Representative vehicles for the driving test

Version July 2022 Údaras

Road S
In order to undergo a driving test, the law requires that any person attending for the test presents with a vehicle that is representative of the licensing category in which
they wish to attain a licence to drive. These requirements aim to ensure that the customer is tested using a vehicle that allows the customer to demonstrate that they will
be capable of driving any vehicle in the broader licence category on passing the test. The requirements are neither at the lower or higher end in terms of size, weight and
power etc., but reflect a typical vehicle in the mid-range of the particular category. Please note: maximum authorised mass means design gross vehicle weight.

Category Representative vehicle

Two-wheeled mechanically propelled vehicle, not capable of being manually propelled. The machine must have a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50
AM cc, in the case of an internal combustion engine, or a maximum continuous rated power of no more than 4 kilowatts in the case of an electric motor.
The vehicle must have a design speed of at least 25 km/h but not more than 45 km/h.
A category A1 motorcycle without sidecar, with a cylinder capacity of at least 115 cc and not exceeding 125 cc, and capable of a speed of at least 90
A1 km/h, with an engine power not exceeding 11 kW and with a power/weight ratio not exceeding 0.1 kW/kg. If the motorcycle is powered by an electric
motor, the power to weight ratio of the vehicle shall be at least 0.08 kW/kg.
A2 Motorcycle, other than with twinned wheels, without sidecar, with a power rating of at least 20 kW but not exceeding 35 kW and with a power
to weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kW/kg and not derived from a vehicle of more than double its power. If the motorcycle is powered by an internal
A2
combustion engine, the cubic capacity of the engine shall be at least 245 cc. If the motorcycle is powered by an electric motor, the power to weight
ratio of the vehicle shall be not less than 0.15 kW/kg.
A category A motorcycle without sidecar, with a cylinder capacity of at least 595 cc, an unladen mass of more than 175 kg., and an engine power of at
A
least 50 kW. If the motorcycle is powered by an electric motor, the power to weight ratio of the vehicle shall be at least 0.25 kW/kg.
Four wheeled vehicles (e.g. cars/light vans), having a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3,500 kg., with passenger accommodation for not
B
more than 8 persons and capable of a speed of at least 100 km/h.
A combination, made up of a category B test vehicle which should be either (a) a length of at least 4.25 metres, or (b) a 4 wheel drive vehicle, and a
trailer with a maximum authorised mass of at least 1,400 kg., but not exceeding 3,500 kg., capable of a speed of at least 100 km/h, which does not
fall within category B. The cargo compartment of the trailer must consist of a permanent, closed box body which is at least as wide and as high as the
BE motor vehicle, and have a length of at least 2.4 metres. The closed box body may also be slightly less wide than the motor vehicle, provided that the
view to the rear is only possible by use of the external rear-view mirrors of the motor vehicle. The trailer must be presented with a real total mass (the
actual weight of the trailer including the necessary load) of at least 800 kg., having due regard for safety, stability, manufacturer’s guidelines and legal
limits of the combination.

W Works vehicles and land tractors.

Vehicles (rigid trucks) with passenger accommodation for not more than 8 persons, a maximum authorised mass of at least 12,000 kg., a length of
at least 8 metres, a width of at least 2.4 metres, capable of a speed of at least 80 km/h. The vehicle must be fitted with anti-lock brakes, be equipped
with a gearbox having at least 8 forward ratios and providing for a manual selection of gears by the driver, and with recording equipment (tachograph).
C A Cyclops mirror must be fitted where required. The cargo compartment must consist of a permanently mounted cube shaped closed box body, which
is at least as wide and as high as the cab.
The vehicle must be presented with a real total mass (the actual weight of the vehicle including any load if necessary) of at least 10,000 kg., having
due regard for safety, stability, manufacturer’s guidelines and legal limits.
Category Representative vehicle

