Practice test
Practice Test 1
40 questions, just like the real test. Attempt them, then check the answer key below — or take the timed, auto-scored version in Theory Test Ireland.
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Download on theApp Store1. What is the default speed limit on a motorway in Ireland?
- A. 100 km/h
- B. 110 km/h
- C. 120 km/h
- D. 130 km/h
2. What is the default speed limit on a national road (non-motorway) in Ireland?
- A. 80 km/h
- B. 100 km/h
- C. 110 km/h
- D. 120 km/h
3. What is the default speed limit on a regional (R) road in Ireland?
- A. 60 km/h
- B. 80 km/h
- C. 100 km/h
- D. 50 km/h
4. What is the default speed limit in a built-up area in Ireland?
- A. 30 km/h
- B. 40 km/h
- C. 50 km/h
- D. 60 km/h
5. You are driving in a clearly signed 30 km/h special speed limit zone. What type of area is this most likely to be?
- A. A motorway slip road
- B. A school or residential area where a lower limit has been set
- C. A national road with roadworks
- D. A dual carriageway in a city
6. What are learner permit holders not allowed to do on a motorway in Ireland?
- A. Drive on it at all, even when accompanied
- B. Drive on it only between the hours of darkness
- C. Drive on it unless their accompanying driver has a full licence
- D. Drive in the outer (right-hand) lane
7. A driver holds a learner permit for category B (car). Which of the following is a legal requirement when they drive?
- A. They may drive alone at any time
- B. They must be accompanied by a qualified driver who holds a full licence for at least two years
- C. They must display a red L-plate on the rear only
- D. They are restricted to national roads only
8. What colour are the L-plates that a learner permit holder must display on a car in Ireland?
- A. Red letter L on a white background
- B. White letter L on a red background
- C. Green letter L on a white background
- D. Black letter L on a yellow background
9. A novice driver in Ireland has recently passed their driving test. What is the maximum speed limit that applies specifically to them on a motorway?
- A. 100 km/h
- B. 110 km/h
- C. 120 km/h
- D. Novice drivers may not drive on motorways
10. For how long after obtaining a first full licence must a novice driver in Ireland display N-plates?
- A. One year
- B. Two years
- C. Three years
- D. Six months
11. At a roundabout with no road markings or signs, who has priority?
- A. The driver approaching from the left
- B. The driver approaching from the right
- C. Traffic already circulating on the roundabout
- D. The driver on the larger road
12. When approaching a roundabout in Ireland, to which traffic must you give way?
- A. Traffic coming from your right (already on the roundabout)
- B. Traffic coming from your left
- C. Traffic directly behind you
- D. No traffic; you always have priority on approach
13. At an unmarked junction (no signs or road markings), who has right of way?
- A. The driver on the wider road
- B. The driver travelling fastest
- C. The driver approaching from the right
- D. The driver approaching from the left
14. You are waiting at a junction marked with a 'Yield' sign. A car is approaching on the major road. What must you do?
- A. Proceed immediately to avoid holding up traffic behind you
- B. Sound your horn to warn the approaching driver
- C. Give way to the traffic on the major road before entering
- D. Flash your headlights and proceed
15. You are turning right from a major road into a side road. A cyclist is approaching from the opposite direction going straight ahead. Who has right of way?
- A. You, because you are on the major road
- B. The cyclist, who is travelling straight ahead
- C. Whoever reaches the junction first
- D. You, because cars have priority over cyclists
16. In Ireland, you generally must NOT overtake on the left. In which specific situation is overtaking on the left permitted?
