Study this page to prepare for your driving test Ireland theory questions. Below are some of the common theory questions for the driving test relating to the rules of the road and safe driving, asked as part of the driving test. Driving test candidates will also be asked questions on road signs and under the bonnet of their cars. Make sure you study these pages too. If you have not sat a driving test before it is all explained on our pre-tests page.
If you are looking for questions to help prepare for the theory test before getting your first learner permit, take a look at the Online practice theory test and the safe and proper link to book your theory test on our Useful Links page

Sample Theory Questions for the Driving Test.

  1.  What do you check before starting the engine?
  2.  When should you use the car’s horn?
  3.  What does a broken white line crossing the left hand lane mean?
  4.  How should you position yourself for turning right on a one-way street?
  5.  Who cannot use a motorway?
  6.  How far back is a safe distance to drive behind another vehicle?
  7.  What does the island in the middle of a pedestrian crossing mean?
  8.  When can you cross a continuous white line?
  9.  What does a broken yellow line mean?
  10.  If dazzled by the lights of an oncoming vehicle, what should you do?
  11.  At traffic lights, what does a flashing amber light mean?
  12.  What is the basic rule of a yellow box junction?
  13.  Who has priority at a road junction, crossroad or a roundabout?
  14.  In what situations should you use dipped headlights?
  15.  Where should you not park?
  16.  What is the maximum Motorway speed limit?
  17.  Where should you not overtake?
  18.  What is the minimum tyre thread depth?
  19.  Starting with green, what is the sequence of traffic lights?
  20.  What does a single yellow line mean?
  21.  So, what does a double yellow line mean?
  22.  Which lane should you normally use on a motorway?
  23.  Why would you use the outside lane on a motorway?
  24.  If you break down on a motorway, what should you do?
  25.  What does a red light mean?
  26.  So what does a green light mean?
  27.  And what does an amber light mean?
  28.  What does a green arrow mean?
  29.  When can you overtake on the left?
  30.  At an uncontrolled junction of equal importance, to whom would you give way?
  31.  What is a clearway?
  32.  Name three people in authority whom you must stop for?
  33.  If you wish to turn right from a minor road onto a dual-carriageway which has a wide central median, what should you do?
  34.  What should you do when you wish to turn right on to a dual-carriageway which has a narrow central median?
  35.  Where should you position yourself when you are driving on a one-way street and intend on turning right?
  36.  If you are driving on a primary road which is not marked by a central dividing line. What should you do?
  37.  When you see children just ahead on the road, what should you do?
  38.  What is the correct position for a vehicle when turning right?
  39.  You see a vehicle with blue flashing lights approaching. What should you do?
  40.  When may you pass another vehicle on the left-hand side?
  41. How would you recognise a zebra crossing at night?

 

Answers:

  1.  Check the handbrake is on, the gears are in neutral, the doors are closed properly, your seat and steering wheel are set correctly, your mirrors are set correctly and you and your passenger have the safety belts on.
  2.  You should only use the horn to warn other road users of an on-coming danger or to make them aware of your presence for safety reasons. You should not use a horn in a built up area between 11.30 at night and 7 in the morning, except in an emergency.
  3.  This is a yield line. You must give right-of-way to any traffic on the major road ahead.
  4.  You should drive as close as you safely can to the right hand side of the one-way street.
  5.  People who do not hold a full driving licence for the vehicle they are driving, vehicles incapable of at least 50kmh, cyclists, pedestrians…
  6.  Allow a 2 second gap, double this if the road is wet.
  7.  Each side of the island is a sepperate crossing.
  8.  To avoid an obstruction.
  9.  It marks the edge of the road.
  10.  Slow down and stop if necessary.
  11.  Yield right of way to pedestrians.
  12.  You cannot stop in the box, unless you are waiting to turn right into a clear road and are not obstructing oncoming traffic.
  13.  Traffic to the right, traffic already in the junction and pedestrians.
  14.  When meeting oncoming traffic. On continuously lit roads. When following close behind another vehicle. In snow or fog. During the day.
  15.  Near a bend, less then 5M from a junction, more then 1/2M from the kerb, opposite another vehicle on a narrow road, in an operational bus lane or cycle lane, a bus stop or taxi rank, blocking a gate, obscuring a sign…..
  16.  120kmh.
  17.  Approaching a bend, a junction, a pedestrian crossing, the brow of a hill or a hump-backed bridge, at a continuous white line or anywhere that your view is restricted.
  18.  1.6mm.
  19.  Green, amber, red. (Flashing amber would occur at a pedestrian crossing).
  20.  No parking at the times specified on the nearby information plate.
  21.  Double yellow lines mean no parking at any time.
  22.  Given the choice of lanes you would normally drive in the left lane.
  23.  To overtake or to accommodate traffic merging from the left. Once finished move back into the left lane.
  24.  Turn on hazard lights, move well over to the left of the hard shoulder, get out on the passenger side and wait on the embankment, use a mobile or the roadside telephone to inform the Gardai, use a warning triangle if you have one. When moving off build up speed in the hard shoulder and watch for a safe gap.
  25.  A red light means stop before the stop line or before the light. If you moved into the junction when the light was green to turn right you can still clear the junction.
  26.  The green light means go, if safe to do so.
  27.  An amber light means stop if it is safe to do so. You should be able to stop comfortably before the line and the vehicles behind you should also be able to stop comfortably.
  28.  A green arrow (filter light) means that traffic going the specified direction can go, assuming it is safe.
  29.  When the vehicle in front of you is turning right, when you intend are turning left, when the vehicles in the lane on your right are moving more slowly then you are.
  30.  Yield to traffic on your right and traffic already turning.
  31.  It is a road where stopping and parking are prohibited during certain times.
  32.  A Garda, a school warden or a person in charge of animals.
  33.  Firstly, you should drive onto the median strip when the nearest carriageway is clear. Then wait for a gap in traffic from the left, before proceeding.
  34.  You should wait on the side road until there is a suitable gap in the traffic in both directions.
  35.  Try drive close to the right-hand-side of the road.
  36.  Imagine where it would be and drive on the left-hand side.
  37.  Give them a wide clearance and be prepared to slow down if necessary.
  38.  Just left of the centre of the road.
  39.  You may move to the left and reduce speed, stopping if necessary.
  40.  You may pass on the left if the vehicle in front is signaling to turn right or in slow moving lanes of traffic.
  41. There would be flashing amber beacons.

The rules of the road will have all of the information you need for the theory questions for the driving test.

Hand Signals:

In addition to the theory questions for the driving test listed above, the tester will ask you these hand signals. For example, how you would signal to a Garda in front of you or another vehicle behind, if your brake lights or indicators were not working.