Truck & Bus Theory IrelandBefore you can start
To obtain a category C (CPC truck) 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 your entitlement to a licence or learner permit, which means showing that you are at least 18 when applying for a category C 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.
A possible exemption. If you previously obtained a full category C truck licence on or before 9 September 2009, you may be exempt from some or all Driver CPC requirements. It is worth checking before you pay for anything.
Format and marks
| Test | Questions | To pass | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category C truck theory test | 100 | 74 | 120 minutes |
| Truck Module Test (TMT) | 40 | 30 | 45 minutes |
| Combined truck and bus (CD) | 140 | 104 | 180 minutes |
Seventy-four out of a hundred is 74% — a lower percentage than the car test’s 87.5%, but across far more material and over two hours. Stamina is a real factor here in a way it is not in a forty-five-minute paper.
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 — but at category C the weight sits firmly on the professional material:
- Drivers’ hours and records — driving time, breaks, rest periods and the tachograph. See tachograph and drivers’ hours.
- Vehicle technical — braking systems, coupling, daily checks and roadworthiness on a heavy vehicle.
- Loads and weights — securing, distribution, axle weights and dimensions.
- Vehicle handling — the behaviour of a long, heavy vehicle: swept path, overhang, gradients, braking distance.
- Road safety and risk, legal and documentation, and health and environment.
A car driver’s instincts are often actively misleading here. Most of the difficulty is not knowing the rule but knowing how a 40-tonne vehicle behaves.
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, so the two-year window covers the rest of the route.
The full CPC route
- Prepare — category B licence, age, 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.
The theory and case-study tests are separate exams with separate fees, separate certificates and separate two-year windows. Treating them as one step is the most common planning error.
Booking and on the day
Truck theory tests are booked online and taken at one of the forty-plus theory test centres nationwide. For a category C 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 — and the name must match your booking exactly.
There is no limit on attempts. Waiting at least three complete business days before re-sitting is strongly advised. See what to study for how to use the result report.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the truck theory test in Ireland?
100 for the category C truck theory test, with 74 correct answers needed to pass and 120 minutes allowed. The separate Truck 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 licence do I need before the truck theory test?
A full valid category B (car or light van) driving licence. You must also be at least 18 to apply for a category C learner permit, be normally resident in Ireland with a valid address and PPS number, and be medically fit to drive.
How long is the truck theory test certificate valid?
Up to two years. You must pass the theory test in the relevant category before you can sit the Driver CPC case study test, which carries its own separate two-year certificate.
Am I exempt from Driver CPC?
You may be exempt from some or all Driver CPC requirements if you previously obtained a full category C truck licence on or before 9 September 2009. Confirm your position 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.