- A. When the vehicle in front is travelling below the speed limit
- B. When the driver in front signals that they intend to turn right
- C. When driving on a dual carriageway at night
- D. When traffic on the right lane is moving faster
17. When may you cross a continuous (unbroken) white centre line?
- A. For access to a premises or in an emergency, never to overtake
- B. To overtake when the road ahead is clearly visible and safe
- C. To overtake any vehicle travelling under 30 km/h
- D. At any time during the hours of darkness
18. Which of the following situations makes overtaking ILLEGAL in Ireland?
- A. Overtaking on a road with a broken white centre line
- B. Overtaking when approaching a bend or the brow of a hill
- C. Overtaking on a dual carriageway in good visibility
- D. Overtaking a slow-moving tractor on a straight road
19. Before overtaking a vehicle on a single carriageway, you should ensure that:
- A. The road ahead is clear for a sufficient distance for you to complete the manoeuvre safely
- B. The vehicle behind you has slowed down
- C. It is daytime
- D. The vehicle in front is travelling at least 20 km/h below the speed limit
20. At which of the following places is overtaking prohibited in Ireland?
- A. At a pedestrian crossing
- B. On a straight road with a broken white line
- C. On a clear dual carriageway with two lanes in your direction
- D. On a motorway in the left-hand lane
21. Which road are learner permit holders prohibited from driving on in Ireland?
- A. Motorways, whether accompanied or not
- B. National secondary roads
- C. Regional roads after dark
- D. Dual carriageways at any time
22. Which road user category is NOT permitted to use a motorway in Ireland?
- A. Motorcyclists
- B. Cyclists
- C. Articulated lorry drivers
- D. Novice car drivers
23. When is it permitted to use the hard shoulder of a motorway in Ireland?
- A. When overtaking a slow vehicle
- B. In the event of a breakdown or emergency stop
- C. When joining the motorway from a slip road
- D. During peak hours when traffic is heavy
24. You have broken down on a motorway and stopped on the hard shoulder. What should you do with your passengers?
- A. Keep them in the vehicle with seat belts fastened
- B. Ask them to stand behind the vehicle to warn oncoming traffic
- C. Move them away from the vehicle and behind the barrier if possible
- D. Have them push the vehicle to the next exit
25. At what minimum distance from the car in front should you keep in normal dry conditions on an open road?
- A. A one-second gap
- B. A two-second gap
- C. A three-second gap
- D. A four-second gap
26. You are driving in heavy rain on an open road. What following distance should you maintain from the vehicle ahead?
- A. One second — brakes work the same in rain
- B. Two seconds — the same as dry conditions
- C. At least four seconds to allow for increased stopping distances
- D. Six seconds, as rain doubles stopping distance
27. What does the two-second rule for following distance refer to?
- A. A minimum time gap of two seconds behind the vehicle ahead
- B. A fixed gap of two metres behind the vehicle ahead
- C. A two-car-length gap behind the vehicle ahead
- D. Two seconds of braking time before any junction
28. What does a double yellow line painted along the kerb indicate?
- A. No parking at any time
- B. No parking during certain hours
- C. Parking limited to 30 minutes
- D. Loading and unloading only
29. What does a single yellow line painted along the kerb indicate?
- A. No parking at any time
- B. Parking restrictions apply during certain hours — check the signs
- C. You may park for up to one hour
- D. No stopping at any time
30. What is a clearway?
- A. A motorway with no speed limit
- B. A road where stopping or parking is prohibited during certain hours
- C. A lane reserved exclusively for buses
- D. A road through a national park where no commercial vehicles are allowed
31. What do zig-zag road markings on the approach to a pedestrian crossing mean?
- A. You must not park or overtake in that area
- B. You may park there outside of peak hours
- C. You may overtake provided you do not exceed 30 km/h
- D. The crossing is for cyclists only
32. What must you do when a Garda is on point duty at a junction and signals you to stop?
- A. Proceed if the traffic lights show green
- B. Stop immediately and obey the Garda's signal
- C. Sound your horn to acknowledge the signal and continue slowly
- D. Stop only if there is no other traffic present
33. At traffic lights, what does a steady amber light mean?
- A. Proceed with caution — it is the same as green
- B. Stop if you can safely do so; the lights are about to turn red
- C. Speed up to clear the junction before red
- D. Give way to pedestrians only
34. Traffic lights show red and amber together. What does this signal mean?
- A. Stop; you may proceed if the way is clear
- B. Prepare to go — the lights are about to turn green
- C. Give way to pedestrians and then proceed
- D. Hazard ahead; reduce speed