Vehicles (larger vans/light trucks) with passenger accommodation for not more than 8 persons, a maximum authorised mass of at least 4,000 kg., but
not more than 7,500 kg., a length of at least 5 metres and capable of a speed of at least 80 km/h. The vehicle must be fitted with anti-lock brakes and
C1
with recording equipment (tachograph). The cargo compartment must consist of a permanently mounted cube shaped closed box body, which is at
least as wide and as high as the cab.
Vehicles (buses) having passenger accommodation for more than 16 persons, a length of at least 10 metres, a width of at least 2.4 metres and capable
D
of a speed of at least 80 km/h. The vehicle must be fitted with anti-lock brakes and with recording equipment (tachograph).
Vehicles (minibuses) having passenger accommodation for more than 8 persons, but not more than 16 persons, a maximum authorised mass of at
D1 least 4,000 kg., a length of at least 5 metres and capable of a speed of at least 80 km/h. The vehicle must be fitted with anti-lock brakes, and with
recording equipment (tachograph).
Either (a) an articulated vehicle, or (b) a combination of a category C test vehicle and a trailer of at least 7.5 metres in length. Both the articulated
vehicle and the combination must have passenger accommodation for not more than 8 persons, at least 4 axles, a maximum authorised mass of at
least 20,000 kg., a length of at least 14 metres, a width of at least 2.4 metres and be capable of a speed of at least 80 km/h. The vehicle must be fitted
with anti-lock brakes, be equipped with a gearbox having at least 8 forward ratios and providing for a manual selection of gears by the driver, and with
CE
recording equipment (tachograph). A Cyclops mirror must be fitted where required. The cargo compartment must consist of a permanently mounted
cube shaped closed box body which is at least as wide and as high as the cab. The articulated vehicle or the combination must be presented with a
real total mass (the actual weight of the combination including any load if necessary) of at least 15,000 kg., having due regard for safety, stability,
manufacturer’s guidelines and legal limits of the combination.
A combination made up of a category C1 test vehicle, and a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of at least 2,000 kg. The combination must be
at least 8 metres in length, and must be capable of a speed of at least 80 km/h. The combination must have a maximum authorised mass of not more
than 12,000 kg., and the maximum authorised mass of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle. The cargo compartment
C1E of the trailer must consist of a permanent, closed box body which is at least as wide and as high as the cab, and have a length of at least 2.4 metres.
The closed box body may also be slightly less wide than the cab, provided that the view to the rear is only possible by use of the external rear-view
mirrors of the motor vehicle. The trailer must be presented with a real total mass (the actual weight of the trailer including the necessary load) of at
least 800 kg., having due regard for safety, stability, manufacturer’s guidelines and legal limits of the combination.
A combination made up of a category D test vehicle, and a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of at least 1,400 kg., a width of at least 2.4
metres and capable of a speed of at least 80 km/h. The cargo compartment of the trailer must consist of a permanent, closed box body which is at
DE least 2 metres wide, 2 metres high, and has a length of at least 2.4 metres. The trailer must be presented with a real total mass (the actual weight of
the trailer including the necessary load) of at least 800 kg., having due regard for safety, stability, manufacturer’s guidelines and legal limits of the
combination.
A combination made up of a category D1 test vehicle, and a trailer with a maximum authorised mass of at least 1,400 kg., capable of a speed of at
least 80 km/h. The cargo compartment of the trailer must consist of a permanent, closed box body which is at least 2 metres wide, 2 metres high,
and has a length of at least 2.4 metres. The combination must have a maximum authorised mass of not more than 12,000 kg., and the maximum
D1E
authorised mass of the trailer must not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle. The trailer must be presented with a real total mass (the
actual weight of the trailer including the necessary load) of at least 800 kg., having due regard for safety, stability, manufacturer’s guidelines and legal
limits of the combination.

CPC Practical Truck / Artic | Category C, C1 or CE vehicle as described above are suitable for a CPC Practical Truck / Artic test
Test Bus | Category D or D1 as described above are suitable for a CPC Practical Bus test