Irish Driver Theory Test — practice questions and how it works
Before your first learner permit in Ireland you must pass the Driver Theory Test (DTT), run for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The car (category B) test is 40 multiple-choice questions on the Rules of the Road, road signs, hazard perception and vehicle knowledge; you need 35 correct in 45 minutes. PassPath has 890 questions written from the Rules of the Road and Irish law, each tied to the rule it comes from, with explanations in English, Türkçe, Português, Español, Français, Malayalam, Arabic, Urdu and Hindi — and it now covers 7 more countries.
How the test works
- Car/motorcycle (B/A): 40 questions, 45 minutes, pass mark 35.
- Truck/bus (C/D): 100 questions, 120 minutes, pass mark 74.
- Booked online at theorytest.ie; bring photo ID.
- Fee: check the RSA/theorytest.ie page below — it changes.
- After the test: learner permit (NDLS), 12 EDT lessons, 6 months, then the driving test.
Sample questions
Tap a question to see the answer and the rule behind it. These are written by PassPath from the law and the official guidance, not copied from the official test.
1. You are driving on a rural local road. There is no speed limit sign. What is the speed limit?
- 50 km/h
- 60 km/h
- 80 km/h
- 100 km/h
Since 7 February 2025 the default limit on rural local roads is 60 km/h. It was 80 km/h before that date, so older study material gives the wrong answer.
2. You hold a learner permit. What is the maximum legal blood alcohol concentration for you?
- 20 mg per 100 ml of blood
- 50 mg per 100 ml of blood
- 80 mg per 100 ml of blood
- 0 mg — any alcohol at all is an offence
A learner permit holder is a 'specified person' under the Road Traffic Act 2010. The limit is 20 mg, not the 50 mg that applies to ordinary drivers. Novice (N-plate) and professional drivers are in the same group.
3. By how much is the blood alcohol limit for a specified person lower than for an ordinary driver?
- 10 mg per 100 ml
- 20 mg per 100 ml
- 30 mg per 100 ml
- 60 mg per 100 ml
Ordinary driver 50 mg, specified person 20 mg — a difference of 30 mg.
4. What is the minimum legal tread depth for a car tyre?
- 1.0 mm
- 1.6 mm
- 3.0 mm
- 4.0 mm
1.6 mm is the legal minimum. The RSA recommends replacing tyres at 3 mm — that is advice, not the law. The test asks for the legal figure.
5. In Ireland, what shape and colour is a warning sign?
- A red-bordered circle
- A yellow diamond
- A red-bordered triangle
- A blue rectangle
Ireland uses a yellow diamond for warning signs. Most of mainland Europe uses a red-bordered triangle — if you learned to drive elsewhere, this is a common mistake.
Practise in the app
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PassPath is an independent study app, not a government app, and is not connected to any State body. Always check the official sources before you book, pay or act: