reason is published.
- The mix is invisible: ROA30 has no split by attempt, age, gender, driving school or instructor. The only age split, ROA07, is national and ends in 2022.
What are the pass rates for motorbike, truck and bus driving tests?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, category A motorcycle tests passed at 69.4%, trucks at 74.4% and buses at 65.7%. Volumes are small next to car tests, so we give national rates only.
| Category | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| B car or light van | 267,818 | 52.4% |
| BE car with trailer | 4,731 | 85.4% |
| A motorcycle | 4,206 | 69.4% |
| A2 motorcycle, medium power | 992 | 62.0% |
| A1 motorcycle, low power | 277 | 45.6% |
| C truck | 4,945 | 74.4% |
| CE articulated truck | 2,187 | 66.7% |
| D bus | 3,314 | 65.7% |
| D1 minibus | 580 | 68.1% |
No rate is shown below 100 tests, so AM, W, C1E, D1E and DE are left out. CPC practical tests pass at 98.7% and are a different test.
Source: Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA30, Driving Tests Delivered and Pass Rate, checked on 2026-09-16
A first motorcycle learner cannot sit the test without a valid IBT certificate for that category (S.I. No. 681 of 2011). See the motorcycle hub, the truck hub and the bus hub.
How long is the wait for a driving test in Ireland?
At the end of August 2026 the estimated time to a driving test invitation was 11.6 weeks across all centres, from 1 week at Raheny to 23 weeks at Tallaght (CSO PxStat ROA36). The table has no category split and its notes do not say which categories it covers.
| Longest wait | Weeks | Shortest wait | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallaght, Co. Dublin | 23 | Raheny, Co. Dublin | 1 |
| Dun Laoghaire / Deansgrange, Co. Dublin | 17 | Leixlip - Springfield Hotel, Co. Dublin | 5 |
| Mulhuddart, Co. Dublin | 17 | Galway (Carnmore), Co. Galway | 7 |
| Clifden, Dungarvan, Killarney and Killester | 16 | Kilrush, Co. Clare | 8 |
| Waterford, Co. Waterford | 16 | Naas, Co. Kildare | 8 |
58 centres had an estimate, and the middle centre was 11 weeks. The national figure was 10.2 weeks a year earlier.
Source: Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA36, Driving Test Waiting Time, checked on 2026-09-16
- The invitationYou have 10 days to pick a slot
You have 10 days to select an appointment before the invitation expires (how to apply). Bookings are self-managed through a MyRoadSafety account.
- The appointment windowSlots come over the following 3 to 5 weeks
Appointments are offered over the following 3 to 5 weeks, so the invitation date is not the test date (driver test estimation).
- Month to monthCheck the month you are booking in
The estimate is a month end figure and it moves: Raheny went from 29 weeks in July 2026 to 1 week in August, Tallaght from 21 to 23.
For categories other than car, the Road Safety Authority says the average wait is generally 10 to 12 weeks (test waiting times). A test cancelled for weather or tester availability keeps your fee and your place.
How to read one centre's row
The row a reader meets at the top of any league table: category B, 12 months to August 2026.
- Know what is counted. 774 is tests delivered, not people. Someone who sat twice counts twice, and the table cannot say who was a first attempt or who taught them.
- Look at the months. The row has tests in only six months: September 2025 (174, 69.3%) to February 2026 (159, 71.2%). Nothing is recorded from March 2026 on.
- Rebuild the rate. Multiply each month's tests by its rate and add: 12,058.2 + 7,111.6 + 8,316.0 + 6,408.0 + 9,676.8 + 11,320.8 = 54,891.4. Divide by 774: 70.9%. A plain average of the six rates would give 71.4%.
- Look for a sister row. Newcastle West, Co. Limerick is a separate row with 1,842 tests at 67.2%. It recorded 597 tests alongside the Longcourt row to February 2026, then 1,245 to August 2026. As one town: 2,616 tests at 68.3%.
- Size the uncertainty. With 774 tests the rough 95% range is plus or minus 3.2 points, so 67.7% to 74.1% fits the same underlying performance. For the town's 2,616 tests it narrows to 1.8 points.
- Check the year before. The Longcourt row passed 53.2% of 1,261 tests and ranked 27th; the town's two rows passed 52.5% of 2,503.
- Read the wait separately. The waiting table last shows the Longcourt row in February 2026 at 3 weeks. Newcastle West, Co. Limerick shows 11 weeks at the end of August 2026.
The row describes recent outcomes at one venue, not any learner's chance of passing there.
The same reading applies to every row. Centre names are printed as published.
What does the driving test check, and how do you prepare?
Driving testing in Ireland is carried out by the Road Safety Authority (Citizens Information). The test is an oral test of your knowledge of the Rules of the Road plus a practical drive in a vehicle of the category you are applying for (S.I. No. 537 of 2006, regulation 26(1)). The tester must be satisfied that you know the Rules of the Road, carry out the listed operations, obey them while driving, and drive without danger and with due regard for others (regulation 26(2)). For category B, Schedule 4 sets preparation and vehicle checks, special manoeuvres and driving in normal traffic. The car must meet the Schedule 5 vehicle rules. Since 9 March 2026 you must show a valid motor insurance certificate.
