Ireland Driver Theory Test Practice 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 25

   A novice driver is found with 30 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood and gets a fixed penalty notice. What is the penalty?

   • AA warning letter only, sent to the driver’s home
   • B3 penalty points only, with no fine or ban
   • CA €200 fine and a 3-month disqualification
   • DNo penalty, because it is under the 50 mg limit
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A €200 fine and a 3-month disqualification

   Novice drivers are over their 20 mg limit, so the fixed penalty is €200 and a three-month disqualification.

2. Question 2 of 25

   What is the maximum penalty for drink driving in Ireland?

   • AA €200 fine
   • BA €500 fine
   • CA €5,000 fine, 6 months in prison, or both
   • DA €1,000 fine and 3 penalty points, but no ban
   Show answer

   Answer: C. A €5,000 fine, 6 months in prison, or both

   The maximum penalty is a €5,000 fine, six months in prison, or both, as well as a disqualification.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Where can Gardaí breath test any driver without first suspecting an offence?

   • AOnly at the driver’s home
   • BAt an authorised checkpoint
   • CAnywhere, by stopping cars in moving traffic at random
   • DOnly at an NCT centre
   Show answer

   Answer: B. At an authorised checkpoint

   Random (mandatory) alcohol testing happens at checkpoints authorised in writing by a Garda Inspector or higher.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Is it an offence to refuse a breath test at a Garda checkpoint?

   • AOnly after midnight
   • BNo, the test is voluntary
   • COnly for learner drivers
   • DYes, refusing is an offence
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Yes, refusing is an offence

   Refusing or failing to give a breath specimen at a checkpoint is an offence.

5. Question 5 of 25

   For which drugs is it illegal to drive over a set limit, even if you do not seem impaired?

   • AVitamins and cough sweets
   • BCannabis, cocaine and heroin
   • CCaffeine and nicotine
   • DParacetamol and ibuprofen
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Cannabis, cocaine and heroin

   There are set legal limits for cannabis, cocaine and heroin. Driving over them is an offence even without signs of impairment.

6. Question 6 of 25

   A prescription medicine makes you drowsy. What does the law say about driving?

   • AIt is fine as long as you have the box with you
   • BIt is only illegal if you drive on a motorway
   • CPrescription drugs are always allowed when driving
   • DDriving while impaired by it is illegal
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Driving while impaired by it is illegal

   It is illegal to drive while impaired by any drug, including medicine from your doctor.

7. Question 7 of 25

   When must Gardaí carry out alcohol testing at the scene of a crash?

   • ANever, because tests only happen at Garda checkpoints
   • BOnly if the crash happens at night
   • CWhen someone is injured and needs medical help
   • DOnly if one of the drivers admits drinking
   Show answer

   Answer: C. When someone is injured and needs medical help

   Gardaí carry out mandatory alcohol testing at the scene of a crash where someone is injured.

8. Question 8 of 25

   How many penalty points within three years lead to an automatic disqualification for a fully licensed driver?

   • A15
   • B7
   • C6
   • D12
   Show answer

   Answer: D. 12

   Reaching 12 penalty points in any three-year period leads to an automatic six-month disqualification.

9. Question 9 of 25

   How long is the automatic disqualification for reaching 12 penalty points?

   • AOne year
   • BTwo years
   • COne month
   • DSix months
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Six months

   Reaching the penalty points limit leads to an automatic six-month disqualification.

10. Question 10 of 25

    How long do penalty points stay on your record?

    • AOne year
    • BThree years
    • CFive years
    • DTen years
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Three years

    Points stay on your record for three years. Time while your licence is out of date or you are disqualified does not count.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Do penalty points apply to learner permit holders?

    • ANo, points only apply to people who hold a full licence
    • BOnly after six months on a learner permit
    • COnly for offences committed on motorways
    • DYes, to learner permits as well as full licences
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Yes, to learner permits as well as full licences

    Penalty points apply to all driving licences and learner permits.

12. Question 12 of 25

    At how many penalty points is a learner or novice driver disqualified, if their first learner permit was granted on or after 1 August 2014?

    • A10
    • B3
    • C12
    • D7
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 7

    Learner and novice drivers whose first learner permit was granted on or after 1 August 2014 are disqualified at seven points.

