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What Irish learners need to know about drivers hours and tachographs

Lessons, rules and practice questions on drivers' hours, tachographs and documents.

Practise: Drivers' hours, tachographs and documents

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Drivers hours and tachographs is one of the study areas behind the driver theory test in Ireland, where the car test asks 40 questions in 45 minutes and 35 correct answers pass. This lesson gives the rules, the law behind them and questions on this area. Source: Citizens Information, page edited 6 May 2026, checked on 15 September 2026.

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1 of 20

Question 1
When must the day's tachograph record start?
- AFrom the first delivery
- BOnce you leave the depot yard
- CWhen you reach the open road
- DFrom the moment you take over the vehicleCorrect answer
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Correct answer: D
The record starts from the moment you take over the vehicle, not from the first delivery or from reaching the open road. Waiting until you leave the yard is also too late. This is the recording duty in Article 34 of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 on tachographs in road transport, Article 34(1), checked on 2026-09-15.
Question 2
When must you apply to renew your driver card?
- AWithin 5 working days after it expires
- BNot later than 15 working days before it expiresCorrect answer
- CNot later than 15 calendar days before it expires
- DAt any time in the final year of its validity
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Correct answer: B
An application to renew a driver card must be made to the competent authority not later than 15 working days before the card expires. Working days, not calendar days, is the measure. This is Article 28(1) of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 on tachographs in road transport, Article 28(1), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 3
While a tachograph is unserviceable, what must the driver do about the periods that are no longer recorded?
- AStop driving until the unit works again
- BWait for the workshop to reconstruct the missing data
- CMark the identifying data and the missing periods on a record sheet or a temporary sheetCorrect answer
- DReport the gaps to the card issuer by post at the end of the week
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Correct answer: C
While the unit is unserviceable, the driver must mark the identifying data and the information for the periods of time that are no longer recorded on a record sheet or on a temporary sheet. This is Article 37(2) of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 on tachographs in road transport, Article 37(2), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 4
What does multi-manning mean in the EU drivers hours rules?
- ATwo or more drivers taking turns over a whole week of shifts
- BAt least two drivers in the vehicle to share the driving between two consecutive daily rests, or between a daily rest and a weekly restCorrect answer
- COne driver working with a second person who handles loading only
- DTwo drivers meeting at a depot to exchange trailers
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Correct answer: B
Multi-manning means that at least two drivers are in the vehicle to carry out the driving between two consecutive daily rests, or between a daily rest and a weekly rest. The second person must be there as a driver, not as a loader. This is Article 4(o) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 4(o), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 5
A specialised breakdown vehicle of 7 tonnes is used to attend breakdowns 80 km from its base. Is it inside the EU drivers hours Regulation?
- ANo, a specialised breakdown vehicle working within 100 km of its base is outside the RegulationCorrect answer
- BYes, because the vehicle exceeds 3.5 tonnes
- CYes, because specialised breakdown vehicles are covered like any other goods vehicle
- DYes, because the exemption covers every vehicle that cannot exceed 40 km/h
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Correct answer: A
A specialised breakdown vehicle is outside the Regulation only while it works within 100 km of its base. The exemption is tied to that distance, not to the weight of the vehicle or to the type of work alone. This is Article 3(b) to (i) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 3(b) to (i), (ha), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 6
Over any two weeks, what weekly rest pattern does the ordinary rule require?
- ATwo reduced weekly rests, with no regular rest
- BOne weekly rest in the two weeks is enough
- CDaily rests alone are enough if you take one every day
- DTwo regular weekly rests, or one regular and one reducedCorrect answer
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Correct answer: D
In any two weeks the ordinary rule is two regular weekly rests, or one regular weekly rest and one reduced weekly rest of at least 24 hours. A single weekly rest does not cover the two weeks, and daily rests do not stand in for a weekly rest. This is the weekly rest rule in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 4(h) and Article 8(6), (6b), checked on 2026-09-15.
Question 7
A driver uses the emergency departure from the hours rules to reach a safe stopping place. What must the driver do about it?
- ATell the employer by phone and nothing further
