How to prepare your car for the day of the test -

A number of driving tests are not conducted/completed because test candidates do not meet certain requirements on the day of the test. Outlined below are the principal requirements that must be met. Some of these conditions are legal requirements eg. tread depth for tyres. In other cases, they are to ensure that the vehicle complies with health and safety requirements eg. head restraint in place.

1. You must be present in the test centre before the appointed time of your test. If you are late, the test cannot be conducted and the fee will be forfeited.

2. You must produce your current Irish provisional licence for your test category (Receipts are NOT sufficient). The driver tester will check the licence to establish that it relates to you, is current and is for the correct category of vehicle. If you are taking a motorcycle test ie Category A or A1 you must satisfy yourself that the vehicle presented for test is consistent with any restrictions denoted on the provisional licence. Please also note carefully the minimum vehicle requirements for the driving test as set out on the appointment letter.

3. You must be insured to drive the vehicle. The vehicle must display a current valid original Insurance Disc, which must clearly show the Registration Number of the vehicle (not Chassis Number) and the policy dates. If the details are faded you must get the disc replaced prior to the test. You will be asked to read and sign a statement confirming that the vehicle insurance cover is in place and is adequate.

4. Vehicles used as taxis or hackneys are not permitted to be used as driving test vehicles unless the appropriate rate of Vehicle Excise Duty has been paid ie. Class Private. Vehicles hired under a hire agreement are not generally insured for the purpose of undertaking a driving test. If you intend to use such a vehicle you must obtain a note from the hire company indicating that it is insured to take a driving test, this must be given to the driver tester on the day of your test. As and from 1 July, 2003 any vehicle registered outside the state will not be accepted for test purposes.

5. The following must be displayed on your vehicle -

1) Current valid motor tax disc,

2) NCT disc- vehicles obliged to undergo the National Car Test will not be taken for test if not displaying the appropriate disc. (You can call the NCT service on 1890 412413 for further information),

3) L plates front and rear (a rectangular plate or sign bearing the letter L not less than fifteen centimetres high in red on a white ground and a border of at least 2 centimetres).

6. The vehicle must be in a roadworthy condition, specifically -

1) Tyres should upon visible inspection, comply with Road Traffic Act requirements (minimum tyre tread depth requirements is currently 1.6mm for a motorcar),

2) Loads should be properly secured; loose objects inside the vehicle such as screwdrivers, knives, gas bottles etc. must be secured prior to commencing the drive. You may not carry passengers or pets while undergoing the test,

3) The windscreen should be clean and free from visual obstructions, including excessive cracks,

4) The seat belt on the testers side should be fitted and in good working order,

5) The passenger door on the testers side should be working properly and, in particular, should be possible to open from the inside as well as the outside,

6) The suspension should not be obviously defective,

7) The brake and indicator lights should be tested to ensure they are working efficiently. All indicator lights must be showing amber,

8) The handbrake should be in good working order,

9) The test will not be conducted/completed, as appropriate, if a system warning light flashes, eg Brake Warning

10) There should be no leakage, into the vehicle, of exhaust fumes,

11) Where seats are designed to hold head restraints, these restraints must be in place on the day of the test,

12) Other: There may, in exceptional circumstances, be other defects that would lead a tester to conclude on health and safety grounds that the test vehicle was not in a sufficiently roadworthy condition to conduct the test.

You will be asked to sign a statement confirming that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.

If you have difficulty communicating in English or you are deaf or hard of hearing you are permitted to have an interpreter/assistant with you. This person must not be your driving instructor and may not accompany you on the practical test. Please inform Driver Testing Section that you will have an interpreter/assistant with you prior to the day of the test.

If you have any query on any of these matters please contact Driver Testing Section in advance of your test.

TEST PREPARATION