In brief
- Bring one original from the seven identity documents theorytest.ie lists, with the booking name matching the document exactly.
- Arrive 30 minutes early; late arrival or missing ID means no test and a lost fee.
- The Irish car and motorcycle tests are 40 questions in 45 minutes with 35 needed to pass.
- A change is free at least 7 calendar days before on the reschedule page; other pages use a five-day rule.
- A pass is valid for 2 years; apply to the NDLS in that time or sit and pay again.
- There is no limit on attempts; theorytest.ie advises waiting at least 3 complete business days before a resit.
40
Source: theorytest.ie, Frequently Asked Questions, checked on 2026-09-16
Which theory test you book, and what it costs
The Driver Theory Test is run by Prometric Ireland Ltd on behalf of the Road Safety Authority (theorytest.ie FAQs). theorytest.ie lists five categories; the Road Safety Authority page on what the test is lists four (A, BW, C, D) and leaves out CD. Book the right category: it cannot be changed at the centre (car or bike booking).
- 40questions on the car and motorcycle tests
- 35correct answers needed to pass those tests
- €45fee for each car or motorcycle attempt
- 30 minuteshow early theorytest.ie asks you to arrive
Source: theorytest.ie, Frequently Asked Questions, checked on 2026-09-16
| Category | Licences | Questions | Minutes | Pass mark | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | A, A1, A2, AM | 40 | 45 | 35 | €45 |
| BW | B, BE, W | 40 | 45 | 35 | €45 |
| C | C, CE, C1, C1E | 100 | 120 | 74 | €72 |
| D | D, DE, D1, D1E | 100 | 120 | 74 | €72 |
| CD | C and D groups | 140 | 180 | 104 | €84 |
Module tests: 40 questions, 45 minutes, 30 to pass, €45. CPC case study: €72. No attempt limit; pay each time. Counts and fees sit in S.I. No. 52 of 2003 as substituted by S.I. No. 486 of 2014.
Source: theorytest.ie, Driver Theory Test: Car or Bike, checked on 2026-09-16
A C or D test needs a category B driving licence in force when applying and sitting (S.I. No. 52 of 2003 regulation 5(2)). The ID pages also accept a full B licence from an EU or EEA state, Switzerland or Ukraine as the extra document. The operator FAQ says a disqualified driver may sit only AM or BW. Book the Bus Module Test by phone on 0818 606 106.
From 1 November 2026 the operator says candidates must be at least 15 on the test date, and has recommended 15 since 5 May 2026. The home page says under-15s will not be permitted; the FAQ says they can reschedule or cancel if they choose. The post calls it a proposed change; no instrument setting that age has been published. Until 1 November, BW and AM can be sat from 14. See what age you can sit.
How to book, and what a change or cancellation costs
Book online around the clock, by phone Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm excluding public holidays, or by post to Driver Theory Test, PO Box 15, Dundalk, Co. Louth (customer charter). Pay with Mastercard, Visa, Revolut, or a cheque or postal order.
- When you bookUse an Irish address and your name as on your ID
A booking with an address outside the State cannot test and loses the fee. A name mismatch means no test and a lost fee. A name correction is free before the test day and costs €15 on the day (ID requirements).
- OnlineBook in real time and keep the confirmation
Online booking happens in real time with immediate on-screen and email or letter confirmation. You choose the centre and see its appointment times while booking; times vary between centres.
- If plans changeRead both cancellation wordings before you move the date
The reschedule page uses 7 calendar days, including weekends and public holidays. Other pages on the same site, Citizens Information and rsa.ie use a five-day rule. Both readings are in the table.
| When | Reschedule | Cancellation refund |
|---|---|---|
| At least 7 calendar days before | Free | Free |
| 3 to 6 calendar days before | 50% of the fee | 50% of the fee |
| 2 days before, 1 day before, or on the day | 50% within 6 days; not allowed on the day | Nothing |
The FAQ missed-appointment answer and Citizens Information say the fee is lost if you cancel less than 5 business days before, including 3 complete business days. rsa.ie how to apply says within five days. Late arrival or missing ID also loses the fee.
Source: theorytest.ie, Reschedule or Cancel your Theory Test, checked on 2026-09-16
Under regulation 5(6) and 5(7) of S.I. No. 52 of 2003 the service may arrange a further test, and may refund the fee, only where it is satisfied there was adequate reason for not sitting. No operator page read publishes how to make that case. Charter aims, not results: 94% of candidates offered a slot at their chosen centre within 2 weeks of their preferred date, and a wait of no more than 15 minutes. None of the pages read reports whether those aims are met.
The seven identity documents
Bring one original from the seven documents theorytest.ie lists for every category. Photocopies and photographs are refused. Arrive 30 minutes before the test time for check-in.
- A Public Services Card with photograph
- A passport valid for international use, or expired by no more than 12 months
- An Irish Passport Card (the pages disagree on the extra conditions)
- An EU, EEA or Swiss national identity card
- An Irish category B or A learner permit or full licence, valid and in good condition
- An Irish Travel Document
- A current Ukraine driving licence
On the Irish Passport Card, the ID page asks for one valid for international use and not expired; the car or bike and bus or truck pages ask only that it be in good condition. Truck, bus and CPC case study candidates also bring a full current category B licence, or a current C or D Irish learner permit or full licence. Truck module needs a current bus permit or full D licence; bus module needs a current truck permit or full C licence.