- BNote the reason in the daily walkaround sheet
- CRecord the reason manually on the record sheet or printout by the time of arrivalCorrect answer
- DReport to a member of the Garda Síochána at the next town
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Correct answer: C
Where the emergency departure is used, the reason must be recorded manually on the record sheet or on a printout by the time the driver arrives at the destination or stopping place. This is the first paragraph of Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 12, first paragraph, checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 8
You are driving with no driver card because yours was damaged. What must you do about the records for the journey?
- APrint out the tachograph information at the end of the journey and sign the printoutCorrect answer
- BSend a printout to the card issuer within 24 hours
- CHand the printout to the workshop that repairs the unit
- DKeep a handwritten note of the hours instead of a printout
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Correct answer: A
Where the driver card is damaged, malfunctions, or is lost or stolen, the driver must print out the information recorded by the tachograph at the end of the journey and sign that printout. This is Article 35(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 on tachographs in road transport, Article 35(2)(b), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 9
For the EU drivers hours rules, when does a week begin and end?
- AAt 00.00 on Monday and it ends at 24.00 on the following SundayCorrect answer
- BAt 00.00 on Sunday and it ends at 24.00 on the following Saturday
- CAt the start of the first driving shift in each seven day period
- DAt 00.00 on the first working day agreed between the driver and the employer
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Correct answer: A
A week means the period from 00.00 on Monday to 24.00 on Sunday, and that fixed period is used for weekly driving limits and weekly rest. It does not move with the roster. This is Article 4(i) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 4(i), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 10
In exceptional circumstances a driver needs to go beyond the daily and weekly driving limits to reach the employer operational centre or the driver place of residence for a weekly rest. How much extra driving is allowed without first taking a 30 minute break?
- A30 minutes
- B45 minutes
- C90 minutes
- DUp to one hourCorrect answer
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Correct answer: D
In exceptional circumstances, and without putting road safety at risk, a driver may exceed the daily and weekly driving time by up to one hour to reach the employer operational centre or the driver place of residence for a weekly rest. Going up to two hours is allowed only after an uninterrupted 30 minute break taken immediately before the extra driving, and only to reach a regular weekly rest. This is Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 12, second and third paragraphs, checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 11
How is rest defined for the EU drivers hours rules?
- AAny period when the vehicle is parked, whether or not the driver works on paperwork
- BA period of at least one hour away from the vehicle
- CAny period the employer agrees to treat as time off
- DAn uninterrupted period during which the driver may freely dispose of their timeCorrect answer
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Correct answer: D
Rest means an uninterrupted period during which the driver may freely dispose of their time. A parked vehicle is not enough if the driver is still working, and the employer cannot simply label time as rest. This is Article 4(f) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, read with Article 4(d) on breaks.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 4(d), (f), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 12
You hold a driving licence that shows code 95 and you do not carry a separate driver qualification card. Does that meet the proof rule?
- AYes, a licence showing code 95 counts as proofCorrect answer
- BNo, only a separate driver qualification card counts
- CNo, unless you also carry a training certificate
- DYes, but only for work inside the depot
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Correct answer: A
A licence showing code 95 is one of the three documents that count as Driver CPC proof, so a separate card is not the only accepted form. A training certificate is not a substitute, and the proof is not limited to depot work. This is the proof rule in the European Union (Vehicle Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence) Regulations 2025.
Citation
Source: European Union (Vehicle Drivers Certificate of Professional Competence) Regulations 2025 (S.I. No. 594 of 2025), Regulation 2(d), substituting Regulation 17(2) of S.I. No. 359 of 2008, checked on 2026-09-15.
Question 13
What must a driver do to take an extra two hours of driving to reach a base for a regular weekly rest?
- ATake an uninterrupted 30 minute break immediately before the extra drivingCorrect answer
- BTake two separate 15 minute breaks during the extra driving
- CGet written permission from the employer before setting out
- DReduce the weekly rest for that week by two hours
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Correct answer: A
