Information Sheet on the Driving Test

Please see MAG's Information Sheet on Motorcycle Driver Licensing Regulations and note that some tests require the motorcycle to be over or under a certain capacity or power.

Application forms for the driving test are available from the licensing authority and most Post Offices, Garda Stations and Libraries.

After filing your test-application you will receive a letter of acknowledgement with a leaflet "preparing for your driving test" and in due course an appointment for your test. Note the minimum cc.

You should be very familiar with the "Rules of the Road" available from Post Offices, Easons and other bookshops price £ 2.00. MAG also recommends "Motorcycle Roadcraft - the Police Rider’s Handbook" (ISBN 0-11-341143-X) available from Eason’s, other good bookshops and the MAG office.

MAG strongly recommends that wherever possible, you seek the assistance of a good riding instructor. Please contact MAG for recommendations and for the current information sheet on rider training. Whether you can obtain quality training or not, we recommend that you practise riding as much as possible on all permitted types of roads and in different types of traffic situations.

The driving test is designed to establish whether you:

• know the Rules of the Road
• have the knowledge and skill to ride competently in accordance with those rules
• ride with due regard for the safety and convenience of other road users

Show up early at the test centre. You will need to bring your provisional licence, insurance certificate and will have to sign a declaration stating your bike is in roadworthy condition.

Please Note;

• the bike must be taxed and the tax disc displayed
• tyres must be of adequate tread depth
• your motorcycle must have a headlamp (white or yellow), a red rear lamp, a red rear reflector and rear number plate lighting
• it is not a requirement to have indicators, brake light or mirrors, but if fitted, they must be in working order. If not fitted, hand signals must be used in the test. You may be required to use hand signals as well as indicators. Using the mirrors is permitted but a quick ‘life-saver’ backwards glance in some situations when for example changing lanes would be required also.

It is in your own best interests to give a good impression and a clean and tidy bike and rider will look better than a scruff-ball on a ‘rat’! After signing the declaration, you will be given an oral examination on the Rules of the Road and then asked to demonstrate the various hand signals.

Moving out to your machine, the examiner will check that it is in a roadworthy condition. You will then be instructed on what route to take, you are not in radio contact as in most countries, the examiner will be following behind you in a car (all motorcycle test examiners hold a full motorcycle licence). In exceptional circumstances i.e. heavy traffic congestion the tester may observe the rider from on foot.

Don’t forget to apply the front brake when mounting the bike!

You may be asked to do left-hand circuits of a block and then right-hand circuits, and after a while he/she will pull in and flag you down. At some stage you will be asked to do a U turn in a quiet road which would normally be about 26 feet wide.

You are expected to do this turn ‘feet up’, but points may not be lost for using a foot to steady the bike. In the case of some race replica and full-dressed tourers, you may not be able to ‘do it in one’ so you are permitted to do a 2-point turn. What you have to do is show that you are in full control, and keeping a good lookout for any traffic, while performing the manoeuvre.

You will then be asked to ride slowly, at ‘walking pace’ for around 50 metres, again to demonstrate your machine-control capabilities.

Remember to apply the rear brake with your right foot whenever stationary.

That’s it. If you pass you will receive a certificate of competency to drive which is valid for two years - if you do not take out a full licence during this period you will obliged to pass the driving test again.

Please note a Certificate of Competency is not a full licence and it does not entitle you to drive on motorways, or to carry a pillion passenger. It is not valid outside Ireland.

If you fail you will receive a detailed report on the faults that occurred during the test. The most common causes of failure are:

• Lack of ‘observation’
  This includes rearwards observation. You might be able to glance in your mirror without a perceptible movement of your head, but how can an examiner, perhaps behind you in a car, be convinced you have ? So move the head a bit, just enough to show you were looking. Don't forget the 'lifesaver' checks.
• Lack of Progress
  Going too slowly, very common especially at right hand turns. Conversely, this does not mean cutting across approaching traffic at high speed to do the right hand turn, simply that you should not ride around in a hesitant manner. If you don’t look capable examiners tend to think you aren’t.
• Inadequate Signalling
  As the test qualifies you for motorcycles without indicators you may need to do hand signals. Don't forget to cancel indicators if you are using them.
• Road Positioning
  This is where many an ‘experienced’ motorcyclist falls down. It ought to be possible for a vehicle behind you to discern your intentions from your positioning on the road. Attempting a right turn from the left gutter, or a left turn from the white line will not impress an examiner.
• Passing too close to parked cars and pedestrians
  Car doors can open suddenly (always assume they will!) so ride that if one did your path would be clear of it. So too pedestrians, by now you should know most step off the kerb and, if they look at all, they look left and you are coming from the right.

The test is very basic and does not cover many situations you will encounter in day-today riding, such as: riding in adverse conditions - in heavy rain, strong winds or on icy roads, at night or on motorways. There is much more to learn and perfect before anyone should think themselves a ‘good and capable’ rider in all conditions.

This information sheet is provided free of charge as a service to motorcycling. MAG Ireland cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions. Last updated 2001-02 Approved by NEC: 2001-03