• Moving off
• Driving in traffic
• Stopping
• Reversing round a corner
• Turning about to face in the opposite direction
• Stopping and Moving off on a hill
• Parking

• Road positioning
• Overtaking and passing
• Anticipation and observation ( React to Hazards)
• Use of mirrors and signals
• Progress
• Speed
• Compliance with traffic lights, road signs and markings
• Use of the vehicle controls (accelerator, clutch, gears, brakes and steering)
• Use of secondary controls such as wipers, demisters, etc

Award Driving School has courses available for the full license holder to brush up on their driving skills

What is the Purpose of Your Driving Test?

The driving test is designed to establish whether you:

• know the Rules of the Road;
• have the knowledge and skill to drive competently in accordance with those rules;
• drive with due regard for the safety and convenience of other road users.

Special Circumstances

You should notify the Driver Testing Section in advance if you:

• have a severe hearing problem;
• are restricted in your movements or have any disability which could affect your driving;
• drive an adapted vehicle.

This will eliminate delay on the day of your test.

If you cannot speak English or are deaf, you are permitted to have an interpreter with you. This person must not be your driving instructor, and may not accompany you on the practical test.

Your Appointment

Appointments for driving tests are arranged in the order in which applicationsare received. It is the Department's aim to have a national average waiting time for a driving test of 10 weeks. Our ability to meet this target depends on the number of applications received. Accordingly, the average waiting time in certain driving test centres may vary above or below this 10 week figure. Current waiting times for each centre is available on the website www.drivingtest.ie.

You will normally be given an appointment notice four to five weeks in advance of your test. This will indicate the time, date and venue for the test together with conditions which must be met. Please read this notice carefully as it may help avoid problems on the day of the test.

It will also set out the arrangements for cancelling your appointment should this prove necessary.

Day of the Test

You should be present in the test centre before the appointed time of your test. If you are late, the test cannot be conducted and the fee will be forfeited.

The driver tester will check your provisional licence to establish that it:

• relates to you;
• is current;
• is for the correct category of vehicle.

• the vehicle insurance cover is in place and is adequate.
• your vehicle is in roadworthy condition - further information in relation to vehicle roadworthiness will be provided with your appointment letter.

The Test

The driving test is straightforward. For cars it will last about 40 minutes and will include:

• questions on the Rules of the Road (including identifying road signs); demonstrating hand signals;
• reversing round a corner;
• a turnabout in the road;
• a hill start;
• driving approximately five miles under a variety of road and traffic conditions.

• moving off;
• driving in traffic;
• stopping;
• reversing round a corner;
• turning about to face in the opposite direction;
• starting on a hill;
• parking.

• road positioning;
• overtaking and passing;
• anticipation and observation;
• use of mirrors and signals;
• progress;
• speed;
• compliance with traffic lights, road signs and markings;
• use of the vehicle controls (accelerator, clutch, gears, brakes and steering).
• use of secondary controls such as wipers, demisters, etc.

• you know how to operate the secondary controls, such as windscreen wipers and washers, demisters, rear window heater, lights and air-conditioning where fitted. You must also know how to adjust the seat, seat-belt and mirrors and ensure the doors are closed;
• in the case of a motorcycle test, you must be able to remove the machine from its stand. You must also know how to adjust the helmet;
• in the case of a vehicle and trailer, you must know how to uncouple and recouple the trailer from/to the drawing vehicle;
• in the case of a heavy vehicle test, you must know how to check the power-assisted braking and steering systems, and how to use any retarder or exhaust brake as fitted to the vehicle;
• In the case of a bus test, you must also know how to operate the fuel shut-off valve, the main power switch, and how to manually open and close any powered doors as fitted to the vehicle.

Passengers other than the driver tester and/or Department officers are not permitted to accompany you in the vehicle during the practical test. The tester may be accompanied on test for training/supervisory purposes. While the accompanying officer may take notes, s/he has no input into the conduct or outcome of the test.

Useful information to help you:

• the driver tester will realise that you may be nervous and will try to put you at ease;
• unlike your instructor, the driver tester will not offer you encouragement or advice. You should not be put off by this formal approach which is designed to ensure fairness to all applicants;
• while you will be given clear directions throughout the test, should you not understand a particular direction, ask the tester to repeat or clarify it;
• if you make a mistake, do not worry unduly. It may not be as serious as it appears and may not mean you have failed;
• a supervisory tester may accompany the tester - this is quite normal.