Application Form
To apply for your driving test you must:
- Have been in possession of your learner permit for at least six months
- Have your 12 EDT driving lessons signed off by your ADI in your learners logbook
- Whether you use your own car or driving school car, you will be asked to sign a declaration stating you are fully insured to drive the test vehicle.
- The vehicle must be capable of passing an NCT test.
- Cars over four years must pass on NCT test, if under four years they are exempt from the test. Basically the vehicle must be in good condition.
Please note: your driving tester will cancel your test if all of the above criteria are not in place. Unfortunately you will lose your application fee and have to apply again for another test date. This can take between eight to twelve weeks depending on your area. It may be considerately sooner if you get a cancellation.
Get the opinion of your driving instructor to ensure you will be ready for test level before you apply. The good news is, at confident driving school the use of our school car is free when you book a deal.
You can apply at www.drivingtest.ie
Test Procedure
After you apply, you will be given about a month’s notice before the day of your test.
From the date of the application for your driving test, it’s normally about two months later when your actual test will take place. Keep this in mind as you prepare for your test. Ask your ADI if there are any areas of your driving which may need attention. On test day you will need to be at the test centre 20 minutes before your allocated time.
Your driving tester will ask you into his/her office to:
- Check your learner permit for vehicle category
- Sign a statement to declare you are insured in the vehicle you are using
- Handful of questions on the rules of the road
- Handful of questions on road signs
- Inform you on how he/she will give directions on the driving test
Under the Bonnet Checks
Your driving tester will then escort you to your vehicle where you will go through your under the bonnet checks. Please be able to open and close the bonnet correctly. These fluid checks ensure the vehicle is working safely.
This is the show me, tell me, part of your test, where you must indicate the location of and how to check the fluid levels of:
- Brake fluid reservoir
- Coolant reservoir
- Power Steering fluid reservoir
- Location of oil refill cap
- Location of dipstick for oil
- Water windscreen washer
And
- How to perform visible safety check on tyres
- Lights/reflectors check
- Power steering check
After these checks are completed you will be then asked to sit into your car so your examiner can confirm your indicators and brake lights are working. This is your opportunity to bear in mind you cockpit drill: door closed properly, seat position correct, headrest position correct, mirrors correct, seatbelt correct, parking brake on and enough fuel for journey. Tell your tester you just want to run through your cockpit drill, let them hear your seat slide into position.
Tip: Before going to the test centre make sure brake lights and indicators are working otherwise the test will be cancelled with the loss of your application fee.
Secondary Controls
Before sitting into the jump seat the tester will check your tax, insurance and NCT if applicable. Once the examiner is sitting in the jump seat of your vehicle, you will be asked how to use some of the following secondary controls:
- Wipers
- Windscreen washer
- Demisters: air vents/fan
- Rear fog lights
- Hazard lights
- Full headlights
- Dipped headlights
- Parking lights
- Horn
- Temperature controls
- Rear window heater
Driving Test
Following the secondary controls check, the driving tester will give directions on where to drive in good time. The actual drive lasts about 30 to 40 minutes.
Please don’t become nervous because of the examiners formal approach, it is an exam after all. You should feel confident after your EDT training of passing your test. Your examiner only concern is you have reached test standard, show him or her you have.
If you have not heard or understood a particular instruction just ask “could you repeat the instruction as I am not sure what you want me to do”. If you feel you have slipped up, do not worry concentrate on your driving. It can take anything up to nine grade two faults overall to fail your driving test. That is a lot.
You will find the examiners driving test report form: appendix 6, in your copy of rules of the road.
As you will see in rules of the road you will be tested under the following headings:
- Rules/Checks
- Position vehicle correctly and in good time
- Take proper observation
- React promptly and properly to hazards
- Use mirrors properly, in good time and before signalling
- Allow sufficient clearance
- Give correct signals in good time
- Courtesy
- Alighting
- Maintain reasonable progress and avoid undue hesitancy
- Make proper use of vehicle controls
- Adjust speed to suit on approach
- Comply with traffic controls
- Yield right of way as required
- Reverse
- Turnabout
- Hill Start
The driving test report form gives a full explanation of the grading of faults which can also be found in the rules of the road under appendix Six.
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