The Road Safety Authority (RSA), the body responsible for the driver testing service, has been feeling the heat recently from a growing contingent of aspiring and unhappy motorists.
The waiting time for a driving test has shot up over the past five years. In 2019, the average wait time for a test was six weeks, and as of the end of April, 2025, the average wait time was more than six months.
Although the number of driving tests conducted has increased by 61% since 2021, with 253,850 tests conducted last year, this is not meeting demand for slots. There are still 100,000 learners waiting to be tested, and with the most recent figures showing a national pass rate of 53%, it could be quite a while before some people are on the road.
The Government has tasked the RSA with slashing the 27 week wait by more than half to a target of 10 weeks by September. At the end of May, the RSA launched an action plan aimed at making this happen.
The plan includes measures like additional staffing (with 91 new permanent tester drivers) to increase testing capacity as well as expanded testing hours. Testers will effectively work overtime, with tests conducted during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays and for almost 12 hours a day from 7.25am to 7pm.
It will be the end of the year before it is possible to see if there is visible progress from the actions of the new RSA plan. For example, three new test centres are due to be opened to bring the national total of centres to 60. These new centres will be opened in Dublin South, Naas and Drogheda – but the RSA has not given an exact time for when they will be up and running.
Meadhbh O’Callaghan (20),
Co Cork
Irish Country Living spoke to learner, Meadhbh O’Callaghan (20) who has been waiting 10 months to sit her driving test in Skibbereen, Co Cork.
“I did my theory test four years ago and started driving lessons really soon after. The [timings] were spread out so much because of school, it was really hard to get availability for lessons.”
In Ireland, a learner must complete 12 essential driving training lessons (EDT) with an approved driving instructor (ADI) before sitting their test; but with current wait times, learners are sitting it many months after having finished their 12 lessons. Most people cannot afford to keep paying for lessons during the period from when they book their test to when they sit it. As a result, they are often not sitting their test at a time of peak preparedness.
Meadhbh O'Callaghan applied for her driving test last August and is still waiting.
“I finished my 12 lessons and I applied literally straight away for my test – that was in August last year. Since about January, I’ve been checking and it keeps getting pushed out and pushed out. I’ve now been invited to book my test in the middle of June.”
Meadhbh is not insured on a car, so it’s been a considerable length of time since she’s been behind the wheel.
“If you’re not insured on a car, and it’s really expensive to get insured, you lose the skills in between,” she says.
“I’ll take a good few lessons before my test date and my mum is going to get me insured on the car coming up to it, so I’ll have a solid few weeks’ practice.”
Meadhbh is studying Irish and Italian in UCC and training to become a teacher. She is anxious to pass her test before going on placement this September. “Not many schools in Cork do Italian, so I might have to go out of the county for placement, but I have no way of getting there without a car. Obviously, that is causing so much stress.
“Another issue is that I’m going to Italy with college for six months in January 2026. If I cannot get my test passed, I’m going to have to re-sit the theory test.”
Meadhbh is also worried that her learner permit may run out by January. [A learner permit currently lasts for two years for the first and second permit, and for one year for a third or more].
Meadhbh is living at home and relying on lifts from family. Her older sister (24) is also in the same boat. “She’s still waiting for another test. She failed her test and she’s been on waiting list again for another one,” she says.
Being able to drive in a rural community is especially important – not only does it allow young people to achieve a sense of independence but also it allows them to take up education and employment opportunities. “Just trying to get anywhere in general and trying to do anything with your friends is so hard,” says Meadhbh.
For many young people in Ireland today, not being able to drive only adds to a feeling that the country is not working for them. With around two thirds of young people aged 18 to 35 living at home, securing a driving licence can feel like yet another barrier to adulthood. Yet, milestones like moving out or getting your licence have shifted from rites of passage to luxuries that are increasingly out of reach.
Why the wait
Driving test wait times have been at an all-time high for several reasons. COVID-19 created a backlog because no lessons or tests were being conducted. There is also a shortage of testers around the country due to contracts ending and retirement. Some test slots are also being lost to cancellations or ‘no shows’ [when people do not attend their test slots]. Over the last two years, 8,000 people have not shown up for their driving tests.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Seán Canney told Irish Country Living: “The waiting lists for driving tests are totally unacceptable. It’s up to 27 weeks and completely beyond what the service level agreement is [10 weeks]. This is unsustainable, it cannot continue.”
Minister Seán Canney says the waiting tests for driving tests are totally unacceptable and cannot continue.
In addition to the newly published plan by the RSA, Minister Canney wants a progress report from them every two weeks.
“I’ve also asked them to publish a contingency plan so if they fall behind, they have other things they can do, like getting in retired testers.
