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Howth Sutton

School of Motoring
...driving for life!

Driving test

Application

The appropriate fee for the category of test must accompany your driving test application.

Payment should be made by cheque, postal order or money order. These should be crossed and made payable to the Minister for Transport. Fees are non-refundable.

How to apply

You can apply and pay for your driving test online here. (You will require a credit card to do this VISA or Mastercard. You also need to have a valid e-mail address). Alternatively, you can download an application form for a driving test (pdf) here, or obtain a copy from your local Motor Taxation Office. The correct fee must accompany your completed application form.

Ten days notice must be given if you need to cancel your driving test, otherwise the fee is forfeit. You may cancel 2 appointments without forfeiting your fee or having to make a new application.

Where to apply

Driving Testing Section,
Government Offices,
Department of Transport,
Ballina,
Co. Mayo.
Telephone: LoCall: (1890) 40 60 40 (calls charged at local rate from anywhere in the country) or (096) 24200 Fax: (096) 24400
E-mail: drivingtest@environ.irlgov.ie

You can nominate to take your test in a test centre near you. As far as possible, your test will be arranged for the centre you nominate.

There are five driving test centres in Dublin at Raheny, Finglas, Tallaght and Churchtown / Rathgar. Most of our north Dublin clients will be nominating Raheny or Finglas.

(Other centres are located in: Athlone, Ballina, Birr, Buncrana, Carlow, Carrick-on-Shannon, Castlebar, Cavan, Clifden, Clonmel, Cork, Donegal, Dundalk, Dungarvan, Ennis, Galway, Gorey, Kilkenny, Killarney, Kilrush, Letterltenny, Limerick, Longford, Loughrea, Mallow, Monaghan, Mullingar, Naas, Navan, Nenagh, Newcastle West, Portlaoise, Roscommon, Shannon, Skibbereen, Sligo, Thurles, Tipperary, Tralee, Tuam, Tullamore, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.)

If you need to do your test urgently you should request to do so on your application form. If for instance you need it for your employment then you can include a letter from your employer to that effect. The Department does not guarantee an early test to all urgent applicants, as the availability of tests at short notice is dependent on the number of applicants who cancel.

If you apply for the test in Irish then you will have your test conducted in Irish. If you cannot speak English or are deaf you are permitted to have an interpreter with you. This person must not be a relative or your driving instructor and may not accompany you on the practical test.

If you drive an adapted vehicle, or have any special circumstances, requirement or difficulty like hearing problems or any special disability you should notify the Driver Testing Section in advance. This will ensure that they will have prepared to meet your needs.

If you are completely deaf or do not speak English (or Irish), you are permitted to bring an interpreter with you for the initial questions and demonstrations but not for the practical test. The interpreter must not be your driving instructor or a relative.

Test Format

Once you have applied, in due course you will receive a letter from the Department of the Environment notifying you of your test date. You will receive it four or five weeks in advance of your test. The letter will indicate the time, date and venue for the test together with conditions, which must be met. It will also set out the arrangements for cancelling your appointment should this prove necessary. If you are late arriving for your test you will most likely have to wait for another appointment.

On the day of the test the examiner will appear, call out your name, ask you to sign your name and will check your provisional licence to ensure that it is current, it relates to you and is for the correct category of vehicle.

You will be asked to read and sign a statement confirming that your vehicle is in roadworthy condition, and the vehicle insurance cover is in place and is adequate. You then will be asked to lead the way to your vehicle.

The driving test is straightforward. First you will be asked questions on the rules of the road, reading and identifying road signs and also identifying road signs. You will have to demonstrate hand signals and accomplish the following manoeuvres:

• reversing around a corner
• a turnabout in the road
• a hill start

For cars the test will last about 40 minutes and you will be driving for about five miles under a variety of conditions.

The driver tester will know that you may be nervous and will try to put you at ease. The tester is there to test your driving ability and, 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.

You will be given clear instructions throughout the test. Should you not understand a particular instruction, tell the tester. If you make a mistake, do not worry unduly. It may not be as serious as it appears and may not mean that you have failed. Sometimes a supervisory tester may accompany the tester - and this is quite normal.

In the test, your driving will be assessed on the following situations:

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

Aspects of your driving assessed will include

• road positioning
• overtaking and passing
• anticipation and observation
• use of mirrors and signal
• progress
• speed
• compliance with traffic lights, road signs and markings
• use of vehicles controls (accelerator, clutch, gears, brakes and steering).

Hints for the Test

• Revise the Rules of the Road.
• Know your vehicle, know the main engine parts and functions.
• Check that you have L-plates, tax & insurance, lights and signals working, good tyres, brake fluid and washer.
• Keep calm and don't get overconfident
• Drive positively and sensibly
• Look in your mirrors as much as you possibly can without overdoing it. Many people fail their test due to lack of observation alone.
• Remember and practice the correct sequence of actions: Mirrors, Signal and Position.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Arrive for your test in good time. Otherwise you will be flustered and out of breath and will not perform well.
• Maintain the correct speed.
• Signal your intentions early.
• Be aware of traffic signals, road signs and markings.
• Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Remember: 'Only a fool breaks the two second rule'! In dry conditions allow two second of time between the car in front and your car. Double that in wet weather or poor road conditions.
• Maintain a high level of observation, looking in your mirrors often and looking over your shoulder when changing lanes or, pulling out, turning or on roundabouts.
• Watch for potential hazards.
• Use your car controls properly ie. Steering, brakes, clutch, gears, accelerator etc.
• Maintain the correct road position.
• Maintain good progress and do not drive too slowly as this can also be a hazard.
• Use 'pull / push' steering method

On the day:

Your car should be clean and tidy, without any clutter or items that could roll around the floor, and it should be in good mechanical order. Also ensure that you:

• Arrive early, at least 10 to15 minutes before your appointment time
• Have your provisional licence and notification letter with you
• Check that the insurance and tax discs are up to date
• Check that the car has 'L' plates properly fitted and not obstructing vision
• And that your car is roadworthy and has an NCT Certificate if applicable.
• Check that the brake lights and indicators are working and are clean
• Have clean mirrors
• Have a basic understanding of the mechanics of the car
• Know how to work the secondary controls, such as the windscreen wipers and demisters, etc.
• Check that the tyres have more than the minimum thread depth which is 1.6mm
• Check that the seat belts are working
• Position the headrests properly

Howth Sutton can provide you with a roadworthy car for your test if necessary. But you must book early to prevent disappointment. We will include a pre-test lesson before your actual test.

Make sure that you get to bed early the night before your test to be fresh and bright. Also eat a good breakfast and avoid too much coffee as it may make you jittery. Channel your nervousness into a strong determination to do your best. This really works. Just think 'determined' every time you start feeling nervous. There is nothing to fear only fear itself! It will not be the end of the world should you fail.