Driving Test Pass Rates in Ireland 2026
The national average Category B (car) driving test pass rate across 57 active RSA centres currently sits at 55.5%. Pass rates range from 35.8% at the lowest centre to 82.9% at the highest — a spread of more than 47 percentage points. All figures live from the Central Statistics Office.
Centres with the Highest Pass Rates
The five RSA driving test centres with the highest current Category B pass rate in Ireland, ranked by the latest monthly CSO figure:
- 1. Clifden driving test centre — 82.9% pass rate (Co. Galway)
- 2. Newcastle West driving test centre — 74.1% pass rate (Co. Limerick)
- 3. Monaghan driving test centre — 72.5% pass rate (Co. Monaghan)
- 4. Tipperary driving test centre — 71.4% pass rate (Co. Tipperary)
- 5. Newcastle West (Longcourt House) driving test centre — 71.2% pass rate (Co. Limerick)
Smaller centres conducting fewer tests per month show more month-to-month variation in their headline figure. The interactive table below offers an annual-average view for a more stable comparison.
Centres with the Lowest Pass Rates
The five centres with the lowest current pass rates. A lower headline figure does not mean these centres are "worse" — typically they test on busier urban routes or have smaller sample sizes:
- 1. Wicklow test centre pass rate — 35.8% (Co. Wicklow)
- 2. Mulhuddart Maple House test centre pass rate — 40.2% (Co. Dublin)
- 3. Waterford test centre pass rate — 42.6% (Co. Waterford)
- 4. Killarney test centre pass rate — 42.9% (Co. Kerry)
- 5. Finglas test centre pass rate — 43.7% (Co. Dublin)
What Drives Pass Rate Differences Between Centres
The 30-plus percentage-point spread between the highest and lowest centres is real, not statistical noise. A few factors consistently explain most of it:
- Test route conditions — urban centres test in heavier traffic with multi-lane roundabouts, complex junctions, and one-way systems. Rural and small-town centres typically have quieter roads.
- Sample size — centres conducting only a few hundred tests per year show wider month-to-month swings than centres handling thousands. A single bad week noticeably moves a small centre's headline figure.
- Local demographics and instructor quality — pass rates reflect the candidates as much as the centre. Areas with established driving schools and longer learning periods tend to produce higher-prepared candidates.
Practising the specific routes that examiners use at your booked centre is widely recommended by Irish driving instructors. That's exactly what the Driving Test Routes Ireland app provides — every active route at all 60 centres, mapped and annotated.
Full Pass Rate Rankings — All RSA Centres
Live ranking of every active driving test centre in Ireland. Toggle between the latest month and annual averages, and tap any centre for its monthly trend, tests delivered, and waiting time.
How These Pass Rates Are Calculated
All figures on this page are pulled directly from the Central Statistics Office's ROA30 dataset, which the Road Safety Authority contributes to monthly. Specifically:
- Statistic: Driving Test Pass Rate
- Category: B (Car or light van)
- Frequency: Monthly, refreshed by the CSO roughly one month after the test month
- Coverage: All active RSA driving test centres in the Republic of Ireland
The "national average" here is a simple mean across centres with current data. It is not weighted by tests delivered, so a small rural centre and a busy Dublin centre count equally — useful for comparing centres on a like-for-like basis. For tests delivered totals and a weighted view, see the rankings table above.
Pass rate data is regenerated on every site rebuild. For monthly trends and a year-by-year history at any individual centre, click through to that centre's page from the rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average driving test pass rate in Ireland?
The current national average Category B (car) driving test pass rate across 57 active RSA centres is 55.5%, based on the latest monthly figures from the CSO ROA30 dataset (May 2026).
Which Irish driving test centre has the highest pass rate?
Clifden in Co. Galway currently has the highest Category B pass rate in Ireland at 82.9%, based on the most recent CSO monthly data.
Which Irish driving test centre has the lowest pass rate?
Wicklow in Co. Wicklow currently has the lowest Category B pass rate at 35.8%. This typically reflects busier urban test routes rather than centre quality.
Why do pass rates vary so much between centres?
Pass rates vary because of differences in test routes (urban vs rural traffic, junction complexity), sample size (smaller centres show more month-to-month variation), and local instructor preparation standards. Practising the specific routes used at your booked centre is one of the most actionable preparation steps.
Can I choose which test centre to book?
Yes. When you book a Category B test through the RSA's MyRoadSafety portal at rsa.ie, you select your preferred centre. Most learners pick the centre nearest home, but availability and waiting times are also worth considering — see driving test waiting times by centre.
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