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Certificate of Professional Competence
If you want to drive a bus for a living, new rules will apply
from 10 September 2008 for bus drivers (similar rules
will apply from 10 September 2009 for truck drivers).
From the respective dates, you must hold a Certificate
of Professional Competence (CPC) to continue working
as a professional driver.
A person who has a full category D or D1 driving licence
before 10 September 2008 will have an entitlement to
the CPC which is valid for a five year period.
A person who wants to become a professional driver and
qualify for the CPC after 10 September 2008 will have to
sit an extended driving test. The extended test will have
two parts.
Part one is a driving test similar to the current bus and
truck driving test, lasting approximately 90 minutes,
while part two is a test of knowledge, lasting
approximately 30 minutes , covering aspects of driver
safety and proper procedure. These tests can be
scheduled separately on different dates or together on
the same day as requested by the test applicant.
Before taking the driving test a person must pass both the
normal driver theory test and a special two part CPC theory test.
For a person who wants to get a two part driving licence
but does not want to work professionally, or has an
exemption from the CPC requirement, s/he can apply for
part one of the driving test and on passing the test can
obtain a driving licence. If s/he subsequently wants to
work as a professional driver and qualify for a CPC then
s/he can take part two of the test providing both parts
are taken and passed within a two year period.
For more information on CPC including details of bus
drivers exempt from the new rules please visit our
www.rsa.ie website and click on the CPC icon.
PPSN
The Personal Public Service Number (formerly RSI number)
is your unique reference number to help you to access
benefits and information from public service agencies.
If you do not know your PPSN you should contact your
local office of the Department of Social and Family
Affairs. This office will try to trace a number for you
or in the event of you not having a number, will get
one for you. New applicants for a PPSN will be asked to
produce documentary proof of identity and residence in
this country.
Test Centers
In addition to five driving test centres in Dublin at Churchtown, Finglas, Raheny, Rathgar and Tallaght, permanent driving test centres are located countrywide
as set out below.
Athlone, Ballina, Birr, Buncrana, Carlow, Carrick-on-Shannon, Castlebar, Cavan, Clifden, Clonmel, Cork, Donegal, Dundalk, Dungarvan, Ennis, Galway, Gorey, Kilkenny, Killarney, Kilrush, Letterkenny, Limerick*, Longford, Loughrea, Mallow, Monaghan, Mullingar, Naas, Navan, Nenagh, Newcastle West, Portlaoise, Roscommon, Shannon, Skibbereen, Sligo, Thurles, Tipperary, Tralee, Tuam, Tullamore, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow.
*There are centres in Woodview and Castlemungret in
Limerick City.
You can apply for a driving test at any test centre and as far as possible your test will be scheduled for the centre you nominate. Driving tests for licence categories C1, C, EC, EC1, D1, D, ED and ED1 are conducted only at a limited number of the larger centres and if you apply for a test in these licence categories you will be scheduled at the centre nearest to you where it is conducted.
If you visit our website at www.drivingtest.ie you can view a site map and waiting times for each centre. If you are applying for a test in category W (tractor/works vehicle) you can request to have the test conducted at a town nearer to you than any of the above centres and every effort will be made to facilitate you.
Availability
The target of the Road Safety Authority is to have an
average of a ten week waiting time for driving tests at
test centres. From time to time waiting times will be
longer or shorter given demand at individual test centres.
Therefore, if you are not available at some point within 10
weeks of applying you should note this on the application
form. Up to date waiting times, by test centre, will be
available on the www.drivingtest.ie website.
Cancellations become available, often at short notice and if
you can take a test with notice from as little as two days, and
up to ten days, please advise this on the application form.
Disability
If you use a car that is adapted to enable you to drive
because of a disability please let us know so that appropriate
arrangements can be made for you on the day of the test.
If you are deaf or have profound hearing loss please let
us know. You will be asked a number of questions on the
rules of the road at the beginning of the test; to help us
make arrangements and to help you with instructions
for the test on the day you can bring along a relative or
a friend, but not a driving instructor. This person cannot
however accompany you on the driving part of the test.
Learner Permit
The learner permit was previously known as the provisional
licence. The learner permit number is a nine digit number
under item 5 on your learner permit. The learner permit
reference code is a three digit number eg. 991, 992
noted opposite the category under the column marked
restrictions /information on your learner permit. Please
supply the reference code and date of issue for the licence
category in which you are applying for a test.
In order to take a driving test, you must hold a learner
permit for the licence category in which you wish to be
tested. A first time holder of a learner permit (permit
will have Code 991 noted opposite the category under
the column marked restrictions / information) for licence
categories A, A1, M, B, EB and W (Motorcycle, Car and
Works Vehicle) must hold the learner permit for six
months before taking the test.
In certain circumstances, you can only hold a learner
permit if you already hold a full driving licence for a
smaller/lighter vehicle. Before applying for the test, you
should ensure that you hold the correct learner permit.
Eligibility for a third or subsequent learner permit for any
category of vehicle is dependent on you having taken a driving
test within the previous two years or providing evidence of a
forthcoming driving test in the vehicle category in question.
For more information on learner permits visit www.rsa.ie
and click on the Driver Licensing icon.
If you have any doubt about your eligibility for a learner
permit you should enquire immediately with your local Motor
Taxation Office. The telephone numbers for Motor Taxation
Offices can be located under the City & County Councils
heading of the green pages in the telephone directory.
Driving Test Fee
Your application must be accompanied by the correct
fee for each test licence category. These are set out
hereunder and are non- transferable and non-refundable.
Payment should be made by postal order, money order
or cheque, crossed and made payable to the Road Safety
Authority. DO NOT SEND CASH. Applications accompanied
by an incorrect fee will be returned. (For administrative
reasons, no refunds will be made in respect of Euro 2 or less
in excess of the fee for the category concerned).
Categories
A, A1, B, EB and W |
Eur
75 |
Categories
C, C1, D and D1 |
Eur
110 |
Categories
EC, EC1, ED and ED1 |
Eur
110 |
CPC Driving Test
(Bus category) |
Euro 142 (Part 1 Euro 110
Part 2 Euro 32) |
Cancellation of Test Appointment
Test appointments are normally issued four to five weeks
before the date of the test. The Road Safety Authority
is working towards a target of an average of a ten week
or shorter waiting time for a driving test, you should be
mindful of this when applying and preparing for your driving
test. You will fi nd details of waiting times for test centres at
www.drivingtest.ie Ten days notice of a cancellation must
be given, otherwise the fee is forfeited. If you cancel your
appointment more than twice the test fee will be forfeited.
Irish Language
An Irish language version of this form is available. If this
application form is completed in Irish or you complete an
Irish language version of the form your driving test will
be conducted in Irish.
Test Preparation
To prepare for your driving test you should study The
Rules of the Road booklet which can be bought at
bookshops or visit the www.rulesoftheroad.ie website.
Take driving lessons with an approved driving instructor
(ADI) and practice under the supervision of a competent
accompanying driver. You can view a list of approved
driving instructors by visiting the www.rsa.ie website and
clicking on the ADI icon.
Customer Care
The Road Safety Authority is committed to continually
improving its services and welcomes feedback. If you
want to give feedback, make a complaint or give a
compliment please write to the Customer Service Offi cer,
Driver Testing Section, Road Safety Authority, Moy Valley
Business Park, Primrose Hill, Ballina, Co. Mayo. You can
also make contact by locall 1890 40 60 40 or by email
customerservice@rsa.ie
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