Practice test
Practice Test 8
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.
Take this test timed and scored, with your predicted pass result — free to start in the app.
Download on theApp Store1. What effect does correct tyre inflation have on fuel economy?
- A. It reduces fuel economy by increasing grip
- B. It has no effect on fuel economy
- C. It improves fuel economy by reducing rolling resistance
- D. It only matters for diesel vehicles
2. When must you use dipped headlights during daytime?
- A. Only when driving through tunnels longer than 500 m
- B. Only on motorways
- C. Only between midnight and 6 am
- D. Whenever visibility is seriously reduced due to poor weather
3. When may front fog lights be used?
- A. Only on motorways
- B. At any time while the vehicle is moving
- C. At all times after dark on unlit roads
- D. Only in fog or falling snow where visibility is seriously reduced
4. How can you check that your brake lights are working when you are alone?
- A. Check the dashboard — a warning light will appear if they fail
- B. Drive at speed and apply the brakes firmly
- C. Reverse close to a reflective surface such as a wall or another vehicle and press the brake pedal
- D. Brake lights cannot be checked without a second person
5. Which of the following is a sign that your brakes may need attention?
- A. The brake pedal feels firm and the vehicle stops in a straight line
- B. The handbrake holds the vehicle on a slight hill
- C. The vehicle pulls to one side when braking
- D. Braking distance decreases on wet roads
6. What should you do if your ABS warning light stays on while driving?
- A. Apply the brakes firmly to reset the system
- B. Continue driving — ABS lights illuminate in cold weather
- C. Have the ABS system checked by a qualified technician as soon as possible
- D. Disconnect the battery to clear the fault code
7. Which sound is a classic warning sign of worn brake pads?
- A. A clicking sound when turning the steering wheel
- B. A rattling noise from the exhaust when decelerating
- C. A low rumbling noise at high speed
- D. A high-pitched squealing or grinding noise when the brakes are applied
8. Which of these is a warning sign of a possible steering or suspension problem?
- A. The vehicle wanders or drifts without the driver making steering inputs
- B. The vehicle steers smoothly with no vibration
- C. The speedometer needle vibrates above 120 km/h
- D. The handbrake holds on a hill without the brake pedal depressed
9. Your vehicle bounces excessively after going over a bump. What could this indicate?
- A. A low engine oil level
- B. Correctly functioning suspension
- C. Over-inflated tyres only
- D. Worn shock absorbers
10. When must your windscreen wipers be in good working condition?
- A. Only during the winter months
- B. Only if the vehicle was manufactured after 2010
- C. At all times, as they are required for roadworthiness
- D. Only if the vehicle is used on motorways
11. Which of these conditions would cause a windscreen to fail the NCT?
- A. Minor scratches outside the wiper sweep area
- B. Light water marks that can be cleaned off
- C. A crack or chip within the driver's critical vision area
- D. Tinted film on the rear window only
12. Black smoke from a petrol engine exhaust most likely indicates:
- A. Oil burning due to worn piston rings
- B. Normal condensation on a cold morning
- C. A rich fuel mixture — too much fuel is being burned
- D. Coolant entering the combustion chamber
13. Continuous white smoke from the exhaust, combined with the coolant level dropping regularly, most likely indicates:
- A. Worn piston rings
- B. A faulty catalytic converter
- C. A failed head gasket allowing coolant into the combustion chamber
- D. A blocked air filter
14. What is the purpose of the NCT?
- A. To assess whether a vehicle meets minimum roadworthiness and safety standards
- B. To check a driver's road knowledge every few years
- C. To set the annual road tax band for the vehicle
- D. To register the vehicle with the local council
15. What shape is an Irish regulatory sign?
- A. Yellow diamond with a black symbol
- B. Blue rectangle
- C. Red octagon
- D. White circle with a red border
16. What colour are motorway direction signs in Ireland?
- A. Orange
- B. Green
- C. Blue
- D. White
17. What shape is the STOP sign?
- A. Circle
- B. Diamond
- C. Triangle
- D. Octagon
18. What does a white circle with a red border and a horizontal red bar across the centre mean?
- A. Speed limit 40 km/h
- B. No entry
- C. No overtaking
- D. No parking
19. A circular sign with a red border shows two car symbols side by side — one black and one red with a diagonal line through the red one. What does this mean?
