Questions & answers
Real test questions, answered
172 sample questions with the correct answer and a clear explanation for each. Read them here, then practise the full bank with timed mock exams in the app.
Rules of the Road
Practise →What is the default speed limit on a motorway in Ireland?What is the default speed limit on a national road (non-motorway) in Ireland?What is the default speed limit on a regional (R) road in Ireland?What is the default speed limit in a built-up area in Ireland?You are driving in a clearly signed 30 km/h special speed limit zone. What type of area is this most likely to be?What are learner permit holders not allowed to do on a motorway in Ireland?A driver holds a learner permit for category B (car). Which of the following is a legal requirement when they drive?What colour are the L-plates that a learner permit holder must display on a car in Ireland?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?For how long after obtaining a first full licence must a novice driver in Ireland display N-plates?At a roundabout with no road markings or signs, who has priority?When approaching a roundabout in Ireland, to which traffic must you give way?At an unmarked junction (no signs or road markings), who has right of way?You are waiting at a junction marked with a 'Yield' sign. A car is approaching on the major road. What must you do?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?In Ireland, you generally must NOT overtake on the left. In which specific situation is overtaking on the left permitted?When may you cross a continuous (unbroken) white centre line?Which of the following situations makes overtaking ILLEGAL in Ireland?Before overtaking a vehicle on a single carriageway, you should ensure that:At which of the following places is overtaking prohibited in Ireland?Which road are learner permit holders prohibited from driving on in Ireland?Which road user category is NOT permitted to use a motorway in Ireland?When is it permitted to use the hard shoulder of a motorway in Ireland?You have broken down on a motorway and stopped on the hard shoulder. What should you do with your passengers?At what minimum distance from the car in front should you keep in normal dry conditions on an open road?You are driving in heavy rain on an open road. What following distance should you maintain from the vehicle ahead?What does the two-second rule for following distance refer to?What does a double yellow line painted along the kerb indicate?What does a single yellow line painted along the kerb indicate?What is a clearway?What do zig-zag road markings on the approach to a pedestrian crossing mean?What must you do when a Garda is on point duty at a junction and signals you to stop?At traffic lights, what does a steady amber light mean?Traffic lights show red and amber together. What does this signal mean?
Hazard and Risk Perception
Practise →Before signalling to turn right, a driver should first check their mirrors. Why is this the correct sequence?When scanning the road ahead, how far ahead should a driver aim to look on an open road?What is a 'blind spot' on a vehicle?You are about to change lanes on a dual carriageway. After checking your mirrors and signalling, what additional check should you make?When passing a parked car, why should you check your mirrors and look ahead carefully before steering out?What is the minimum safe passing distance when overtaking a cyclist on a road with a speed limit of 50 km/h or less?What is the minimum safe passing distance when overtaking a cyclist on a road with a speed limit above 50 km/h?You see a group of children near the footpath ahead. Which of the following is the best action?Why are elderly pedestrians considered a higher-risk group near roads?You are approaching a school at 3:30 pm on a weekday. What should you expect and do?When following a motorcyclist, why should you leave a greater following distance than you would for a car?You see a horse and rider ahead on a country road. What is the safest action?When should you use your front and rear fog lights?When driving in fog, which lights should you use?How do stopping distances change on a wet road compared to a dry road?What is aquaplaning and when is it most likely to occur?If you feel your vehicle start to aquaplane, what is the correct action?What is black ice and why is it particularly dangerous?On a road with a thin layer of ice, by approximately how much does your braking distance increase compared to a dry road?When driving in snow, what tactic best helps maintain vehicle control?At night, when should you switch from full beam headlights to dipped headlights?What should you do if an oncoming driver dazzles you with their full beam headlights?What is the main advantage of dipped headlights over sidelights at night?What is the thinking distance component of stopping distance?On a dry road at 100 km/h, which factors increase overall stopping distance?On a long motorway journey, how often should a driver plan to take a rest break to manage fatigue?Which of the following is the BEST remedy when you feel drowsy while driving?How does driving while tired affect a driver?At a zebra crossing, a pedestrian has stepped onto the crossing. What must the driver do?What type of road users are permitted to use a toucan crossing?At a pelican crossing, the amber light is flashing. What should a driver do?You are driving at 50 km/h in a residential area when you see a ball roll into the road. What should you anticipate?On a narrow country road, you approach a sharp bend. What is the primary hazard to anticipate?You are driving on a rural road and a tractor is blocking your path. What should you do?
