Carlow driving test routes and test centre

15 routes around the Carlow test centre in Co. Carlow, 7 of them recorded on real driving tests. Drive them with spoken turn-by-turn guidance, and hear the tricky spots before you reach them.

15routes
12.5 kmaverage length
46roundabouts
100top limit, km/h

Practise the Carlow routes

Free to download. A Centre Pass unlocks every Carlow 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.

Green shows the roads the Carlow routes use. Open a route in Turas for its turns. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Tricky spots on the Carlow routes

The places learners who tested here talk about most, and what they advise. Advice sometimes differs: road markings and your instructor have the final word.

Roundabout

Tullow Road roundabout by Lidl

A learner who failed on observation here asks about the unusual markings: on one approach the right-hand lane is marked for going straight on, because the first exit backs up. Replies disagree on lanes inside the roundabout: some say keep to the outside lane, some say move out after passing the first exit, and one local says they exited from the right lane on their test without a fault. They agree the key is careful mirror checks before exiting, as other drivers often go straight on from the left lane.

Carlow has two centres, Graiguecullen and the Talbot Hotel, and learners say the routes are much the same. They describe the Graiguecullen side as the easier route, and the town as tougher, with many roundabouts (some multi-lane, such as Deerpark), filter lights and school traffic.

Roads the Carlow routes use

How many of the 15 routes use each road. The roads near the top are the ones to know well.

N80 14 of 15
R924 13 of 15
Bridge Street 12 of 15
Chapel Street 10 of 15
Dublin Road 9 of 15
Kennedy Street 8 of 15
R448 8 of 15
Burrin Street 7 of 15
Sleaty Street 7 of 15
Cannery Road 6 of 15
Kilkenny Road 6 of 15
O'Brien Road 6 of 15
William Dargan Road 6 of 15
Athy Road 5 of 15

What's on the routes

Distinct places across all 15 routes, and what the tester watches for at each.

Pedestrian crossing 82

Scan the footpaths early and be ready to stop.
Speed limit change 36

Testers mark speeding and driving too slowly for the road.
Roundabout 35

Lane choice by exit, a signal on approach where needed, and a left signal after the exit before yours.
STOP sign 22

A full stop at the line every time, even when the road is clear.
Traffic lights 17

Filter arrows and yellow boxes: never enter a box you cannot clear.
Mini-roundabout 11

Treat it like a full roundabout: observation, yield to the right, signal.
Yield sign 10

Slow, look, and go only when it is safe: no rolling guess.
Level crossing 1

Never stop on the tracks; wait behind the line when lights flash.

Speed limits on the Carlow routes

30, 50, 60, 80, 100 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 Carlow

Worked out from the Carlow routes themselves.

Roundabouts, lane by lane

The Carlow routes pass 46 different roundabouts. Know which lane each exit needs before you get there; signs and road markings beat the shape of the roundabout.
Read the guide
Faster roads up to 100 km/h

Some Carlow routes reach 80 and 100 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 36 places where the limit changes. Watch for the signs, and settle at the new limit promptly.
Lights, filter arrows and yellow boxes

17 sets of traffic lights across the routes. Practise right turns at lights and the yellow box rule.
Read the guide
STOP signs: a full stop every time

22 STOP signs across the routes. Rolling through one is a common fault; stop at the line, then creep and look.

Where the manoeuvres happen

Turas marks the likely spot for each manoeuvre on every route: quiet side roads, straight stretches and hills. Across the Carlow routes:

Turnabout 14 likely spots
Hill start 12 likely spots
Reverse around a corner 10 likely spots

How Turas works at Carlow

Pick Carlow. 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

7 of the 15 Carlow 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.

Turas drive screen: 99 metres, at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto Melville Road, with the 50 km/h limit shown

The Carlow test centre

Carlow Talbot Hotel Carlow Talbot Hotel Graigue Portlaoise Road, R93 Y504
Carlow Church Street Graiguecullen, R93 T3H1

Pass rate: 46.7% 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 12 to 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 12 to 13 weeks to wait at Carlow, 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.

The 8 steps to a licence Free practice Road signs quiz

Nearby centres

All test centres

Carlow driving test: questions

How many driving test routes are there in Carlow?

Turas has 15 routes for the Carlow test centre: 7 recorded on real tests and 8 practice routes on the same roads. Testers choose the route on the day, so learn the area rather than one route.

How long is the Carlow driving test route?

The routes in the app run from 4.5 to 24.9 km, 12.5 km on average, about 24 minutes of driving. The RSA describes the drive as about 8 to 10 km and the whole test as about 40 minutes.

Do Carlow routes use fast roads?

Yes. The speed limits on the routes go up to 100 km/h. Practise building up to a safe speed: driving too slowly for the road is marked as well.

Is the test route the same every time?

No. Each centre has several routes and the tester picks one. Routes can also change with roadworks. Practise the roads and junctions that keep coming up, not one fixed route.

Where is the Carlow driving test centre?

Carlow Talbot Hotel Graigue Portlaoise Road, R93 Y504. Check the address on your appointment letter: the RSA sometimes moves tests to another venue.

Can I practise the routes on my own?

Not on a learner permit. You must be accompanied by someone who has held a full licence for that category for at least two years, with L-plates displayed. Mount your phone and let the voice guide you: never hold it while driving.

How long is the wait for a driving test in Carlow?

About 12 to 13 weeks until you are invited to book, at the end of September 2026, by the RSA's own estimate, against 11.9 weeks nationally. Waiting times at every centre.

What is the pass rate at Carlow?

46.7% in 2022, against 53.2% nationally, from the RSA's most recent table by centre. A pass rate reflects who tests there as much as the roads. Every centre.

Are the Carlow routes free?

No. The app is free to download; a Centre Pass unlocks every Carlow route from €9.99 for 30 days, or 60 days. It is a one-time payment that never renews, and the days count from the moment you buy, so pick the pass that reaches your test date. All prices.

Know the Carlow 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.

Get Turas on the App Store