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 answer at least thirty-five correctly to pass.

Want to brush up on just your road signs before your test? Try our Irish Road Sign test.

Good luck!

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1 / 40

Category: Technical Matters

1. What is the primary purpose of the battery fitted to a petrol - or diesel - powered motor vehicle?

To provide braking

To reduce fuel consumption

To provide heat to the engine

To start the engine

2 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

2. In general, how frequently should a vehicle's lights be checked?

At major service intervals

Daily before driving

When wintertime approaches

At minor service intervals

3 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

3. If, when driving along, the driver notices that the engine power is lower than normal, what should they do?

Have the vehicle checked by a competent person

Switch to a different fuel

Adjust the fuel mixture control mechanism

Replace the engine oil filter

4 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

4. What do flashing amber beacons on an oncoming vehicle alert a driver to?

That the oncoming vehicle may be slow moving or extra wide

That the oncoming vehicle is fast moving

That the oncoming vehicle is a military vehicle

That the oncoming vehicle is an emergency vehicle

5 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

5. What traffic may use a contra-flow bus lane?

Buses on a scheduled service.

Buses, taxis and cyclists.

Buses, taxis and motorcycles.

Buses and motorised wheelchairs only.

6 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

6. What does this sign mean?

Cyclists and buses must turn left.

With-flow bus and cycle lane ahead on left.

Only double-decker buses and cyclists may use lane.

Only buses and cyclists may park.

7 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

7. What should a driver do when entering a tunnel?

Drive closer to the vehicle in front.

Always switch off your radio to avoid distractions.

Never drive below the posted speed limit.

Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

8 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

8. If a driver wishes to drive another privately-owned vehicle but they are uncertain if they are insured to drive that vehicle, what should they do?

Transfer the insurance disc from their own vehicle on to the vehicle they wish to drive

Drive if there is an insurance disc on the vehicle

Drive it provided that they tell their insurance company within 10 days and agree to pay any additional premium

A driver should contact their own insurer to confirm whether or not their insurance policy covers the driving of other vehicles

9 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

9. What lights should a driver have on when driving behind other traffic at night?

Side lights.

Front Fog lights.

Dipped headlights.

Main Beam headlights.

10 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

10. At a railway level crossing with unattended gates, what should a car driver do?

Telephone the nearest railway station before opening a gate

Open both gates before proceeding to cross

Open both gates and after passing the first, stop and close it

Drive half way across and close the first gate before opening the second

11 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

11. What does this sign mean?

The driver must stop when red lights show

The driver must stop when vehicles ahead show brake lights

Emerging vehicles have priority. The driver must stop if necessary

Stop and wait for green light before proceeding

12 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

12. What effect does spilt diesel have on a road?

It improves tyre grip on bends

It improves the vehicle's braking ability

It makes the road more slippery

It increases tyre noise

13 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

13. When driving at night, what is the safest approach for a driver to adopt?

Drive at a speed that enables the driver to stop within the distance ahead that they can see to be clear.

Drive at the maximum speed limit with dipped headlights on at all times.

Drive at the maximum speed limit with full headlights on to see clearly ahead.

Drive with full headlights on at all times.

14 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

14. What does this sign mean?

Parking of vehicles under the weight shown is not allowed.

Parking of vehicles exceeding the weight shown is not allowed.

Parking in loading area is not allowed.

Passing other traffic that exceeds the weight shown is not allowed.

15 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

15. How would a driver calculate the maximum overall permitted weight of their vehicle?

By adding the unladen weight of the vehicle to the load permitted to be carried

By checking the weight of the load which may be carried

By checking the unladen weight of the vehicle

By calculating the unladen weight of the vehicle plus the weight of the fuel

16 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

16. What must a driver do when this sign is accompanied by a white stop line on the road?

Stop no more than one car length past the line

Stop past the line

Stop only if there is traffic on the major road

Stop at the line

17 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

17. What is the maximum permissible speed for cars and motorcycles on motorways?

80 km/h

60 km/h

120 km/h

100 km/h

18 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

18. What does this sign mean?

No right turn.

Keep right.

Steep decline from the left.

Traffic crossing from the left.

19 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

19. When should a driver use their hazard warning lights?

When the vehicle has broken down.

When about to pull in and stop.

When parking for a short time on a single yellow line.

When the brake lights are not working.