- A. Overtaking prohibited
- B. No entry for motorcycles
- C. No parking for large vehicles
- D. Lane closed ahead
20. A yellow diamond sign shows a circular arrow. What does it warn about?
- A. One-way street ahead
- B. U-turn permitted
- C. Sharp bend ahead
- D. Roundabout ahead
21. A single continuous white line painted along the centre of a road means:
- A. The line marks the edge of the carriageway
- B. You may cross it only to overtake
- C. Overtaking is advisory but not recommended
- D. You must not cross or straddle the line
22. A broken white line down the centre of the road indicates:
- A. A contraflow bus lane
- B. Overtaking is permitted when it is safe to do so
- C. A cycle lane boundary
- D. No overtaking at any time
23. When may you legally enter and wait in a yellow box junction?
- A. When going straight ahead and the lights are green, even if traffic is queued beyond the box
- B. At any time, because waiting briefly in a yellow box is always permitted
- C. When turning right and waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic, provided your exit lane is clear
- D. When turning left and your exit is blocked by stationary traffic
24. Zig-zag white lines painted on the road are found near:
- A. School bus stops
- B. Railway level crossings
- C. Hump-back bridges
- D. Pedestrian crossings
25. What is the correct sequence of traffic lights in Ireland?
- A. Red → amber → green → amber → red
- B. Green → amber → red
- C. Amber → green → red
- D. Green → red → amber → green
26. Which describes the traffic light sequence used in Ireland?
- A. Green flashes before changing straight to red
- B. Red changes directly to green, with no combined red-and-amber phase
- C. Red and amber are shown together before the green light appears
- D. Amber is shown together with green before the red light appears
27. How many correct answers are required to pass the Irish car driver theory test?
- A. 35
- B. 38
- C. 30
- D. 32
28. For how long is an Irish driver theory test certificate valid?
- A. 1 year
- B. 6 months
- C. 5 years
- D. 2 years
29. What plates must a learner driver display on their vehicle in Ireland?
- A. L plates (white with red L)
- B. P plates (white with red P)
- C. No plates required if accompanied
- D. N plates (white with green N)
30. May a learner permit holder drive on a motorway in Ireland?
- A. No, learner permit holders are prohibited from motorways at all times
- B. Yes, if accompanied by a qualified driver
- C. Yes, after holding the permit for at least 12 months
- D. Yes, provided they do not exceed 100 km/h
31. What do N plates (novice plates) indicate?
- A. The driver is under the age of 17
- B. The driver is a newly qualified driver in their first 2 years of a full licence
- C. The driver is a learner permit holder
- D. The driver has failed the theory test once
32. For how long must a newly qualified driver display N plates in Ireland?
- A. 1 year
- B. 6 months
- C. Until their first penalty point is removed
- D. 2 years
33. What is the default speed limit on a motorway in Ireland?
- A. 110 km/h
- B. 100 km/h
- C. 120 km/h
- D. 130 km/h
34. What is the default speed limit on a regional (R) road in Ireland?
- A. 100 km/h
- B. 50 km/h
- C. 60 km/h
- D. 80 km/h
35. 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 dual carriageway in a city
- B. A national road with roadworks
- C. A school or residential area where a lower limit has been set
- D. A motorway slip road
36. 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 display a red L-plate on the rear only
- C. They must be accompanied by a qualified driver who holds a full licence for at least two years
- D. They are restricted to national roads only
37. 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. Novice drivers may not drive on motorways
- C. 110 km/h
- D. 120 km/h
38. At a roundabout with no road markings or signs, who has priority?
- A. Traffic already circulating on the roundabout
- B. The driver approaching from the left
- C. The driver on the larger road
- D. The driver approaching from the right
39. At an unmarked junction (no signs or road markings), who has right of way?
- A. The driver approaching from the right
- B. The driver approaching from the left
- C. The driver travelling fastest
- D. The driver on the wider road
40. 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. The cyclist, who is travelling straight ahead
- B. You, because cars have priority over cyclists
- C. You, because you are on the major road
- D. Whoever reaches the junction first
Answer key
- 1. It improves fuel economy by reducing rolling resistance — Properly inflated tyres reduce rolling resistance, which means the engine has to work less and consumes less fuel.
- 2. Whenever visibility is seriously reduced due to poor weather — Dipped headlights must be used any time visibility is poor, such as in heavy rain, fog, or snow, even during daylight hours.
- 3. Only in fog or falling snow where visibility is seriously reduced — Front fog lights must only be used in fog or falling snow where visibility is seriously reduced. Using them in clear conditions can dazzle other road users.
- 4. Reverse close to a reflective surface such as a wall or another vehicle and press the brake pedal — By reversing close to a wall or garage door you can see the reflection of the brake lights in your mirrors when you press the pedal.
- 5. The vehicle pulls to one side when braking — Pulling to one side during braking usually indicates uneven brake wear or a fault such as a seized calliper, which requires immediate inspection.
- 6. Have the ABS system checked by a qualified technician as soon as possible — A permanently illuminated ABS light means the system has detected a fault and may not function correctly; the vehicle should be inspected promptly.
