Car requirements for the Irish driving test

What does my car need for the driving test?

You provide the car. It must be insured, roadworthy and meet the RSA requirements. Start with the documents and the discs, then the condition of the car, then the extras the tester needs.

For a car test the regulations specify a category B vehicle capable of at least 100 km/h. The RSA says it can refuse to continue a test if the car does not meet its requirements, and the tester’s decision is final. If the car fails the check, you lose the fee and book again.

Which discs and documents?

Check these a few days before the test.

If the green strip on the insurance disc or the details have faded, get a replacement before the test. Learners say some tests have not gone ahead over a faded or incorrect insurance disc. The what to bring guide has the paperwork list for you, not the car.

What must work on the car?

The RSA checklist asks for these on a visual check:

• Tyres: meeting the minimum legal requirements, with no obvious bulges, cuts or severe uneven wear, and inflated to the correct pressure.
• Lights: brake lights and indicators working. Indicator lights must show amber.
• Handbrake: in good working order.
• Suspension: not defective.
• Exhaust: no leak of fumes into the car.
• Windscreen: clean and free of obstructions, including excessive cracks. Wipers and washer fluid fully working.
• No defect likely to cause a breakdown during the test.

The tester can also do technical checks on the day, so know where the engine oil, coolant and washer fluid are. The driving test checklist covers those.

What about warning lights?

Start the car on the morning of the test and look at the dashboard. The RSA says any warning light showing a malfunction or defect, before or during the test, leads to the test not going ahead or being cut short. Learners report this happening on the day. Leave time to fix or swap the car, and use the free reschedule (twice, with more than 10 days’ notice) if you find a fault early.

What does the tester need in the car?

The tester sits in the front passenger seat, so that side must be in order:

• A working safety belt fitted to the front passenger seat.
• A head restraint on the front passenger seat, to the manufacturer’s specification.
• A front passenger seat that is securely mounted and adjusts fully. Broken or unstable seats are not acceptable.
• A front passenger door that opens from inside and outside.
• Driver and passenger windows that work and open from each side.
• Reasonably clean seating, free of excess dust, dirt, dampness or moisture.
• Windscreen and front side windows not tinted beyond the manufacturer’s specification.
• No loose items such as bottles, cans or clothes.

Do not smoke or vape in the car before the test. Remove or power off any recording equipment.

Can I use an automatic car?

Yes. If you pass in an automatic, your licence is restricted to automatic cars (code 78). To drive a manual car later, you need a new permit and a new test.

What about a hire car, left-hand drive or foreign-registered car?

• Hire cars: not generally insured for a test. You need a stamped note from the hire company saying the car was hired using a current valid Irish learner permit and is insured for a test. Give it to the tester on the day.
• Instructor’s car: the RSA says vehicles may be hired from an Approved Driving Instructor, and many learners do.
• Left-hand drive: allowed if registered in Ireland with all valid documents.
• Registered outside the State: not accepted.

Is any car banned from the test?

The RSA has told owners of Citroën C3 (2008 to 2017) and DS 3 (2009 to 2019) cars covered by an airbag recall not to drive them. For the test, use another car, reschedule, or show proof of the repair. Check the RSA car page for the current notice.

Space saver spare wheels are not acceptable.

How do I practise in the car?

Practise in the exact car you will use, because the checks, mirrors and controls feel different in each one. Turas has spoken routes around more than 50 test centres, so you can drive them in your test car and get used to the roundabouts, STOP signs and speed changes. See the centre list.

For the cost of the whole journey to the test, see driving test cost in Ireland. For the 2026 paperwork change, see the 2026 changes.