It is important to prepare correctly for your driving test by getting some proper Pretest Driving Lessons with an approved driving instructor. What occurs on the day of the driving test is outlined below and should be explained by your driving instructor during your pretest driving lessons.
From 09th March 2026 driving tests will no longer be carried out without proof of insurance. A valid insurance certificate displaying the name of the test candidate will now be required to be presented to the driver tester on the day of the driving test.
Prior to this vehicles only required the insurance disc to be displayed on the windscreen.
You should ensure that you arrive at the driving test centre in plenty of time and have yourself reverse parked in one of the parking spaces about 15 minutes before the scheduled test time.
Go into the waiting area at least 10 minutes before your driving test time. There is no requirement to report to anyone once you arrive, the driver tester that is assigned to you will come to the waiting area and call your name once they are ready for you.
The driver tester will bring you into another room where your learners permit and insurance certificate are checked. You will then be given a form to read and sign, this is for you to confirm that you are who you say you are and are compliant with the requirements for the test – https://edtdrivinglessonscork.ie/things-you-must-comply-with/ .
They will then ask you a number of questions and ask you to identify some road signs from the rules of the road book. Rules of the road
From 14/04/2025 you will be asked to demonstrate a random 2 of the 6 hand signals while at the desk of the driver tester. They are no longer being asked while out on the driving test route.
After this you will be accompanied to your vehicle where some Technical Checks will be conducted. https://edtdrivinglessonscork.ie/technical-checks/ .
You will then sit in your vehicle while the driving tester checks your Tax , Insurance (the green strip on the side of the insurance must be present) and Nct discs (if applicable). They will also check for “L” plates and inspect your tyres. Your indicators, front and rear, and your brake lights will also be inspected. If there are issues with any of the aforementioned the driving test will not be conducted.
When this has been done the driving tester will sit in the vehicle alongside you and ask you to demonstrate some of the Secondary Controls. These include items such as lights, wipers, demister, horn, etc……
They will then give you instructions on how they wish to conduct the test. You will be advised to drive away as you normally would and that you will be given all instructions in plenty of time. If you approach a junction and don’t get any instruction you are to follow the course of the road you are on. If you don’t understand or are unclear about any instruction feel free to ask the tester to repeat it.
The practical part of the driving test averages about 30 minutes. Depending on the amount of traffic, the time of day or where you are brought the driving time may vary slightly.
Over the course of the test you will be asked to carry out 3 manoeuvres.
A hill take off, a turnabout (3 point turn) and a reverse around a corner.
When you return to the test centre the driving tester will indicate to you where to park your vehicle. Usually you are asked to drive forward into a parking space but occasionally people are asked to reverse into a space. You will then accompany the tester back into the building where the result of the test will be given to you.