The extra two hours of driving may be used only where an uninterrupted 30 minute break is taken immediately before it, and the journey is to reach a base for a regular weekly rest. This is the third paragraph of Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 12, second to fifth paragraphs, checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 14
A driver wipes the memory of the tachograph unit to hide long driving days. Which records does the rule against falsifying and destroying cover?
- APrintouts only
- BTachograph data, driver card data and printoutsCorrect answer
- CThe vehicle unit own data only
- DOnly records that the driver has already signed
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Correct answer: B
The prohibition in Article 32(3) covers tachograph data, driver card data and printouts, so wiping the unit memory falls inside it. This is Article 32(3) of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 on tachographs in road transport, Article 32(3), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 15
You take a reduced weekly rest after a busy week. By when must the reduction be made up?
- ABy the end of the third week following itCorrect answer
- BIn the following week only
- CNever, because a reduction does not have to be made up
- DBefore you next drive
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Correct answer: A
A reduced weekly rest must be made up by the end of the third week following it. It is not enough to treat the following week as the only window, and the reduction is not written off. This is the weekly rest rule in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 4(h) and Article 8(6), (6b), checked on 2026-09-15.
Question 16
Under multi-manning, what daily rest must a driver take?
- AA new daily rest of at least 8 hours within 24 hours of the last rest
- BA new daily rest of at least 12 hours within 30 hours of the last rest
- CA new daily rest of at least 11 hours within 26 hours of the last rest
- DA new daily rest of at least 9 hours within 30 hours of the end of the previous daily or weekly restCorrect answer
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Correct answer: D
A driver engaged in multi-manning must take a new daily rest of at least 9 hours within 30 hours of the end of the previous daily or weekly rest. The standard daily rest rules are stretched because a second driver shares the driving. This is Article 8(5) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 8(5), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 17
You drive an Irish registered truck on an international journey that runs partly outside the European Union, Switzerland and the EEA. Which hours rules govern that journey?
- AThe AETR applies instead of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 for the whole journeyCorrect answer
- BRegulation (EC) No 561/2006 applies in full for the whole journey
- CThe hours rules of the country where the vehicle is registered always decide
- DOnly Irish national hours rules apply, because the journey began in the State
Show the answerHide the answer
Correct answer: A
For a vehicle registered in the Community, or in a country that is party to the AETR, the AETR applies instead of the Regulation for the whole of an international journey that runs partly outside the Community, Switzerland and the EEA. This is Article 2(3)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, read with Article 2(2).
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 2(2), (3)(a), checked on 2026-09-16.
Question 18
How often in a week may you extend daily driving to 10 hours?
- ANo more than twiceCorrect answer
- BNo more than three times
- CAs often as the work needs
- DOnce only
Show the answerHide the answer
Correct answer: A
The 10 hour day is allowed no more than twice in a week. Three times is too many, and the extra hour is not available whenever the work needs it. This is the daily driving limit in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 6(1), checked on 2026-09-15.
Question 19
What is the ordinary weekly rest under the EU drivers' hours rules?
- AAt least 24 hours
- BAt least 45 hoursCorrect answer
- CAt least 36 hours
- DAt least 48 hours
Show the answerHide the answer
Correct answer: B
Ordinary weekly rest is any period of rest of at least 45 hours. Twenty-four hours is the reduced weekly rest, not the ordinary figure, and 36 or 48 hours is not a weekly rest figure. This is the weekly rest rule in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 4(h) and Article 8(6), (6b), checked on 2026-09-15.
Question 20
You drive a van under 3.5 tonnes on a town delivery round that stays inside the State. Do the EU drivers' hours rules cover this van?
- AYes, because every goods vehicle is covered whatever its weight
- BNo, a goods vehicle under 3.5 tonnes used only inside the State is outside themCorrect answer
- CYes, because the goods threshold is 2.5 tonnes on every run, including this one
- DYes, because those rules apply only to work that stays inside the State
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Correct answer: B
The goods threshold inside the State is 3.5 tonnes. A van under that figure on purely domestic work is outside the EU drivers' hours rules. The 2.5 tonne figure applies to international goods transport, not to every run. This is the scope rule in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Citation
Source: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, Article 2(1), checked on 2026-09-15.

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