20 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

20. What danger could be associated with driving a tractor and trailer over a humpbacked bridge?

The trailer could jack-knife

The trailer could become detached

The tractor's suspension could smooth out the bump

The trailer's parking brake could automatically engage

21 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

21. What colour traffic light comes on after a non-flashing amber light?

Flashing amber light

Flashing red light

Red only

Green only

22 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

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

Open the windows and continue on

Stop where safe and investigate

Turn on the fan to clear the air

Drive at a reduced speed

23 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

23. What restriction applies to a driver's full licence if they have passed their test on a vehicle with automatic transmission?

They may not drive vehicles with manual transmission

They must continue to display L-plates

They may not drive on motorways

They may not drive at speeds of more that 80 km/h

24 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

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

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

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

Remove the filler cap from the radiator and check for leakage

Stop in a safe place and have the problem investigated

25 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

25. What would be the effect of overloading a vehicle with passengers or goods?

It would improve the vehicle's road-holding ability

Overloading will not reduce the ability to control the vehicle

It would reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle.

It would not have any effect provided speed is reduced

26 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

26. A driver wishes to go straight ahead at a cross junction of equal importance. If they encounter other traffic, what is the general rule that applies?

Give way to traffic approaching firstly from the left and then the right.

Traffic approaching from the driver’s right has right of way.

Carry on as normal as they always have the right of way

Give way to traffic approaching from the left only.

27 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

27. When attaching a trailer to their vehicle, what must a driver check?

That the load is positioned to the front of the trailer.

That the trailer springs are well greased.

That the trailer coupling is attached securely.

That the trailer has a spare wheel.

28 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

28. When driving at night, when must a driver use dipped headlights?

When meeting or driving behind other traffic.

When driving at more than 100 km/h.

When driving at less than 50 km/h.

When there is no oncoming traffic.

29 / 40

Category: Control of Vehicle

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

The brake-pads are wet

The brake linings or pads are worn

One of the front tyres is flat

One of the rear tyres is flat

30 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

30. What does this sign mean at a junction?

Slow down and yield to pedestrians.

Yield to all heavy goods vehicles.

Yield to traffic on the major road.

Yield to traffic coming from your right only.

31 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

31. What does this Garda signal mean?

Stop if approaching from behind

Turn right

Turn left

Stop if approaching from front

32 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

32. What should a driver do before towing a caravan?

Ensure all passengers are securely seated in the caravan

Have an extended mirror fitted to the driver's side of the vehicle only

Ensure that only adult passengers are seated in the caravan

Have extended mirrors fitted to the towing vehicle

33 / 40

Category: Control of Vehicle

33. Why should a tractor be driven more slowly on uneven road surfaces?

To avoid fuel spilling from the tank

To maintain tyre pressure

To avoid severe bouncing

To reduce road noise

34 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

34. A driver notices that the wiper blades are worn. What should they do?

Roll down the window and drive slowly.

Wipe the windscreen with newspaper.

Have the blades replaced as soon as possible.

Use the windscreen washer system while it is raining.

35 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

35. In general, when turning right on a two-way road, where should a driver position the vehicle?

At either side of the middle of the road.

Just left of the middle of the road

At the far left-hand side of the road.

At the far right-hand side of the road.

36 / 40

Category: Technical Matters

36. What can be affected by driving on under-inflated tyres?

The exhaust system

Climate control system

Braking ability

Engine temperature

37 / 40

Category: Managing Risk

37. What should a driver do when driving in heavy rain?

Maintain normal speeds as on a dry road.

Weave the vehicle slightly in order to improve tyre grip.

Be aware that the vehicle may slide or ‘aquaplane’.

Increase speed so that the vehicle will glide over any standing water.

38 / 40

Category: Safe and Socially Responsible Driving

38. A driver has been driving regularly in daylight and must now undertake a journey at night. What should the driver do?

Drive at a slower speed than in the day as visibility is reduced at night.

Drive at the same speed as during the day as there is no extra danger.

Drive at a higher speed than during the day as traffic is lighter at night.

Drive at a higher speed than during the day to minimise the chances of following asleep.

39 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

39. Where can drivers locate the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of their vehicle?

On the tax disc

On the NCT disc

On a metal plate on the vehicle

On the insurance disc

40 / 40

Category: Legal Matters/Rules of the Road

40. When traffic lights are green, when should a driver not proceed?

When traffic is stopped waiting to turn from the road on the right

When oncoming traffic is waiting to turn left

When traffic is stopped waiting to turn from the road on the left

When it would be unsafe to do so

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