Get test-ready with a pre-test lesson
A pre-test lesson is a one-to-one driving lesson with one goal: passing your practical driving test. Your instructor works on the parts of the test that catch learners out, such as observation at junctions and roundabouts, speed and lane choice, and the reverse around a corner, turnabout and hill start. You also get used to driving with someone watching every move, which takes the edge off test-day nerves.
A single pre-test lesson costs €55 in a manual or automatic dual-control car, with an RSA-approved instructor. Your instructor collects you from home, work or college anywhere we teach in Dublin, Meath, Louth and Kildare.
€55 per lesson
Manual or automatic
Home, work or college
Who pre-test lessons are for
You have a test date
Your RSA test invitation has arrived and you want the weeks before it to count.
You have finished EDT
Your 12 EDT lessons are done and you want an honest check of where your driving stands now.
You are sitting the test again
You did not pass last time and want to fix the faults listed on your test report.
Nerves get in the way
You can drive well, but the idea of an examiner beside you makes you tense.
Still working through your lessons? Start with Essential Driver Training (EDT). If your first learner permit was issued on or after 4 April 2011, the RSA requires all 12 EDT lessons before your test. We teach in manual and automatic cars.
What happens in a pre-test lesson
An assessment drive
Work on the weak spots
Roads like the test routes
A clear verdict
Want to read up before your lesson? See the 7 manoeuvres you need to master and our last-minute tips before your test.
Pre-test lesson or mock test?
Pre-test lesson
- Your instructor coaches you as you drive
- Time to repeat a manoeuvre until it works
- Best in the weeks before your test, while there is time to improve
Mock driving test
- Run like the real test, with no help during the drive
- Shows how you cope under pressure
- Best in the last week or two before your test
A common plan is one or two pre-test lessons to fix the faults, then a mock test in the final days to check they are gone.
Test centres we prepare you for
We teach across Dublin, Meath, Louth and Kildare, so your pre-test lesson can cover the kind of roads around the centre named in your RSA booking. Tap a centre to see the local page.
Test centre changes to know about
- Raheny stopped testing on 18 September 2026. Its candidates now go to Killester, about 1 km away. The RSA says the closure is temporary.
- Leixlip is a new centre, opened in September 2026.
- Drogheda has a centre at Southgate, open since 5 May 2026.
- Mulhuddart runs from two separate venues, and learners have gone to the wrong one. Check the exact address in your booking.
- Charlestown, Churchtown and Rathgar test centres are closed. If an old guide sends you there, it is out of date.
Always check the centre and address in your RSA booking. See every area we cover on our locations page.
Pre-test prices
The same price for manual and automatic cars, wherever we teach.
manual or automatic
your driving test
manual or automatic
with free logbook
Mock driving test: contact us for a quote. Truck lessons: 10 hours rigid or artic €995, 2 hours €215. All prices are on our prices page.
Pre-test lessons: FAQs
How much is a pre-test lesson?
€55 for a single pre-test lesson, in a manual or an automatic car. All our packages are on the prices page.
How many pre-test lessons will I need?
It depends on how close your driving is to test standard. Your first pre-test lesson starts with an assessment drive, and your instructor will tell you honestly whether another lesson, a mock test or neither is the best next step.
Will we drive my exact test route?
We practise on the kinds of roads around your test centre, but the examiner chooses the route on the day, so no driving school can guarantee it. Being comfortable on every type of road is the real preparation.
Do I need to finish EDT before my test?
If your first learner permit was issued on or after 4 April 2011, the RSA requires you to complete all 12 EDT lessons and to have held your first learner permit for at least six months before you sit the test. Pre-test lessons come on top of EDT, not instead of it.
Can I use your car for the test?
Yes. Car hire for your driving test is €150, so you can sit the test in a dual-control school car.
What if I fail my test?
Bring your test report to your next lesson. We build a pre-test lesson around the faults it lists, and a mock test before your next date shows whether they are fixed.
Do I have to sit a test to renew my learner permit?
Since 1 November 2026, the RSA requires you to have sat a driving test in the previous two years before you can get a third or fourth learner permit. If your permit is running out, apply for your test and plan your pre-test lessons in good time.
Test date booked?
Tell us your test centre, your date and whether you drive a manual or an automatic. We will match you with an instructor and plan your pre-test lessons around it.