Guides/Theory test

How Much Does the Theory Test Cost in Ireland? (Every Fee, 2026)

Updated 22 September 2026 · 4 min read

The driver theory test costs €45 for car (B) and motorcycle (A) categories in 2026. Truck (C), bus (D) and the CPC case study test cost €72 each, and the combined truck-and-bus test costs €84. The fee covers one sitting: if you fail, you pay again in full.

The fee is per sitting, not per pass

There is no discount for resits and no partial refund for a fail. Nationally, roughly 3 in 10 delivered tests end in a fail (RSA Annual Report 2024), and each of those candidates pays the full fee again plus waits for a new slot. Two failed car attempts cost more than a year of most paid practice tools.

Rescheduling and refund rules

• Reschedule at least 7 calendar days before the test: free.
• Reschedule 1 to 6 days before: an admin fee of 50% of the test fee (€22.50 on a €45 test). No rescheduling on the day itself.
• Cancel at least 7 days before: 100% refund. Cancel 3 to 6 days before: 50% refund. Cancel 2 days before or later, or miss the appointment: nothing back.
• Calendar days include weekends and public holidays, so a Monday test must be moved by the Monday before.

What preparation costs on top

The Official Driver Theory Test Questions and Answers book costs €21.99 at the Prometric DTT store (May 2024 edition, one book for car and motorcycle, another for truck, bus and CPC). The official online portal is sold by subscription: €23 for a week, €25 for a month, €28 for three months, €41 for six months. Free options exist too: this site gives you a demo set of questions and a full mock exam in the official format for every category at no cost, with a paid plan (€9.99/month or €19 once) only if you want the complete bank.