Check-in, the 40 centres, and sitting the test online
- At the deskStaff check and scan your ID
Refusing the scan means no test. You then verify personal information; you cannot test if it is not given accurately (FAQs).
- SecurityWanding for phones and Bluetooth devices
Check-in includes wanding for mobile and Bluetooth devices. You may be asked to roll up sleeves or trousers or turn out pockets. Lockers hold belongings. Smart glasses are not allowed in the testing room. None of the pages read states a phone rule in words.
- Before you sit downA Test Centre Administrator explains the procedure
The administrator explains how the test works and shows you to your workstation. The session is monitored and recorded. Cheating is reported to the RSA and can bring a non-testing period of up to 3 months.
The operator's centre list names 40 centres in 26 counties (our count; the page itself says over forty), from Letterkenny to Skibbereen. County Cork has five, County Dublin four. Dublin City moved to One Custom House Plaza, IFSC, from 26 May 2026. You pick a centre when booking.
rsa.ie how to apply body text says one of 40 centres, while two rsa.ie meta descriptions say the test can be taken online. No category is stated as available online. theorytest.ie Online Testing pages, last modified 28 February 2022, say the 2021 pilot is complete and no further bookings are available.
What the screen does once the test starts
Every test is multiple choice with one answer ticked (Citizens Information). Questions are drawn at random from the bank for the relevant sections. A short tutorial lets you practise 2 questions. A countdown sits on screen. The accessibility page describes a 15 minute tutorial, 45 minute test and 12 minute survey, and names no category.
- Skip or flag a question and return to it through the Section Review tab or the navigation ribbon.
- Cancel an answer and pick another. Review and change all answers before finishing.
- Strike out options with a right click. Highlight question text; answer options cannot be highlighted.
- Adjust colours and contrast. Noise-cancelling headphones and ear defenders sit at every station.
- Leave whenever you choose.
What happens when the countdown reaches zero is not published. No page mentions marks deducted for wrong answers; pass rules count correct answers. No format description sets out a hazard perception or video clip section.
Sit a timed car mockForty questions in 45 minutes, 35 to pass.Start a car mock testIrish, voiceover, dyslexia support and extra time
A, B, C and D tests can be taken in Irish by picking the Irish category name at scheduling. CD and the module tests are English only until further notice (FAQs). With a translation voiceover the screen stays in English. That voiceover is named for the car test only. See theory test languages.
| Source | Count | What that page names |
|---|---|---|
| theorytest.ie (16 September 2026) | 21 | Car test at all 40 centres |
| Citizens Information (15 September 2026) | 20 | Same list without Brazilian Portuguese |
| rsa.ie special assistance (15 September 2026, undated) | 7 | The only list of the three that names Irish |
The theorytest.ie list is the Citizens Information list plus Brazilian Portuguese.
Source: theorytest.ie, Driver Theory Test (BW) voiceover in 21 languages, checked on 2026-09-16
The test day assistance page presents these options as help with the car theory test and names no other category. An English automated reader runs at every centre. Self-service dyslexia support adds an on-screen lexicon. ISL clips can be picked at booking. Extra time or a separate room: call 0818 606 106. An in-person translator takes up to 25 business days. An in-person reader cannot touch the equipment, needs three passed mocks from the operator's learning app, and takes up to 20 business days on theorytest.ie or up to 25 days on Citizens Information.
The score report, the 2-year certificate, and sitting again
A pass or fail shows on screen at the end. A score report link is emailed to the booking address, and you can open it at Prometric's Report Lookup with the confirmation number and surname (type any síneadh fada as at booking). It shows category areas, not individual questions; those area names are not published. Failed candidates also get written weak areas. Match each to the nearest study area on Learn.
After a pass you can apply online through the NDLS with a Public Services Card and a verified MyGovID. A paper pass certificate is no longer needed at NDLS centres (theorytest.ie, 9 May 2022). From 1 November 2026, a permit expired 2 years or more means starting again with a theory test, and 7 years or more on permits in A, A1, A2, AM, B or W is treated as a first permit application (S.I. No. 527 of 2025). See theory test changes.
If you fail, theorytest.ie strongly advises waiting at least 3 complete business days; rsa.ie says a new test may be applied for after three days. That is advice, not a bar. There is no attempt limit. A re-mark costs €15 by cheque or postal order. The FAQ allows 10 days from the exam; the charter and Citizens Information allow 10 working days and say the fee is refunded if the marking was wrong. S.I. No. 52 of 2003 has no appeal regulation. The €25 District Court appeal on Citizens Information is for the practical driving test. See failing the theory test.
Two marks short: what happens next
A hypothetical candidate. Dates are for illustration. Counts are ours.