13. Question 13 of 25

    You get a fixed charge notice. How long do you have to pay the standard amount?

    • A28 days
    • B90 days
    • C56 days
    • D7 days
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 28 days

    You have 28 days from the notice to pay the amount shown.

14. Question 14 of 25

    You miss the first 28 days to pay a fixed charge. What happens if you pay in the next 28 days?

    • AYou cannot pay and must go to court straight away
    • BYou pay half the amount
    • CYou pay the amount plus 50%
    • DYou pay the same amount
    Show answer

    Answer: C. You pay the amount plus 50%

    Paying in the second 28-day period costs the original amount plus 50%. After 56 days, court proceedings begin.

15. Question 15 of 25

    Once a penalty points disqualification starts, how long do you have to surrender your licence to the NDLS?

    • A28 days
    • B3 months
    • C7 days
    • D14 days
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 14 days

    You must surrender your licence within 14 days of the disqualification starting. Not doing so is an offence.

16. Question 16 of 25

    A safety camera catches a car speeding. Who is sent the fixed charge notice?

    • ANobody, because camera offences carry no penalty
    • BThe insurance company that covers the car
    • CThe nearest Garda station to the camera
    • DThe registered owner of the car
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The registered owner of the car

    The notice goes to the registered owner, who is treated as the driver unless they name the person who was driving.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What is the penalty on conviction for using a car without a valid NCT certificate?

    • A1 penalty point only, with no fine
    • BNo penalty, as long as the car is safe
    • C5 penalty points and a possible fine
    • DA warning letter only, sent by the NCT
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 5 penalty points and a possible fine

    Using a car without a valid NCT is an offence carrying 5 penalty points on conviction, a fine of up to €2,500 and/or up to three months in prison.

18. Question 18 of 25

    When does a private car need its first NCT?

    • AWhen it is three years old
    • BWhen it is four years old
    • CWhen it is ten years old
    • DWhen it is one year old
    Show answer

    Answer: B. When it is four years old

    Private cars are first tested when they are four years old.

19. Question 19 of 25

    How often must a car aged between four and ten years be tested in the NCT?

    • AEvery five years
    • BEvery three years
    • CEvery year
    • DEvery two years
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Every two years

    After the first test, cars are tested every two years until their tenth anniversary.

20. Question 20 of 25

    How often must a car be tested in the NCT after its tenth anniversary?

    • ANever again
    • BEvery three years
    • CEvery two years
    • DEvery year
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Every year

    Cars more than ten years old must be tested every year.

21. Question 21 of 25

    From what age are cars exempt from the NCT?

    • A20 years
    • B25 years
    • C40 years
    • D30 years
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 40 years

    Cars are exempt from testing from 40 years old. At 30 years, testing goes back to every two years.

22. Question 22 of 25

    How early can you choose to take your NCT before the due date?

    • AUp to 90 days early
    • BIt cannot be taken early
    • CUp to one year early
    • DUp to 7 days early
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Up to 90 days early

    You can test up to 90 days before the due date. The new certificate runs from the date you pass.

23. Question 23 of 25

    What must you carry with you at all times when driving?

    • AYour car’s purchase receipt
    • BYour NCT certificate
    • CYour full insurance policy booklet and schedule
    • DYour driving licence or learner permit
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Your driving licence or learner permit

    You must carry your driving licence or learner permit at all times when you are driving.

24. Question 24 of 25

    You change your car, for example by fitting a bigger engine or new wheels. What should you do?

    • ATell your insurer, as some changes can invalidate your policy
    • BNothing, because insurers do not need to know about changes
    • CTake a new driving test in the changed car
    • DTell the NCT centre only, at your next car test, and nobody else
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Tell your insurer, as some changes can invalidate your policy

    Some modifications can invalidate your insurance, so tell your insurer before or after making them.

25. Question 25 of 25

    When you enter a roundabout in Ireland, which way must you turn?

    • ARight, so you travel anticlockwise
    • BLeft, so you travel clockwise around it
    • CWhichever way is shorter
    • DStraight across the centre island
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Left, so you travel clockwise around it

    By law, when entering a roundabout a driver must turn to the left, so traffic goes clockwise.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 35 of 40