Ireland Bus Theory Test Study Guide 2026

The bus theory test

You must pass the bus theory test before you can get a learner permit for categories D, DE, D1 or D1E. It has 100 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, and you need 74 correct. Passing the full bus test also gives you the first part of the Driver CPC.

• The bus test fee is €72, and the combined bus and truck test is €84.
• If you have passed the full truck test, you can sit the shorter Bus Module test. Bring a current truck learner permit or a full Category C licence.
• The full test is available in English and Irish. Module tests are English only for now.
• Bring original ID. A passport is accepted if valid for international use or expired for up to 12 months.
• Your certificate is valid for two years.
• You can ask for a rescore within 10 days of the test. A fee applies.

Bus licence categories

Learner permit rules

• You need a passed bus theory test and a D501 medical report.
• You must be accompanied at all times by someone with at least two years' full licence in that category.
• You must not carry passengers for reward.
• You must not drive on a motorway in the category you are learning.
• Display L plates at the front and rear.

You need a Driver CPC to drive a bus for a living. CPC candidates usually take a 30-minute practical knowledge test on the same day as the driving test.

Speed limits, alcohol and bus lanes

Professional drivers, including bus drivers, have a lower drink-driving limit of 20 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. Never hold a mobile phone while driving.

During its hours, a normal bus lane may be used only by buses, cyclists and taxis working in the course of business. Give cyclists in the bus lane plenty of room. Other drivers should let a signalling bus pull out from a stop when it is safe.

Drivers' hours

The EU drivers' hours rules apply to buses and coaches, but not to regular passenger services where the route is 50 km or less.

A driver on a single international occasional coach trip may, under set conditions, postpone the weekly rest for up to 12 consecutive 24-hour periods. Be ready to show tachograph records for the current day and the previous 28 days.

Caring for passengers

• Stop close to the kerb so passengers do not step into the road.
• Before moving off, check that the doors are closed and use your mirrors to make sure no one is boarding or close to the bus.
• Wait until older passengers are seated or holding on before you pull away.
• Brake and accelerate smoothly; standing passengers can fall.
• For wheelchair users, use the ramp or kneeling system and give them time to reach the wheelchair space.
• Keep aisles and emergency exits clear, and store luggage in the hold or racks.
• Watch for people crossing in front of or behind the bus after they get off.
• Approach busy stops slowly; people at the kerb can be hit by the bus or its mirror.

If a passenger is aggressive, stay calm, stop when it is safe and contact your control room or the Gardaí. If a passenger is hurt, stop safely, help or get help and report it. Keep a lost child safe on board and follow your company's procedure.

Driving a large passenger vehicle

• Long buses need extra room on turns. The rear wheels cut in and the rear overhang can swing out.
• Double-deck drivers must watch for low bridges and trees; the upper deck could strike them.
• If you cannot see behind when reversing, get someone to guide you.
• In heavy rain, slow down and leave more space.
• Check doors, exits, lights, tyres and safety equipment before taking a bus into service.
• If you feel very tired, tell your control room and stop when it is safe.

Emergencies

• If a fire starts, stop safely, switch off the engine and get everyone off and away from the bus.
• If your coach breaks down on a motorway, move passengers off the coach to a safe place away from traffic, behind a barrier if there is one and it is safe.

Why bus drivers have extra rules

A bus driver is responsible for many lives at once. Passengers may be standing, walking to a seat, carrying bags or travelling with children. Some have reduced mobility. A sudden stop that a car driver would barely notice can throw a standing passenger to the floor. That is why bus drivers have their own licence categories, a higher medical standard (Group 2), lower speed limits when passengers are standing, a lower drink-driving limit, and rules on driving hours and rest.

On the road, a bus is long and heavy, it pulls in and out of traffic often, and it stops where pedestrians gather. Good bus driving means planning every stop early, braking gently, checking mirrors before every move and always putting passenger safety ahead of the timetable.

Key numbers at a glance

Sharing the road from a bus

• Signal in good time before pulling in to a stop and before pulling out. Check your mirrors and blind spots each time.
• Cyclists may use bus lanes. Stay well back and give them plenty of room when you pass.
• People often cross close to a stopped bus. Look in front and behind before moving off.
• Long buses need extra room on turns. Take your time and make sure the rear wheels clear the kerb.
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. A heavy bus full of passengers needs more room to stop gently.

Other drivers are asked to let buses pull out from stops when it is safe, but never assume they will. Wait for a safe gap.

On test day

• Arrive 30 minutes before your test time to check in.
• Bring original ID. Photocopies are not accepted.
• Your result (pass or fail) appears on screen at the end, and a score report is emailed to you.
• If you think there is a mistake, you can ask for a rescore by phone within 10 days. The fee is €15.
• If you fail, wait at least 3 complete business days before you re-sit. There is no limit on attempts.

Test Day Assistance can help candidates who need support, such as language options. Ask about it when you book.

A simple study plan

1. Read this guide once from start to finish, without trying to memorise everything.
2. Read the matching chapters of the RSA Rules of the Road. Mark every number, limit and time you find.
3. Take the first practice test. Write down each question you get wrong and look up the rule.
4. Make a one-page list of key numbers, and test yourself on it every day.
5. Take the other practice tests until you score at least 80% every time.
6. Finish with the mock exam, timed if the real test is timed.

Short, regular study works better than one long session. Twenty or thirty minutes a day for two weeks will help you remember more than one long night before the test. Read each question to the end before you look at the answers, and watch for words like minimum, maximum, before and after.