- Before you applyPass the theory test first
A theory pass is needed before a first learner permit. The car test is 40 questions in 45 minutes with 35 to pass, and the certificate lasts 2 years. The driving test also opens with oral Rules of the Road questions. See theory test format.
- On a first car permitComplete the 12 EDT lessons
A first car learner permit holder must complete Essential Driver Training, 12 lessons of at least one hour each, and cannot sit the category B test without a logbook stamped by an instructor (S.I. No. 173 of 2011). Lesson 1 comes first, and lessons 9 to 12 wait for 2 to 8.
- Until 31 October 2026Wait out the 6 month rule
Most first permit holders cannot apply for the test within 6 months of the permit coming into force. From 1 November 2026 the bar stays but looks back 2 years for an earlier car permit.
Lessons for each study area, from the Rules of the Road to road signs, build the knowledge the practical test assesses.
How we calculated these figures, and what we could not confirm
A pass rate across months is the sum of each month's tests times its rate, divided by total tests, from the monthly ROA30 rows (methodology). The 12 latest months run from September 2025 to August 2026. The rough 95% range is 1.96 times the square root of p times (1 minus p) divided by n, times 100, though retests break the independence it assumes.
Every table carries the same attribution: Source: Road Safety Authority, published by the Central Statistics Office (PxStat ROA30), CC BY 4.0, data to 2026 August. The waiting and applicant figures use ROA36 and ROA32, licensed the same way (sources and licences). Where two published sources disagree we show both, and everything is dated to 16 September 2026.
- The most common reasons people fail, how faults are graded, and how long the practical test lasts. The CSO tables carry no fault data.
- A first attempt pass rate, and rates by driving school, gender, age at centre level, county, or automatic and manual cars. Not in the tables used here.
- How to choose or change a test centre. The pages that describe it could not be read, so this guide does not advise on it.
- Why Raheny's estimate fell from 29 weeks to 1, and why the Newcastle West rows changed. No reason is published with the tables.
Where to read the pass rates for each centre
Every centre has its own page, and the hub at driving test pass rates by centre lists them all with the car, motorbike, truck and bus figures, the wait for a test and the reliability floor behind the rankings. A centre page carries its month-by-month car series, its year-by-year trend, and the waiting and capacity figures for that place.
Questions people ask
What is the driving test pass rate in Ireland?
For car tests, 52.4% over the 12 months to August 2026, on 267,818 tests, derived from Road Safety Authority data published by the Central Statistics Office.
Which driving test centre has the highest pass rate?
Among centres with 500 or more car tests, Newcastle West (Longcourt House Hotel) at 70.9% on 774 tests, then Newcastle West at 67.2%.
Which driving test centre has the lowest pass rate?
Waterford and Carlow, both 42.1%, then Finglas at 45.0%, Mulhuddart at 45.9% and Athlone at 46.3%.
Does a high pass rate mean a centre is easier?
Not on this data. Rankings move a lot from year to year, with 21 of 55 centres moving ten or more places.
How long is the waiting list for a driving test?
At the end of August 2026 the estimated time to an invitation was 11.6 weeks, from 1 week at Raheny to 23 weeks at Tallaght.
Why did my centre's waiting time change so much in one month?
The figure is an estimate at month end and can move sharply. Raheny went from 29 weeks in July 2026 to 1 week in August.
What percentage of people pass their driving test first time in Ireland?
We could not find a published figure. The CSO pass rate table counts tests, not people, and has no split between first attempts and retests.
What is the pass rate for the motorbike driving test?
69.4% for category A over the 12 months to August 2026, on 4,206 tests. Category A2 passed at 62.0% and category A1 at 45.6%.
Can I sit the car driving test before finishing EDT?
No. A first car learner permit holder cannot sit the category B test without a logbook stamped by an instructor after the 12 lesson Essential Driver Training course.
What happens if I fail the driving test?
You are invited to another test in 10 weeks, longer in some centres. An appeal goes to the District Court for €25, and a pass certificate lasts 2 years.
Sources
- Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA30, Driving Tests Delivered and Pass Rate, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA36, Driving Test Waiting Time, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA32, Driving Test Applications, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Central Statistics Office, PxStat ROA07, Driving Test Pass Rate, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 537 of 2006, Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 173 of 2011, Road Traffic (Courses of Instruction) (Learner Permit Holders) Regulations 2011, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 681 of 2011, Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2011, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 527 of 2025, Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Citizens Information, Driving test, checked on 15 September 2026.
- Road Safety Authority, How to apply for a driving test, checked on 15 September 2026.
- Road Safety Authority, Test waiting times, checked on 15 September 2026.
- Road Safety Authority, Driver test estimation, checked on 15 September 2026.
Written by the Irish Mock Test team, who write and check every lesson, question and guide on this site. This guide is independent and is not advice from the Road Safety Authority or any other body.