Guides/Theory test

Motorcycle Theory Test in Ireland: What Is Different From the Car Test

Updated 14 August 2026 · 4 min read

The motorcycle theory test covers every licence in the A family — AM (moped), A1, A2 and A. On paper it looks identical to the car test: 40 questions, 35 to pass, 45 minutes, €45. The difference is in the question bank.

What overlaps with the car test — and what does not

Most of the motorcycle bank is shared with the car test: road signs, rules of the road, alcohol and speed limits, hazard awareness. But a substantial slice is bike-specific, and that is where car drivers converting to a bike lose marks.

Machine control: countersteering, braking distribution between front and rear, riding position
Stability: cornering, road surfaces, tar banding, painted lines and metal covers in the wet
Protective equipment: helmets, visors, conspicuity clothing — what the rules actually require
Carrying passengers and loads on a motorcycle
Bike-specific checks: chain tension and lubrication, tyres, controls

Questions with images

Several bike questions reference photographs — switches and controls, road hazards from a rider’s viewpoint. If you practise from text-only notes, these will surprise you on the day. Practise with the images.

After the theory test: IBT

Once you pass and get your learner permit, you must complete Initial Basic Training — a 16-hour modular course with an approved instructor — before riding unaccompanied. Plan the theory test and IBT as one project: passing theory early gets you on the road sooner.

Converting from a car licence? Do not skip the bank: riders report the bike-specific questions feel "obvious until you see the options". The margin is only 5 wrong answers.

Practise the real motorcycle bank

The full category A question set — shared rules plus every bike-specific question, with images and explanations.

Start motorcycle practice

Frequently asked questions

+How many questions are in the Irish motorcycle theory test?

40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes; you need 35 correct to pass. The format matches the car test, but the question bank includes motorcycle-specific material.

+Is the motorcycle theory test the same as the car test?

No. They share many road-rules questions, but the A test adds bike-specific topics: machine control, stability, protective gear, carrying passengers and motorcycle maintenance.

+Do I need the theory test if I already have a car licence?

Yes — to get a motorcycle learner permit you must pass the category A theory test, regardless of your car licence.

+What is IBT?

Initial Basic Training: a mandatory 16-hour course with an RSA-approved instructor that motorcycle learners must complete before riding unaccompanied.

+Is there a separate theory test for motorcycles in Ireland?

Yes. The motorcycle (category A family) theory test uses its own question bank, sharing most road-rules content with the car test but adding bike-specific topics like machine control and protective equipment.

+How hard is the motorcycle theory test?

The pass mark is the same as the car test, 35 out of 40, but riders converting from a car licence often lose marks on the bike-specific questions if they only revise the shared content.