- 7. A high-pitched squealing or grinding noise when the brakes are applied — Most modern brake pads have a metal wear indicator that produces a squealing sound when pads are thin; a grinding noise means the pads are fully worn.
- 8. The vehicle wanders or drifts without the driver making steering inputs — Wandering or pulling to one side when the steering wheel is released can indicate worn steering or suspension components and should be inspected.
- 9. Worn shock absorbers — Shock absorbers dampen suspension movement. Worn shocks let the vehicle continue bouncing, reducing tyre contact with the road and compromising control.
- 10. At all times, as they are required for roadworthiness — Working windscreen wipers are a legal requirement; worn or faulty wipers reduce visibility in rain and will fail an NCT inspection.
- 11. A crack or chip within the driver's critical vision area — Cracks or chips in the driver's forward vision zone are an NCT failure item because they distort or restrict the driver's view of the road.
- 12. A rich fuel mixture — too much fuel is being burned — Black smoke from a petrol engine usually means incomplete combustion due to an overly rich air-fuel mixture, often caused by a faulty sensor or injector.
- 13. A failed head gasket allowing coolant into the combustion chamber — A blown head gasket lets coolant enter the cylinders; it burns and exits as thick white smoke while the coolant reservoir gradually empties.
- 14. To assess whether a vehicle meets minimum roadworthiness and safety standards — The NCT examines key safety and emissions items to ensure vehicles on Irish roads meet the required standard for safe operation.
- 15. White circle with a red border — Regulatory signs tell you what you must or must not do under road traffic law. They are usually circular: white with a red border and black symbols, figures or letters for prohibitions and speed limits, and blue with white symbols for mandatory instructions such as the direction traffic must take. Some regulatory signs use other shapes — most notably the STOP sign (red octagon) and the YIELD sign (inverted triangle).
- 16. Blue — Motorway signs in Ireland have a blue background. This immediately identifies roads subject to motorway regulations where special rules apply.
- 17. Octagon — The STOP sign is an octagon (eight sides) with a red background and white text. Its unique shape allows drivers to recognise it even when partially obscured.
- 18. No entry — The no-entry sign — a white circle with a red border and a thick horizontal red bar — prohibits vehicles from entering a road in that direction.
- 19. Overtaking prohibited — The no-overtaking sign uses two car outlines — a coloured car passing a black car with a diagonal prohibition line — forbidding any overtaking manoeuvre.
- 20. Roundabout ahead — A yellow diamond with a circular arrow warns that a roundabout is ahead. Drivers should prepare to give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
- 21. You must not cross or straddle the line — A single continuous white centre line must not be crossed or straddled. It is used where sight distances are restricted and overtaking is not safe.
- 22. Overtaking is permitted when it is safe to do so — A broken (dashed) white centre line means overtaking is permitted when it is safe. Drivers must still ensure the road ahead is clear before passing.
- 23. When turning right and waiting for a gap in oncoming traffic, provided your exit lane is clear — The only permitted exception is when turning right: you may wait in the box for a gap in oncoming traffic, as long as your exit road is not blocked.
- 24. Pedestrian crossings — Zig-zag lines appear on either side of a pedestrian crossing. Drivers must not park, overtake or stop on zig-zag lines, keeping the crossing visible.
- 25. Green → amber → red — The standard sequence is green (proceed) → amber (prepare to stop) → red (stop). In Ireland there is no red-and-amber phase before green.
- 26. Red changes directly to green, with no combined red-and-amber phase — Ireland does not use the combined red-and-amber phase before green; the sequence goes directly from red to green, unlike some other European countries.
- 27. 35 — Candidates must answer at least 35 out of 40 questions correctly — a pass mark of 87.5%.
- 28. 2 years — A theory test certificate is valid for 2 years from the date it is issued. A learner permit application must be made within this period.
- 29. L plates (white with red L) — A learner permit holder must display L plates (white background with a red L) on both the front and rear of the vehicle at all times while driving.
- 30. No, learner permit holders are prohibited from motorways at all times — Learner permit holders are completely prohibited from driving on motorways in Ireland, regardless of whether they are accompanied.
- 31. The driver is a newly qualified driver in their first 2 years of a full licence — N plates are displayed by novice drivers — those in the first 2 years after obtaining their full driving licence for the first time.
- 32. 2 years — N plates must be displayed for the first 2 years after passing the driving test and receiving a full licence for the first time.
- 33. 120 km/h — The default speed limit on Irish motorways is 120 km/h unless road signs indicate otherwise.
- 34. 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.
- 35. 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.
- 36. 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.
- 37. 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.
- 38. 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.
- 39. 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.
- 40. 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.