“Last September, the RSA looked for help, and they got help, but it’s taken them over six to eight months to put these new testers in place, when it can train up testers in six weeks. [Some 70 additional driver testers were hired by the RSA last September 2024].
“There is a bit of disappointment that this hasn’t happened earlier, disappointment would be a mild word. The public cannot tolerate this.”
“No stone will be left unturned until we get this right and get the lists back down.”
One driving instructor, Adam* in Co Kildare told Irish Country Living that another issue leading to higher wait times is that automated software programmes [bots] and third-party applications are hijacking the cancellation system and offering candidates cancelled appointments for €200 or more.
“There’s a cancellation system on the RSA for people to get a driving test at short notice. You go online and find available cancellations and book them. There are companies who have created a software system whereby they grab all the cancellations. That, in my opinion, is also leading to higher wait times.”
The RSA told Irish Country Living that they are “aware of some third-party applications that are purporting to offer driving test candidates cancelled appointments.”
However, they say, “the only official site for booking of a driving test slot remains the RSA operated MyRoadSafety portal and there have been no changes in this regard. The RSA is not affiliated with any applications.
“It would appear that some driving test customers are providing their log in details to third parties which then enables those parties to see short notice available test slots (five days out).
“The RSA advises against this practice as such sites or parties may not be secure. The RSA does not charge any additional fee to customers availing of slots that become available at short notice.
“The RSA ICT department is working closely with our partners to ensure that such sites or third parties are restricted in their ability to operate, with a view to limiting their ability to access the booking portal.
Minister Canney has “heard about the apps overriding the system where you can pay more money to get your test”. He says, “if that’s happening, it has to stop. One way to stop that is get the driving test time down to 10 weeks or less, and it will put this kind of practice out of business.”
A lot of work needs to be done to reduce waits across the country, but it is important that the integrity of the test is maintained.
*Name has been changed to protect anonymity of individual.
Driving test waiting times are at an all-time high across the country and the average wait time to sit your test sits at six months. This is causing a major backlog, with 100,000 learners waiting to be tested.
A shortage of testers, slots lost to ‘no-shows’ and cancellation appointments booked up by internet bots are all reasons for the long waits.
The RSA has just published a plan to reduce the wait time, including measures such as recruiting and training more testers and expanding testing hours for almost 12 hours a day. The RSA will increase the number of permanent testers to 200.
The RSA has a target to reduce waiting time to 10 weeks by September.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA), the body responsible for the driver testing service, has been feeling the heat recently from a growing contingent of aspiring and unhappy motorists.
The waiting time for a driving test has shot up over the past five years. In 2019, the average wait time for a test was six weeks, and as of the end of April, 2025, the average wait time was more than six months.
Although the number of driving tests conducted has increased by 61% since 2021, with 253,850 tests conducted last year, this is not meeting demand for slots. There are still 100,000 learners waiting to be tested, and with the most recent figures showing a national pass rate of 53%, it could be quite a while before some people are on the road.
The Government has tasked the RSA with slashing the 27 week wait by more than half to a target of 10 weeks by September. At the end of May, the RSA launched an action plan aimed at making this happen.
The plan includes measures like additional staffing (with 91 new permanent tester drivers) to increase testing capacity as well as expanded testing hours. Testers will effectively work overtime, with tests conducted during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays and for almost 12 hours a day from 7.25am to 7pm.
It will be the end of the year before it is possible to see if there is visible progress from the actions of the new RSA plan. For example, three new test centres are due to be opened to bring the national total of centres to 60. These new centres will be opened in Dublin South, Naas and Drogheda – but the RSA has not given an exact time for when they will be up and running.
Meadhbh O’Callaghan (20),
Co Cork
Irish Country Living spoke to learner, Meadhbh O’Callaghan (20) who has been waiting 10 months to sit her driving test in Skibbereen, Co Cork.
“I did my theory test four years ago and started driving lessons really soon after. The [timings] were spread out so much because of school, it was really hard to get availability for lessons.”
In Ireland, a learner must complete 12 essential driving training lessons (EDT) with an approved driving instructor (ADI) before sitting their test; but with current wait times, learners are sitting it many months after having finished their 12 lessons. Most people cannot afford to keep paying for lessons during the period from when they book their test to when they sit it. As a result, they are often not sitting their test at a time of peak preparedness.
Meadhbh O'Callaghan applied for her driving test last August and is still waiting.
“I finished my 12 lessons and I applied literally straight away for my test – that was in August last year. Since about January, I’ve been checking and it keeps getting pushed out and pushed out. I’ve now been invited to book my test in the middle of June.”
Meadhbh is not insured on a car, so it’s been a considerable length of time since she’s been behind the wheel.
“If you’re not insured on a car, and it’s really expensive to get insured, you lose the skills in between,” she says.
