Mock Theory Test

Practice Your RSA Theory Test

Our mock theory test allows you to practice your category 'B' (Car) theory test. We cover the five core areas that you will be tested on:

Control of the Vehicle
Legal Matters / Rules of the Road
Managing Risk
Safe and Socially Responsible Driving
Technical Matters

You have forty five minutes to answer forty questions and must get 35 correct to pass. Good luck!

Try Our Theory Test

1 / 40

Category: Control of Vehicle

1. If a driver applies the foot brake and hears a scraping noise, what is the most likely cause?

One of the rear tyres is flat

The brake-pads are wet

One of the front tyres is flat

The brake linings or pads are worn

2 / 40

Category: Technical Matters

2. What effect can a worn shock absorber have on a vehicle?

It can trigger the release of the airbags

It can cause an electrical short-circuit

It can increase fuel consumption

It can cause the vehicle to 'bounce' in an unstable manner

3 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

3. Under what circumstances would a driver increase the air pressure in the tyres?

When the tread depth on the tyres is below 2 mm

When taking a journey with additional passengers

When the journey exceeds 200 km

When higher speeds are anticipated on motorway driving

4 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

4. What does this sign mean?

Stop for school crossing ahead

Give way to traffic coming from your right

Stop your vehicle

Other traffic must give way to you

5 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

5. What type of drink should be given to a person who has been injured in a collision?

No drink should be given

A hot drink

A cold drink

A non-alcoholic drink

6 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

6. While driving, the driver notices the vehicle temperature gauge showing red. What should they do?

Drive to the nearest service depot and top-up the water in the radiator

Do not drive until an anti-waxing agent is added to the coolant

Stop in a safe place and have the problem investigated

Remove the filler cap from the radiator and check for leakage

7 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

7. When do temporary speed limits apply at roadworks?

For the duration of the roadworks

During business hours only

Only when road workers are on site

Only when there is oncoming traffic

8 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

8. Where should L-plates be displayed on cars?

On the front only

On the driver's side only

On the rear only

Both front and rear

9 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

9. What does worn tread along the edge of the inside of a tyre suggest?

Air pressure is low

Air pressure is high

The vehicle has been driven too fast around corners

Steering alignment may be faulty

10 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

10. What should the driver do when driving behind a vehicle that is going from side to side on the road in an unsafe manner?

The driver should drive close behind the vehicle with a view to overtaking

The driver should stay well back in a safe position

The driver should signal and go around to the right of the vehicle

The driver should signal and go around to the left of the vehicle

11 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

11. What is a clearway?

An area that is reserved for pedestrians and motorised wheelchairs

An area where stopping and parking is not permitted during certain times

An area where stopping and parking is reserved for buses and taxis only

An area that is strictly reserved for the loading and unloading of HGVs

12 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

12. When a driver is driving behind another vehicle that they do not intend to overtake, what should the driver do?

Keep well back to allow following traffic to overtake

Keep well back and to the centre of the road

Drive close behind it in order to let following traffic overtake both vehicles

Signal to following traffic to overtake both vehicles

13 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

13. What should a driver do to secure the towing vehicle before unhitching a trailer?

Disconnect the electrical supply to the trailer lights and lower the jockey wheel

Apply the handbrake, lower the jockey wheel and switch off the engine

Lower the jockey wheel and then switch off the ignition

Apply the handbrake, switch off the ignition and engage a low gear

14 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

14. When is parking permitted on a footpath?

When cars are parked on both sides of the road

It is never permitted to park on a footpath

When at least half of the footpath remains free for pedestrians

When no more than half of the vehicle is on the footpath

15 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

15. What effect does a wet road surface have on a vehicle?s braking ability?

Generally, it doubles the braking distance of that required on a dry surface

It reduces the braking distance of that required on a dry surface

Modern tyres provide grip on a wet road as effectively as on a dry road

It makes no difference to the required braking distance

16 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

16. When driving at night and blinded by the lights of an oncoming vehicle, what should a driver do?

Look towards the verge and slow down and stop if necessary

Repeatedly flash the headlights to warn the offending driver

Reduce speed and switch on the full headlights

Drive well to the left and maintain normal speed

17 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

17. What should the driver do to secure the vehicle when changing a front nearside (left-hand side) wheel?

Ensure that the vehicle cannot roll when jacked up

Point the front wheels towards the kerb

Point the front wheels away from the kerb

Ensure the gear lever is in neutral

18 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

18. Why is tailgating (driving too close behind the vehicle in front) dangerous?

The vehicle will not have sufficient distance to stop safely in an emergency

The vehicle will exceed the speed limit

The braking system is less efficient in the slipstream of the vehicle in front

The engine may overheat because of restricted air flow over the vehicle's engine

19 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

19. If a driver wishes to drive a vehicle but the tax disc is expired, what should they do?

They should tax it immediately

They should renew it within 10 days of expiry

They should contact the Gardaí for approval

They should drive it only in case of an emergency

20 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

20. What should a driver do if a bus in front has moved out to make a left-hand turn and there is oncoming traffic?

Overtake on the left-hand side

Maintain speed until up close behind the bus

Overtake on the right-hand side

Stay back and allow the bus to complete the turn

21 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

21. Generally what lighting must a car, tractor or works vehicle have when driving?

Headlights, number plate and rear reflectors only

Headlights, brake lights and indicators only

Headlights, front and rear side lights, rear number plate light, red rear reflectors, brake lights and indicators

