Useful Information
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FAQs
Essential Driver Training (EDT) is a mandatory training course that teaches fundamental driving skills to learner car drivers. It is part of the RSA’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) scheme and is intended to improve road safety. EDT is only part of the learning process, you will need lots of practice and may need more lessons to become a safe and responsible driver.
Studies show that young drivers and inexperienced drivers are more likely to die or be seriously injured in collisions, and EDT is one of several measures introduced by the RSA to help improve critical driving knowledge, skills and behaviors of new drivers.
If the issue date of your first B category (Car) learner permit is on or after 4 April 2011,
In order to be able to sit your full driving test, you must first complete all EDT lessons.
If you are not required to complete EDT, you may still choose to take an EDT course, as it can help increase your chances of passing the driving test and will help make you a better safer driver.
EDT is a course of 12 one-hour lessons. These lessons are designed to cover certain critical driving skills and improve your practical driving skills. As you complete each lesson, your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) will record your progress in a specially issued logbook.
You should also have a Sponsor, an experienced driver (many learner drivers choose a family member) who will supervise your driving practice outside of lessons, and will also track your progress in your logbook. You should practice with your Sponsor as much as possible to get comfortable behind the wheel.
You can apply for your driving test online before you have your 12 lessons completed, however you cannot be scheduled for your driving test until the RSA receives confirmation from your ADI Instructor that you have the 12 EDT lessons completed.
The Essential Driver Training course is made up of 12 one-hour lessons, which you must complete before taking your Driving test.
Before you begin your training, you should check that your chosen Instructor (ADI) is currently approved for the delivery of EDT.
On the day of your training your ADI will be happy to confirm their continuing RSA approval. Only undertake EDT training once you are satisfied that your trainer still holds RSA approval.
Training completed with an individual who does not currently hold RSA approval cannot count as part of your EDT and will need to be repeated with an RSA EDT approved Instructor.
Once you’ve found an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), ask them for advice on how to prepare for the course of EDT lessons.
They should let you know what lessons, practice and background reading you should do before starting the course.
IMPORTANT: At your first EDT lesson, and each lesson thereafter, check that your ADI still has RSA approval to deliver EDT lessons.
At your first EDT lesson, and each lesson thereafter, your ADI will check your learner permit,
and if you are using your own car, will check to make sure your insurance, motor tax, NCT
and the roadworthiness of the vehicle are all in order and sign off on this in the Pre Lesson Checks page on the Learner Logbook.
Your ADI will give you a logbook with your name, address, date of birth and learner permit driver number.
You should bring this logbook to each lesson and make sure all the appropriate sections are
filled out after each lesson.
Lessons 1-8 must be taken in sequence, but lessons 9-12 may be taken in any order.
Each of the 12 lessons in EDT lasts one hour.
We recommend that you leave at least two weeks between each EDT session to allow for further instruction, practice and learning.
The RSA recommends that The EDT course is best spread out over six months.
Each of the EDT lessons has particular objectives. You should prepare for each lesson using the EDT Course Syllabus.
The 12 lessons are titled:
Lesson 1: Car Controls and Safety checks
Lesson 2: Correct positioning
Lesson 3: Changing Direction
Lesson 4: Progression Management
Lesson 5: Correct Positioning
Lesson 6: Anticipation and Reaction
Lesson 7: Sharing the Road
Lesson 8: Driving Safely through Traffic
Lesson 9: Changing Direction (more complex situations)
Lesson 10: Speed Management
Lesson 11: Driving Calmly
Lesson 12: Night Driving
How do I qualify for reduced EDT/and exemption from the six month rule?
You must hold a foreign driving licence.
You must have held a licence for at least two years prior to the issue of your Irish learner permit.
Your licence must not have expired more than six months on the date of receipt of application form.
You must be resident in Ireland.
You must hold an Irish learner permit.
The driving test checks your knowledge of the Rules of the Road, your ability to drive competently and safely in accordance with those rules and with regard for other road users. The test takes about 50 to 100 minutes depending on the vehicle category. It's a combination of questions to test your knowledge and a practical test of your driving skills and awareness.
New driving test requirements regarding insurance
From 9 March 2026, you must also present a valid certificate of motor insurance showing that you are insured to drive the vehicle presented for the test. The insurance cert must be an original or copy of the original, (digital copies are acceptable). In the event that you are not named on the Certificate of Insurance you will also, in addition to the certificate, need to provide an email or letter (on headed paper) from your insurance company stating that you are insured to drive the vehicle presented for the test. Names or personal details of other people on documents can be redacted or covered. The documents will be viewed by the tester and returned to you.