“I’ll take a good few lessons before my test date and my mum is going to get me insured on the car coming up to it, so I’ll have a solid few weeks’ practice.”
Meadhbh is studying Irish and Italian in UCC and training to become a teacher. She is anxious to pass her test before going on placement this September. “Not many schools in Cork do Italian, so I might have to go out of the county for placement, but I have no way of getting there without a car. Obviously, that is causing so much stress.
“Another issue is that I’m going to Italy with college for six months in January 2026. If I cannot get my test passed, I’m going to have to re-sit the theory test.”
Meadhbh is also worried that her learner permit may run out by January. [A learner permit currently lasts for two years for the first and second permit, and for one year for a third or more].
Meadhbh is living at home and relying on lifts from family. Her older sister (24) is also in the same boat. “She’s still waiting for another test. She failed her test and she’s been on waiting list again for another one,” she says.
Being able to drive in a rural community is especially important – not only does it allow young people to achieve a sense of independence but also it allows them to take up education and employment opportunities. “Just trying to get anywhere in general and trying to do anything with your friends is so hard,” says Meadhbh.
For many young people in Ireland today, not being able to drive only adds to a feeling that the country is not working for them. With around two thirds of young people aged 18 to 35 living at home, securing a driving licence can feel like yet another barrier to adulthood. Yet, milestones like moving out or getting your licence have shifted from rites of passage to luxuries that are increasingly out of reach.
Why the wait
Driving test wait times have been at an all-time high for several reasons. COVID-19 created a backlog because no lessons or tests were being conducted. There is also a shortage of testers around the country due to contracts ending and retirement. Some test slots are also being lost to cancellations or ‘no shows’ [when people do not attend their test slots]. Over the last two years, 8,000 people have not shown up for their driving tests.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Seán Canney told Irish Country Living: “The waiting lists for driving tests are totally unacceptable. It’s up to 27 weeks and completely beyond what the service level agreement is [10 weeks]. This is unsustainable, it cannot continue.”
Minister Seán Canney says the waiting tests for driving tests are totally unacceptable and cannot continue.
In addition to the newly published plan by the RSA, Minister Canney wants a progress report from them every two weeks.
“I’ve also asked them to publish a contingency plan so if they fall behind, they have other things they can do, like getting in retired testers.
“Last September, the RSA looked for help, and they got help, but it’s taken them over six to eight months to put these new testers in place, when it can train up testers in six weeks. [Some 70 additional driver testers were hired by the RSA last September 2024].
“There is a bit of disappointment that this hasn’t happened earlier, disappointment would be a mild word. The public cannot tolerate this.”
“No stone will be left unturned until we get this right and get the lists back down.”
One driving instructor, Adam* in Co Kildare told Irish Country Living that another issue leading to higher wait times is that automated software programmes [bots] and third-party applications are hijacking the cancellation system and offering candidates cancelled appointments for €200 or more.
“There’s a cancellation system on the RSA for people to get a driving test at short notice. You go online and find available cancellations and book them. There are companies who have created a software system whereby they grab all the cancellations. That, in my opinion, is also leading to higher wait times.”
The RSA told Irish Country Living that they are “aware of some third-party applications that are purporting to offer driving test candidates cancelled appointments.”
However, they say, “the only official site for booking of a driving test slot remains the RSA operated MyRoadSafety portal and there have been no changes in this regard. The RSA is not affiliated with any applications.
“It would appear that some driving test customers are providing their log in details to third parties which then enables those parties to see short notice available test slots (five days out).
“The RSA advises against this practice as such sites or parties may not be secure. The RSA does not charge any additional fee to customers availing of slots that become available at short notice.
“The RSA ICT department is working closely with our partners to ensure that such sites or third parties are restricted in their ability to operate, with a view to limiting their ability to access the booking portal.
Minister Canney has “heard about the apps overriding the system where you can pay more money to get your test”. He says, “if that’s happening, it has to stop. One way to stop that is get the driving test time down to 10 weeks or less, and it will put this kind of practice out of business.”
A lot of work needs to be done to reduce waits across the country, but it is important that the integrity of the test is maintained.
*Name has been changed to protect anonymity of individual.
Driving test waiting times are at an all-time high across the country and the average wait time to sit your test sits at six months. This is causing a major backlog, with 100,000 learners waiting to be tested.
A shortage of testers, slots lost to ‘no-shows’ and cancellation appointments booked up by internet bots are all reasons for the long waits.
The RSA has just published a plan to reduce the wait time, including measures such as recruiting and training more testers and expanding testing hours for almost 12 hours a day. The RSA will increase the number of permanent testers to 200.
The RSA has a target to reduce waiting time to 10 weeks by September.
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