35. Before signalling to turn right, a driver should first check their mirrors. Why is this the correct sequence?
- A. So other drivers know you are looking in your mirrors
- B. To be aware of traffic and road users who may be affected by the manoeuvre
- C. Mirrors must be adjusted before any turn
- D. To comply with the NCT inspection requirement
36. When scanning the road ahead, how far ahead should a driver aim to look on an open road?
- A. About 30 metres
- B. About 50 metres
- C. About 12 seconds of travel time ahead
- D. Only to the next vehicle in front
37. What is a 'blind spot' on a vehicle?
- A. An area around the vehicle not visible in either the interior or exterior mirrors
- B. A smudged area on the windscreen that blocks the view
- C. The area directly in front of the bonnet
- D. A dazzled patch caused by oncoming headlights
38. You are about to change lanes on a dual carriageway. After checking your mirrors and signalling, what additional check should you make?
- A. Check the speedometer
- B. Check your blind spot by glancing over your shoulder
- C. Sound the horn to warn other drivers
- D. Flash your headlights
39. When passing a parked car, why should you check your mirrors and look ahead carefully before steering out?
- A. To check your fuel level
- B. A door may open or a pedestrian may step out from between vehicles
- C. You are required by law to sound the horn
- D. To ensure the road marking is yellow
40. What is the minimum safe passing distance when overtaking a cyclist on a road with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less?
- A. 0.5 metres
- B. 1 metre
- C. 1.5 metres
- D. 2 metres
Answer key
- 1. 120 km/h — The default speed limit on Irish motorways is 120 km/h unless road signs indicate otherwise.
- 2. 100 km/h — The default speed limit on national roads (N-roads) that are not motorways is 100 km/h.
- 3. 80 km/h — Regional (R) roads have a default speed limit of 80 km/h. Note: since 7 February 2025 (Road Traffic Act 2024) the default on rural local (L) roads was reduced to 60 km/h, but regional roads remain at 80 km/h.
- 4. 50 km/h — The default speed limit in built-up areas (towns, villages, cities) is 50 km/h unless a lower limit is posted.
- 5. A school or residential area where a lower limit has been set — Special speed limits of 30 km/h are commonly applied around schools, playgrounds, and residential streets where vulnerable road users are present.
- 6. Drive on it at all, even when accompanied — Learner permit holders are prohibited from driving on motorways under any circumstances, even if accompanied by a fully licensed driver.
- 7. They must be accompanied by a qualified driver who holds a full licence for at least two years — Learner permit holders must at all times be accompanied by a driver who holds a full category B licence for at least two years.
- 8. Red letter L on a white background — Learner drivers in Ireland must display red L-plates (red letter L on a white background) at the front and rear of the vehicle.
- 9. 120 km/h — Novice full-licence holders may use motorways and the standard 120 km/h limit applies; there is no separate lower motorway limit for novice drivers. They must display N-plates for two years.
- 10. Two years — Novice drivers must display N-plates (a red letter N on a white background) for two years following the date they obtained their first full licence.
- 11. Traffic already circulating on the roundabout — At all roundabouts in Ireland, vehicles already on the roundabout have priority. Approaching drivers must yield to circulating traffic.
- 12. Traffic coming from your right (already on the roundabout) — Traffic flows clockwise around Irish roundabouts. Approaching drivers must yield to vehicles already on the roundabout, which are coming from the right.
- 13. The driver approaching from the right — At an unmarked junction where roads are of similar importance, you must give way to traffic approaching from your right.
- 14. Give way to the traffic on the major road before entering — A Yield sign requires you to slow down and give way to all traffic on the major road before entering. You may only proceed when it is safe to do so.
- 15. The cyclist, who is travelling straight ahead — When turning right, you must yield to oncoming traffic travelling straight ahead, including cyclists. You must wait until it is safe before completing your turn.
- 16. When the driver in front signals that they intend to turn right — You may pass on the left when the driver ahead is signalling and waiting to turn right, provided you can do so safely without crossing a continuous white line.
- 17. For access to a premises or in an emergency, never to overtake — A continuous (unbroken) white centre line must never be crossed for overtaking. You may only cross it for access to a premises or side road, or in an emergency.
- 18. Overtaking when approaching a bend or the brow of a hill — You must not overtake when approaching a bend, the brow of a hill, or any place where your view ahead is obstructed, as an oncoming vehicle could appear without warning.