- They sit the BW car test on Tuesday 6 October 2026 at 10:00, arriving at 09:30 with an Irish passport. The screen shows a fail: 33 of 40, two short of 35.
- Before leaving, if they think the marking went wrong, the charter asks them to speak to the Test Centre Administrator and request a re-mark.
- After the test they open the score report from the booking email, or at Report Lookup with the confirmation number and surname. It shows category areas and written weak areas, not the individual questions.
- A re-mark costs €15. The FAQ window is 10 days from the exam (15 or 16 October). The charter and Citizens Information say 10 working days, 7 to 20 October. Sending the appeal by 15 October meets every reading.
- theorytest.ie advises waiting at least 3 complete business days (7 to 9 October), so the earliest advised sitting is Monday 12 October. They then sit one timed mock of 40 questions in 45 minutes.
- They pay €45 again and book Monday 19 October. A change is free up to 12 October. A cancellation by close of Friday 9 October also satisfies the five-day readings.
Second attempt: name as on the passport, original document, there by 09:30. Suppose they pass with 36 of 40. theorytest.ie counts 2 years from the test date, so the first learner permit application should go in no later than 18 October 2028 (our count), online through the NDLS with a Public Services Card and a verified MyGovID. On the C truck test, 72 of 100 is also two short of 74, and each attempt costs €72.
Where the pages disagree, both readings sit above and we do not pick a winner. Not published: what happens when time runs out, a clip section, score-report area names, an instrument for age 15, and current waiting times.
Questions people ask
How do you book a theory test in Ireland?
Book on theorytest.ie around the clock, by phone 8am to 6pm on weekdays except public holidays, or by post. Use an Irish address and your name exactly as on your ID. The fee is €45 for car or motorcycle, €72 for truck or bus and €84 for the combined test.
Can I use an expired passport for the theory test?
Yes, if it expired no more than 12 months before; otherwise it must be valid for international use. Bring the original. For an Irish Passport Card the ID page asks for one valid for international use and not expired; the car or bike and bus or truck pages ask only that it be in good condition.
Can you reschedule your theory test in Ireland without paying?
The reschedule page allows a free change at least 7 calendar days before; within 6 days a reschedule costs 50% of the fee, and it cannot be moved on the day. Other pages say the fee is lost if you cancel less than 5 business days before, so acting earlier is safest.
How do I see my theory test results?
A pass or fail shows on screen when you finish. A score report link is then emailed to the booking address, and you can open it at Prometric's Report Lookup with your confirmation number and surname. The report shows category areas, not the individual questions.
What happens if I fail the theory test by one or two marks?
A near miss is still a fail: the car and motorcycle tests need 35 of 40. You get a score report and written weak areas, not a list of wrong questions. There is no limit on attempts, but you pay again each time. theorytest.ie advises waiting at least 3 complete business days.
How much does a theory test re-mark cost, and how long do I have?
A re-mark costs €15 by cheque or postal order. The charter says it is refunded if the marking was wrong; the FAQ answer does not mention a refund. The FAQ window is 10 days from the exam (call, then a form by email); the charter and Citizens Information allow 10 working days. The charter gives a result within 5 working days; Citizens Information says 5 to 10.
How long is a theory test pass valid in Ireland?
Two years. theorytest.ie counts from the date of your test; regulation 6(2) of S.I. No. 52 of 2003 counts from the date the certificate is issued. If you have not applied for your first learner permit within that time, you sit and pay again. From 1 November 2026, a permit expired 2 years or more, or 7 years or more on permits in A, A1, A2, AM, B or W, means a first permit again, which needs a theory test.
Can I get extra time or have the questions read out?
Yes. Extra time and a separate room: call 0818 606 106. For the car test, an English voiceover and self-service dyslexia support are on the support page, which names no other category. An in-person reader needs three passed mocks from the operator's learning app and can take up to 20 business days (theorytest.ie) or up to 25 days (Citizens Information).
Sources
- theorytest.ie, Frequently Asked Questions, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Reschedule or Cancel your Theory Test, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, ID Requirements, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Driver Theory Test: Car or Bike, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Driver Theory Test: Bus or Truck, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Test Centre Locations, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Policy and Customer Charter, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Test Day Assistance and Support, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Accessibility and Support Options, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, In-Person Reader and Dyslexia Support Services, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Minimum Age for Driver Theory Test Changing to 15, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Pass Certificate at NDLS Centres, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Driver Theory Test (BW) voiceover in 21 languages, checked on 16 September 2026.
- theorytest.ie, Car or Bike: Online Testing, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 52 of 2003, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 486 of 2014, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 537 of 2006, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 527 of 2025, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Irish Statute Book, Legislation Directory, statutory instruments 2003 numbers 51 to 100, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Law Reform Commission, Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, revised, checked on 16 September 2026.
- Citizens Information, Driver theory test, checked on 15 September 2026.
- Citizens Information, Driving test, checked on 15 September 2026.
- Road Safety Authority, Theory test: how to apply, checked on 15 September 2026.
- Road Safety Authority, Theory test: what it is, checked on 15 September 2026.
- Road Safety Authority, I need special assistance or support for my theory test, 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.