Buncrana driving test routes and test centre
6 routes around the Buncrana test centre in Co. Donegal, one of them recorded on a real driving test. Drive them with spoken turn-by-turn guidance, and hear the tricky spots before you reach them.
- 6routes
- 9.5 kmaverage length
- 5roundabouts
- 80top limit, km/h
Free to download. A Centre Pass unlocks every Buncrana route from €9.99: a one-time payment that runs from the day you buy it, so buy it close to your test. Independent app, not run or approved by the RSA.
Roads the Buncrana routes use
How many of the 6 routes use each road. The roads near the top are the ones to know well.
- R238 5 of 6
- Aileach Road 3 of 6
- Castle Avenue 3 of 6
- Lower Main Street 3 of 6
- Saint Marys Road 3 of 6
- Cair O' Dohertaigh Avenue 2 of 6
- Dr. Denis McLaughlin Road 2 of 6
- L1671 2 of 6
- L1741 2 of 6
- L1771 2 of 6
- L1781 2 of 6
- L7031 2 of 6
- Saint Oran's Road 2 of 6
- Upper Main Street 2 of 6
What's on the routes
Distinct places across all 6 routes, and what the tester watches for at each.
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Speed limit change 16Testers mark speeding and driving too slowly for the road.
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STOP sign 11A full stop at the line every time, even when the road is clear.
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Roundabout 5Lane choice by exit, a signal on approach where needed, and a left signal after the exit before yours.
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Yield sign 2Slow, look, and go only when it is safe: no rolling guess.
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Traffic lights 1Filter arrows and yellow boxes: never enter a box you cannot clear.
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Pedestrian crossing 1Scan the footpaths early and be ready to stop.
Speed limits on the Buncrana routes
30, 50, 60, 80 km/h. Know the default for each road type in speed limits, and every sign in Irish road signs.
What to practise for a test at Buncrana
Worked out from the Buncrana routes themselves.
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Faster roads up to 80 km/h
Some Buncrana routes reach 80 km/h roads. Build up to a safe speed that suits the road: hesitancy and holding back are marked too.
Read the guide -
Speed limits that change often
There are 16 places where the limit changes. Watch for the signs, and settle at the new limit promptly.
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STOP signs: a full stop every time
11 STOP signs across the routes. Rolling through one is a common fault; stop at the line, then creep and look.
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Observation before every move
Mirrors, then signal, then a look over your shoulder where needed. Make the checks clear enough for the tester to see.
Read the guide
Where the manoeuvres happen
Turas marks the likely spot for each manoeuvre on every route: quiet side roads, straight stretches and hills. Across the Buncrana routes:
- Hill start 6 likely spots
- Turnabout 8 likely spots
- Reverse around a corner 6 likely spots
How Turas works at Buncrana
- Pick Buncrana. Every route shows its length, where it came from, and the likely manoeuvre spots.
- Press Go. The voice calls each turn in time, like a sat nav, and lowers your music while it speaks.
- Hear the hard parts first. Roundabout lanes, STOP signs, speed changes and yellow boxes are called out before you reach them.
- Miss a turn? It brings you back onto the route. Routes are saved for offline use.
Works with CarPlay. Mount your phone; never hold it while driving.
Why not a free route list or a video?
- A list or a video shows one drive once. Turas talks you through every turn while you drive it yourself.
- It tells you the lane for each roundabout exit before you reach it.
- It marks the likely spot for each manoeuvre, and brings you back if you miss a turn.
- Routes are saved on your phone, so the voice keeps working without signal.
How the routes are made
1 of the 6 Buncrana routes were recorded on real driving tests; the rest are practice routes on the same roads. Each is matched to the OpenStreetMap road network, and learners' shared drives are checked every week for changes. Last updated 30 October 2026. The tester still chooses the route on the day. How test routes work.
The Buncrana test centre
- Buncrana Dept of Social and Family Affairs McCarter's Road, Ardaravan Buncrana, F93 KVY6
Pass rate: 58.2% in 2022 (national 53.2%). That is the RSA's latest table by centre, so treat it as a rough guide. Most fails come from things you can practise: observation, progress and lane choice. All centres.
Waiting time: about 13 weeks until you are invited to book a test, at the end of September 2026 (national average 11.9 weeks). All centres.
Addresses from the RSA's list of test centres; waiting time from RSA figures published by the CSO. Your appointment letter has the final word.
Test not booked yet?
With about 13 weeks to wait at Buncrana, apply on MyRoadSafety as soon as your EDT lessons are uploaded, and use the wait: learn the road signs and Rules of the Road questions the tester asks first, and drive with your accompanying driver.
Buncrana driving test: questions
How many driving test routes are there in Buncrana?
How long is the Buncrana driving test route?
Do Buncrana routes use fast roads?
Is the test route the same every time?
Where is the Buncrana driving test centre?
Can I practise the routes on my own?
How long is the wait for a driving test in Buncrana?
What is the pass rate at Buncrana?
Are the Buncrana routes free?
Know the Buncrana routes before test day
Turas: Driving Test Routes for iPhone. Spoken turn-by-turn guidance on the routes around your centre, with the tricky spots called out before you reach them.