- 19. The road ahead is clear for a sufficient distance for you to complete the manoeuvre safely — You must only overtake when you have a clear, unobstructed view of the road ahead far enough to complete the manoeuvre and return to your lane safely.
- 20. At a pedestrian crossing — Overtaking is prohibited at pedestrian crossings. A broken white line, a clear dual carriageway, and the left lane of a motorway are all places where overtaking is permitted when it is safe to do so.
- 21. Motorways, whether accompanied or not — By law, holders of a learner permit may not drive on motorways. This prohibition applies regardless of whether they are accompanied.
- 22. Cyclists — Cyclists and pedestrians are not permitted on motorways. Motorcycles, lorries, and novice drivers with full licences may use motorways.
- 23. In the event of a breakdown or emergency stop — The hard shoulder is reserved for genuine breakdowns and emergencies. Driving on it or using it to pass other traffic is illegal except in an emergency.
- 24. Move them away from the vehicle and behind the barrier if possible — Passengers should exit the vehicle via the left-side door and move well away from it, ideally behind a safety barrier, to avoid being struck if the vehicle is hit from behind.
- 25. A two-second gap — The two-second rule is the minimum safe following distance in dry conditions. Pick a fixed point and ensure two seconds elapse between the vehicle in front passing it and you passing it.
- 26. At least four seconds to allow for increased stopping distances — In wet conditions, braking distances increase significantly. You should at least double the dry-weather two-second rule, giving a minimum of four seconds in rain.
- 27. A minimum time gap of two seconds behind the vehicle ahead — The two-second rule is a time-based measure, not a fixed distance. You pick a fixed point on the road and ensure two seconds pass from when the car in front passes it until you reach it.
- 28. No parking at any time — A double yellow line means no parking is permitted at any time on that stretch of road.
- 29. Parking restrictions apply during certain hours — check the signs — A single yellow line indicates time-based parking restrictions. You must check nearby signs to find out exactly when parking is prohibited.
- 30. A road where stopping or parking is prohibited during certain hours — A clearway is a road where vehicles must not stop or park during the hours shown on the clearway sign, to keep traffic flowing.
- 31. You must not park or overtake in that area — The zig-zag markings on the approach to and exit from a pedestrian crossing prohibit both parking and overtaking, ensuring the crossing remains clearly visible to all road users.
- 32. Stop immediately and obey the Garda's signal — A Garda's signal overrides all other traffic controls including traffic lights. You must stop and comply with the Garda's directions.
- 33. Stop if you can safely do so; the lights are about to turn red — A steady amber light means stop unless you are so close to the stop line that stopping would be dangerous. The lights are about to change to red.
- 34. Prepare to go — the lights are about to turn green — Red and amber shown together signal that the lights are about to change to green. You should prepare to move but must not pass the stop line until the green light shows.
- 35. To be aware of traffic and road users who may be affected by the manoeuvre — The correct sequence is Mirror–Signal–Manoeuvre. Checking mirrors first tells you who is close behind or alongside, so you can signal and manoeuvre safely without cutting across or startling other road users.
- 36. About 12 seconds of travel time ahead — Drivers are advised to scan roughly 12 seconds ahead so they have time to identify hazards early and react smoothly rather than braking suddenly.
- 37. An area around the vehicle not visible in either the interior or exterior mirrors — Blind spots exist where the mirrors give no coverage, typically to the rear-sides of the vehicle. Drivers must turn their head to check these areas before changing lanes or pulling out.
- 38. Check your blind spot by glancing over your shoulder — Mirrors do not cover blind spots. A shoulder check (glancing over your shoulder) before the manoeuvre confirms no motorcycle or cyclist is alongside in the space mirrors cannot show.
- 39. A door may open or a pedestrian may step out from between vehicles — Parked vehicles hide pedestrians and cyclists; a door opening ('dooring') can cause a serious collision. Scanning ahead and checking mirrors lets you time the pass safely.
- 40. 1 metre — Under Irish road traffic legislation, drivers must give at least 1 metre of clearance when passing a cyclist where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less.