Headlights and a reversing light

22 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

22. Who is entitled to see a driver's vehicle registration document?

Any person with whom the driver is involved in a collision

Any fire brigade or ambulance personnel at the scene of a collision the driver has been involved in

A Garda may ask you to produce the vehicles registration document at a named Garda station

A member of the car recovery company or anyone assisting in the recovery

23 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

23. What does the broken yellow line road marking mean?

No stopping for any reason except in an emergency

The edge of the carriageway or hard shoulder.

Parking prohibited at all times

Slow lane for heavy vehicles only

24 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

24. When driving at night the dipped headlights of a typical car should enable the driver to see for a distance of how many metres?

50 metres

40 metres

20 metres

30 metres

25 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

25. What should a driver do if they encounter loose chippings on a road?

A driver should press their hand against the windscreen

Stop the vehicle until the loose chippings can be removed

Slow down and allow extra clearance to other traffic

Increase speed so as to avoid causing damage to the vehicle

26 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

26. How can sunlight affect visibility in a car with grimy windows?

It can enhance visibility

It can seriously reduce visibility

It can cause objects to seem closer than they are

It can cause objects to seem further away than they are

27 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

27. Unless otherwise indicated, what is the maximum permissible speed of a car towing a caravan on a motorway?

120 km/h

90 km/h

100 km/h

80 km/h

28 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

28. Is it permissible to drive a vehicle on a public road when the brake lights are not working?

Yes, during lighting-up times

No, unless driving in a built-up area

Yes, outside of lighting-up times

No, it is never permitted to be driven

29 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

29. Apart from cyclists and motorised wheelchairs, what other road users may use an unoccupied cycle lane accompanied by a broken white line?

Only moped riders and motorcyclists

Only hackneys and taxis

Only buses and taxis

All drivers may make temporary use

30 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

30. Is it permitted to use a vehicle in a public place without a current tax disc displayed?

No, all motor vehicles must display a current tax disc

No, only vintage vehicles are exempt from displaying a tax disc

Yes, but for not more than 10 days after the expiry of the previous disc

Yes, but for not more than one month after the expiry of the previous disc

31 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

31. If a vehicle is being driven by someone who is not the owner but has the owner's consent, who should ensure that the driver is properly insured?

The driver only

The driver and the vehicle owner

The insurance company

The vehicle owner only

32 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

32. What does this Garda signal mean?

Proceed if approaching from behind

Proceed if approaching from the front

Stop if approaching from the front

Stop if approaching from behind

33 / 40

Category: Technical Matters

33. When is it recommended to use coolant?

Winter only

Summer only

In petrol engines only

All year round

34 / 40

Category: Technical Matters

34. What effect would a weak battery have on a vehicle?s driving performance?

Uphill acceleration would be reduced

It would have no effect

The fuel would burn less efficiently

The headlights would not function

35 / 40

Category: Control of Vehicle

35. What type of noise might fast cornering create?

Tyre squeal

Engine backfire

Brake squeal

Exhaust backfire

36 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

36. What do flashing amber lights at a pelican crossing mean?

Drivers have right of way

Danger ahead. A driver must stop and wait until the light stops flashing

Stop and give way to pedestrians - proceed if the way is clear

A driver is entering a special speed limit area

37 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

37. While driving, a driver notices a strong smell of fuel. What should they do?

Stop where safe and investigate

Drive at a reduced speed

Turn on the fan to clear the air

Open the windows and continue on

38 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

38. What is the minimum insurance cover a driver needs to drive on a public road?

Personal Accident

Comprehensive

Third Party, Fire and Theft

Third Party

39 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

39. What does this sign mean?

Industrial estate ahead

Series of steep hills ahead

Pipe laying ahead

Uneven surface ahead

40 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

40. If driving from A to B, what do these road markings mean?

Oncoming traffic may not cross the lines to overtake

A driver may not cross the lines to overtake

A driver may cross the lines to overtake

Only motorcyclists may cross the lines to overtake

Your score is

Disclaimer

This is completely free to use as often as you like. We try to ensure all the questions' accuracy and validity and keep them updated with the official RSA theory test questions. The tests try to simulate the real experience as much as possible. Like the actual test, you are given 45 minutes to complete the test. At the end of each test, you are given your result and can review your incorrect answers to see where you went wrong. If you see any errors or omissions, please get in touch with us.

Version Control

Date	Changes	By Whom
25/10/2023	Theory test created.	MC
14/03/2024	Questions Updated / Added	MC
29/05/2024	Questions & Explanations Updated / Added	MC
04/06/2024	Questions & Explanations Updated / Added	MC
18/06/2024	Questions & Explanations Updated / Added	MC
23/09/2025	Questions & Explanations Updated / Added	MC