Current test waiting time

Royale with Cheese

Does anybody know what the current test waiting times are since the external examiners have come in? I applied in October or maybe November, can't remember exactly when, for the Dublin West centre.

Friend of mine was the same and he got his test (and subsequently failed) a month back, but he may have been on the cancellation list. I'm not sure, but I would have thought so since his job requires him to drive all day.

Seth Brundle

see http://www.drivingtest.ie/passrates.html

Stark

It would also be a good idea to phone the lo-call number listed on their website. There's an automated system that gives out the waiting times over the phone. They're updated more frequently than the ones on the website.

Cabaal

wait time is just insane
Kinda goes against wanting safer drivers on the roads in Ireland when you think about it....

Stark

Indeed.

maxheadroom

I was waiting pretty much exactly 6 months for my test in Rathgar, which I just passed today

Faith

I applied last May for a test in Cork city, got my notification today (for the end of April, when I won't be in the country!).

stovelid

Recently did my test with the externals in Fonthill (Clondalkin) and waited about 8 months AFAIK (I can check tonight)..I had applied to do it in Tallaght originally but they basically said do it in Clondalkin or go back to the start of the queue.

1huge1

kbannon wrote:

see http://www.drivingtest.ie/passrates.html

They havent updated that site in over 2 years and I was hoping with the election coming up the waiting times would be reduced
I applied for the old cratloe road in Limerick city at the start of february and would love to have it done before the summer is out

maxheadroom

maxheadroom wrote:

I was waiting pretty much exactly 6 months for my test in Rathgar, which I just passed today

Congratulations!

netwhizkid

I have been waiting six months now since applying in September 06 for the Killarney Test Centre.

OfflerCrocGod

stovelid wrote:

I had applied to do it in Tallaght originally but they basically said do it in Clondalkin or go back to the start of the queue.

What's wrong with Tallaght? I have applied to it because I was told that the Finglas one was even longer and I would save at least 2 months or so - don't tell me Tallaght is totally backlogged

1huge1

^^ there all backlogged (well almost)

Stark

OfflerCrocGod wrote:

What's wrong with Tallaght? I have applied to it because I was told that the Finglas one was even longer and I would save at least 2 months or so - don't tell me Tallaght is totally backlogged

Some tests in Dublin are being outsourced, and the outsourced centres are close to but not in the exact same locations as the test centres they're taking tests from. For example, you could apply to do your test in Finglas but end up doing it in Ballymun if you get an outsourced test. I've heard it's a good thing if you get an outsourced test btw, from anecdotal evidence, the testers aren't supposed to be as strict.

Vikings

I applied for mine there two weeks ago, sent in a letter from work last week and will follow that up with a phone call next week try progress things along a bit see how long the whole process takes.

I applied for mine in tallaght also but purposefully, in the hope of getting to sit it with SGS who are doing them out of the NCT centre in fonthill industrial estate there by liffey valley. Seeing as how I drive to liffey valley countless times a week I would know all the roads in the route already so it is a nice advantage to have.

2 of my friends who also applied to tallaght last year sat their tests with SGS at fonthill and both were handy routes altogether.

OfflerCrocGod

IncredibleBulk how long where your friends waiting for their test?

stovelid

I don't know, sorry.

I live in Saggart and applied for Tallaght as I know it well. The girl on the phone wouldn't say why i was switched to Fonthill.

OfflerCrocGod wrote:

What's wrong with Tallaght? I have applied to it because I was told that the Finglas one was even longer and I would save at least 2 months or so - don't tell me Tallaght is totally backlogged

feylya

I applied last August for Churchtown. I got my confirmation on Friday for Deansgrange at the start of May. I could have gotten it earlier (got a letter at the start of February) but the only date they had was the 26th of February which was too soon for me.

stovelid

I'm inclined to agree. I did the test twice. The second time I sat - and passed - an outsourced test in Fonthill and I have to say that the instructor was much better the second time.

The first tester was dour and uncommunicative but the second tester (she) was really friendly and relatively informal which made a big difference to my nerves on the day. Can't say if this was just luck or policy, maybe others can verify this.

Stark wrote:

I've heard it's a good thing if you get an outsourced test btw, from anecdotal evidence, the testers aren't supposed to be as strict.

Vikings

OfflerCrocGod wrote:

IncredibleBulk how long where your friends waiting for their test?