You must be eligible to sit a test
You must meet certain requirements to be eligible to sit a driving test i.e. completed training, valid learner permit etc. If you have a driving test scheduled but are not eligible to sit it, we will cancel your test five days before your appointment date. You won’t lose your fee and you will be kept on our waiting list. We will email you another booking invitation after you’ve met this requirement.
The more you prepare, the better your chances of passing first time and it will also make you a better, safer driver. While waiting for your test, you should keep learning and practicing.
To prepare for your driving test you should:
- Revise the Rules of the Road as they play a part in your driving test
- Study the RSA test preparation booklet and driving test checklist available on the RSA website.
- Use the services of your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) for pre-test advice
- Practice driving on all types of road (except motorways) and in all types of traffic situations accompanied by your ADI or sponsor, including driving at night.
- Watch the RSA learning to drive videos to learn more about becoming a safe, socially responsible driver, available on the RSA website.
You need to provide a vehicle for your driving test and be insured to drive it. The vehicle must be in a roadworthy condition and meet all other requirements for the test. Read more about how to prepare your vehicle for your driving test by visiting the RSA website.
While you may be nervous at the thought of doing your driving test, we know from
experience that preparation is the key to success.
If you prepare well in advance with your Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), this will help increase your chances of passing your test.
Your driving test will require you to:
- Answer questions on the Rules of the Road including identifying road signs
- Under-the-bonnet technical checks
- Demonstrate hand signals
- Reverse your vehicle around a corner (left reverse)
- Make safe and reasonable progress
- Perform a vehicle turnabout manoeuvre (3 or 5 point turn)
- Perform a hill start
- Drive approximately 8km (5 miles) in a variety of road and traffic conditions
Aspects of your driving that will be assessed include:
- Road positioning
- Overtaking and passing
- Anticipation and observation
- Use of mirrors and signals
- Progress speed
- Compliance with traffic lights, road signs and markings
- Use of the vehicle controls, i.e. accelerator, clutch, gears, brakes and steering
- Use of secondary controls such as wipers, de-misters, etc.
Lessons 1-8 must be taken in sequence, but lessons 9-12 may be taken in any order.
Each of the 12 lessons in EDT lasts one hour.
We recommend that you leave at least two weeks between each EDT session to allow for further instruction, practice and learning.
The RSA recommends that The EDT course is best spread out over six months.
Each of the EDT lessons has particular objectives. You should prepare for each lesson using the EDT Course Syllabus.
The 12 lessons are titled:
Lesson 1: Car Controls and Safety checks
Lesson 2: Correct positioning
Lesson 3: Changing Direction
Lesson 4: Progression Management
Lesson 5: Correct Positioning
Lesson 6: Anticipation and Reaction
Lesson 7: Sharing the Road
Lesson 8: Driving Safely through Traffic
Lesson 9: Changing Direction (more complex situations)
Lesson 10: Speed Management
Lesson 11: Driving Calmly
Lesson 12: Night Driving
DOWNLOADS
Files for download to help with EDT and in preparation for your driving test
Vehicle Check List, PDF 11.2mb
EDT Information Booklet, PDF 875k
Marking Guidelines for the Driving Test, PDF 765k
Sample Questions on the day of your test
When the driver in front of you is turning right, when you intend to turn left, when the vehicles in the lane on your right are moving slower.
A broken yellow line marks the edge of the road.
At the stop sign.
The extreme right lane.
Mirror and signal and then move into the right hand lane when clear, keeping left of the white line in the centre of the road. When a safe gap occurs, complete your turn, never cut corners and give way to pedestrians.
By yellow flashing beacons.
Each side of the island is a separate crossing.
It must not be used between the hours of 11.30pm and 7.00am in a built up area, except in an emergency.
When meeting oncoming traffic.
When following close behind another vehicle.
On continuously lit roads.
In snow, fog, dusk/dawn.
Slow down and stop if necessary.
500mm (half a metre).
Near a bend, the brow of a hill, a hump back bridge, a continuous white line, where your vehicle would obstruct a sign, at an entrance, a bus stop, opposite another vehicle, on a narrow road or taxi rank.
Allow 1 meter for each kilometer per hour. Double if the surface is wet.
That there is an obstruction on the road ahead.
Green, Amber, Red.
A Garda, a school warden, or a person in charge of animals.
5 meters
To avoid an obstruction, for access, or if there is a broken white line on your side of the road.
100km/h
120km/h
1.6mm
You can not enter unless your way ahead is clear with the exception of turning right, you can enter and wait in the box if you are not obstructing traffic.
You use them like a traffic island you don’t enter.