Safe and Responsible Driving
Practise →What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for a fully licensed car driver in Ireland?What is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for a learner driver in Ireland?What is the safest advice regarding alcohol and driving?A newly qualified (novice) driver holds a full licence for the first two years. What BAC limit applies to them?Which of the following drivers is subject to a BAC limit of 20mg per 100ml of blood?How does alcohol primarily affect a driver's ability?What effect does drinking coffee or eating food have on your blood alcohol concentration?Driving under the influence of drugs (including some prescription medicines) is:You have been prescribed medication by your doctor. What should you do before driving?What is the legal position on driving while impaired by illegal drugs in Ireland?Is it legal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving in Ireland?You are stopped at a red traffic light with the engine running. Is it legal to send a text message on a hand-held phone?What is the primary reason hand-held mobile phone use while driving is so dangerous?Who is responsible for ensuring that passengers under 17 years old are wearing seat belts in a car?Where is wearing a seat belt mandatory in a car in Ireland?A child weighing 40kg and measuring 155cm tall is travelling in your car. Do they need a child restraint?Children under what height must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in a car?Where should a rear-facing child seat NEVER be placed?Under what condition may a rear-facing infant seat be used on the front passenger seat?What weight limit applies to the child restraint requirement in Ireland?How does driver fatigue affect road safety?What is the recommended action if you feel drowsy while driving on a long journey?Is opening a car window a reliable way to prevent falling asleep at the wheel?On a long motorway journey, what is the best strategy to avoid fatigue?At how many penalty points does a fully licensed driver face disqualification in Ireland?At how many penalty points does a learner or novice driver face disqualification in Ireland?Where are penalty points recorded?A novice driver already has 5 penalty points on their licence. How many more points will result in disqualification?Which of the following offences can result in penalty points being added to a driver's licence?A fully licensed driver accumulates 12 penalty points. What happens next?Can a Garda stop your vehicle at any time to check documents?Can a Garda carry out a breath test at a mandatory checkpoint even if the driver shows no signs of alcohol consumption?What is the consequence of refusing to provide a breath sample when lawfully required by a Garda?What documents must a driver be able to produce when asked by a Garda?
Technical and Vehicle Safety
Practise →What is the minimum legal tread depth for car tyres in Ireland?Under-inflated tyres are dangerous mainly because they:When should you check your tyre pressures?Is it legal to fit tyres of different size or construction type on the same axle?Over-inflated tyres mainly cause:A tyre with a visible cut or bulge in the sidewall:What effect does correct tyre inflation have on fuel economy?Which of the following best describes the danger of mixing radial and cross-ply tyres on the same vehicle?When must you use dipped headlights during daytime?When should you switch from full beam to dipped headlights?When may front fog lights be used?When is it permissible to use rear fog lights?How can you check that your brake lights are working when you are alone?A vehicle's hazard warning lights should be used:Which of the following is a sign that your brakes may need attention?What does ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) do under heavy braking?What should you do if your ABS warning light stays on while driving?When using a vehicle equipped with ABS in an emergency stop, you should:Which sound is a classic warning sign of worn brake pads?What does a spongy or soft brake pedal indicate?Which of these is a warning sign of a possible steering or suspension problem?Excessive vibration through the steering wheel at higher speeds most likely indicates:Your vehicle bounces excessively after going over a bump. What could this indicate?A knocking noise from the front suspension when going over bumps or when turning could indicate:When must your windscreen wipers be in good working condition?Why should you keep the windscreen washer fluid reservoir topped up?Which of these conditions would cause a windscreen to fail the NCT?What colour is the exhaust smoke if engine oil is being burnt?Black smoke from a petrol engine exhaust most likely indicates:On a cold morning, a small amount of white steam comes from your exhaust. What does this indicate?Continuous white smoke from the exhaust, combined with the coolant level dropping regularly, most likely indicates:What does the NCT stand for?What is the purpose of the NCT?What happens if you drive a vehicle on a public road when its NCT certificate is required but has not been obtained?
Signs, Markings and the Learner System
Practise →What shape is an Irish regulatory sign?What shape and colour are Irish warning signs?What colour are motorway direction signs in Ireland?What colour are roadworks signs in Ireland?What shape is the STOP sign?What shape is the YIELD (Give Way) sign?What does a white circle with a red border and a horizontal red bar across the centre mean?A white circle with a red border showing the number '50' in black indicates what?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?You see a yellow diamond sign depicting children running. What type of hazard does this indicate?A yellow diamond sign shows a circular arrow. What does it warn about?How do Irish warning signs differ from those used in most of continental Europe?A single continuous white line painted along the centre of a road means:A double continuous white line painted on the road means:A broken white line down the centre of the road indicates:What is a yellow box junction?When may you legally enter and wait in a yellow box junction?Double yellow lines painted along the kerb mean:Zig-zag white lines painted on the road are found near:Are you permitted to park on the zig-zag lines at a pedestrian crossing?What is the correct sequence of traffic lights in Ireland?You are approaching traffic lights and the signal changes to amber. What should you do?Which describes the traffic light sequence used in Ireland?How many questions are on the Irish Driver Theory Test for a car (category B)?How many correct answers are required to pass the Irish car driver theory test?How long do candidates have to complete the Irish car driver theory test?For how long is an Irish driver theory test certificate valid?How long does a driver theory test certificate for a car category remain valid once you have passed?What plates must a learner driver display on their vehicle in Ireland?When a learner driver is driving, who must accompany them?May a learner permit holder drive on a motorway in Ireland?What is the blood alcohol limit for a learner permit holder in Ireland?What do N plates (novice plates) indicate?What blood alcohol limit applies to a novice driver displaying N plates?For how long must a newly qualified driver display N plates in Ireland?What does EDT stand for in the context of Irish learner drivers?