They both would have booked them earlyish last year! I think more on the run up to summer so probably 8-10 months, I will ask them for you see if they can remember roughly better than I can.

OfflerCrocGod

IncredibleBulk wrote:

They both would have booked them earlyish last year! I think more on the run up to summer so probably 8-10 months, I will ask them for you see if they can remember roughly better than I can.

Hope it's closer to 8 months then 10

swingking

I was due to have my test in December in Churchtown, but I cancelled due to a medical reason. Does this mean I have to wait another 34 wks

Stark

As far as I know, if a date for your test has been set, then they put you back in the queue. If you ring them with the dates you're unavailable before the date has been set then you don't lose your place. If you transfer test centres before a date has been set, you also don't lose your place.

I'd say ring them, make sure you get through to a human and plead your case. If you get someone who's reasonably nice, they might slip you in.

swingking

thanks for the advice

tuxy

Hey I live in Nenagh and am tempted to try doing a test in Tuam, according to that site the waiting time is low and it has a high pass rate.
I think its about a 2 hr drive and I don't mind driving there a few times to get some lessons from a local driving school beforehand.
Is there any reason why this might be a bad idea?

1huge1

That site hasn't been updated in over 2 years...

tuxy

Ya but I rang the number given on the site and it said 16 weeks for Tuam. I wonder when the waiting time on the phone was updated.

Wishbone Ash

tuxy wrote:

Hey I live in Nenagh and am tempted to try doing a test in Tuam, according to that site the waiting time is low and it has a high pass rate.
I think its about a 2 hr drive and I don't mind driving there a few times to get some lessons from a local driving school beforehand.
Is there any reason why this might be a bad idea?

Legally, you would be required to have a fully licenced driver to accompany you to Nenagh. Apart from that, I can't see any problem.

The Sparrow

Gay Byrne was on the Last Word on Today FM the other day and he said that the waiting time is now down to 20 weeks and that by the end of the year it will be six... not sure if this is/ will be true but just passing on the info.

the external tests definitely seem much handier... i hope i get one!

tuxy

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Legally, you would be required to have a fully licenced driver to accompany you to Nenagh. Apart from that, I can't see any problem.

You mean to Tuam and back to Nenagh? Because I had figured it wouldn't look good if I just turned up on my own with no qualified driver beside me. My dad would probably be willing to come along.
If any one can think of any other possible problems please let me know

Wishbone Ash

woooo232 wrote:

the external tests definitely seem much handier... i hope i get one!

What's the criterion for being selected for an outsourced test? Are the candidates selected at random?

feylya

Yup, random as far as I know.

Wishbone Ash

feylya wrote:

Yup, random as far as I know.

Thanks.

tuxy wrote:

it wouldn't look good if I just turned up on my own with no qualified driver beside me.

The driving instructor or the test examiner won't be concerned whether you are accompanied or not, but strictly speaking, you are obliged to be.

Hal1

Tell me its not true tallaght 59 weeks!?!. Fonthill doesn't seem to be an option yet.

Capt'n Midnight

To put Irish waiting times into perspective -

In Italy the provisional license "foglio rosa" is only valid for 6 months.

And you have three attempts to pass both the theory and practical (not three attempts on each )

http://www.patente.it/info/patenteB.htm

IL FOGLIO ROSA PUO' ESSERE RICHIESTO SOLO AL COMPIMENTO DEI 18 ANNI DI ETA'
Il foglio rosa ha validità per sei mesi dopo i quali scade e viene revocato. Inoltre lo stesso foglio rosa dà tre possibilità per superare gli esami (teoria+pratica):

mikemac

tuxy wrote:

Hey I live in Nenagh and am tempted to try doing a test in Tuam, according to that site the waiting time is low and it has a high pass rate.
I think its about a 2 hr drive and I don't mind driving there a few times to get some lessons from a local driving school beforehand.
Is there any reason why this might be a bad idea?

I did my first test in Nenagh and I've passed two tests (A & B in two different cities) so I feel I can advise you here.
First of all, Nenagh is a very tricky town to drive around and has one of the highest failure rates in the country. This is no excuse: if you fail it is nobody's fault but your own.

Do what everyone else in Nenagh does: apply to Birr also. It's only up the road and has plenty one of one-way streets which make life easy.

susanna

The 'info' on that website is terrible. According to that, Raheny has a 40 week waiting time. I called the lo-call number expecting that number to have gone down a bit, but no, 51 weeks! Its an absolute joke