Truck & Bus Theory IrelandBefore you can start
To obtain a category D (CPC bus) driving licence you must hold a full valid category B (car or light van) driving licence and complete the relevant Driver CPC requirements.
You must also prove your identity and entitlement, which means showing that you are at least 21 when applying for a category D learner permit, that you are normally resident in Ireland, that you have a valid address and PPS number, and that you are medically fit to drive.
Category D is 21, not 18. The truck category C threshold is 18, and the two are frequently confused. If you are between 18 and 21 the bus route is not open to you yet, whatever you have read about truck licensing.
If you previously obtained a full category D1 (minibus) licence on or before 9 September 2008, you may be exempt from some or all Driver CPC requirements — worth checking before paying for anything.
Format and marks
| Test | Questions | To pass | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category D bus theory test | 100 | 74 | 120 minutes |
| Bus Module Test (BMT) | 40 | 30 | 45 minutes |
| Combined truck and bus (CD) | 140 | 104 | 180 minutes |
Seventy-four percent is a lower bar than the car test’s 87.5%, but it is spread across far more material and a two-hour sitting. Concentration over the full duration is part of what is being tested.
What it covers
The theory test checks your knowledge of the Rules of the Road, risk perception, eco-driving, hazard awareness and safe driving behaviour. At category D the professional material dominates, and one area has no equivalent anywhere else in driver testing:
- Passengers — the largest topic area. Boarding and alighting, accessibility, standing passengers, vulnerable passengers, and your responsibilities to people in your care. See carrying passengers safely.
- Drivers’ hours and records — driving time, breaks, rest and the tachograph.
- Passenger safety and emergencies — evacuation, fire, incidents on board.
- Vehicle handling and vehicle technical — the behaviour and systems of a large passenger vehicle.
- Operations and regulation, and road safety and risk.
The shift a car driver has to make here is that the vehicle is no longer the only thing you are responsible for. A large share of the questions turn on the people behind you rather than the road in front of you.
The certificate
When you pass the theory test you are issued with a theory test certificate valid for up to two years. You must pass the theory test in the relevant category before you can sit the case study test.
The full CPC route
- Prepare — category B licence, age 21, residency, PPSN, medical fitness.
- Theory test — this one. Certificate valid up to two years.
- Case study test — see the Driver CPC case study test.
- Learner permit, then the practical stages.
These are separate exams with separate fees and separate two-year certificates. Planning them as a single step is the usual mistake.
Booking and on the day
Bus theory tests are booked online and taken at one of the forty-plus theory test centres nationwide. For a category D test you must present a full current Irish category B driving licence, or a category C or D learner permit or driving licence, in addition to standard photographic identification, with the name matching your booking exactly.
There is no limit on attempts, and waiting at least three complete business days before re-sitting is strongly advised. What to study covers how to use the result report.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the bus theory test in Ireland?
100 for the category D bus theory test, with 74 correct answers needed to pass and 120 minutes allowed. The separate Bus Module Test is 40 questions with 30 to pass in 45 minutes, and the combined truck-and-bus paper is 140 questions with 104 to pass in 180 minutes.
What age do you have to be to drive a bus in Ireland?
You must be at least 21 to apply for a category D (CPC bus) learner permit. The category C truck threshold is 18, which is a common source of confusion.
What licence do I need before the bus theory test?
A full valid category B (car or light van) driving licence, plus residency in Ireland, a valid address and PPS number, and medical fitness to drive.
Am I exempt from Driver CPC for a bus licence?
You may be exempt from some or all Driver CPC requirements if you previously obtained a full category D1 (minibus) licence on or before 9 September 2008. Confirm with the RSA before paying for tests.
Practise the real test shape
Truck & Bus Theory Ireland turns this material into practice: full 100-question category C and D mocks, the truck and bus module tests, the combined CD paper, and 45 Driver CPC case studies marked on both pass conditions.
Independent guide: TritonApps is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Road Safety Authority or the Driver Theory Test service. This page summarises published guidance for convenience and is not official advice. Always confirm current requirements and fees with the RSA before you book.