Applying for the Motorbike Test

Zascar · 21-02-2008 3:00pm #1

Apparently you now have have your provisional licence 6 months before you're even allowed to apply for the test. That's gay.

Anyway, I hear you can apply for your test now, and as long as you have your licence 6 months by the time you sit it.

I've heard varying stories about the amount of time it takes to get the test - one suggestion is apply twice to two different places, cause waiting times differ hugely and if you fail you will not have to wait ages to resit.

How do you apply for the test, can you do it online?
Cheers

colm_c · 22-02-2008 12:59am

www.drivingtest.ie

You can apply online, if you can take your test in Raheny (Dublin) you'll get a date in 8/10 weeks.

I'd wait 5 months then apply to Raheny.

Steffano2002 · 22-02-2008 1:16pm

colm_c wrote: »

www.drivingtest.ie

You can apply online, if you can take your test in Raheny (Dublin) you'll get a date in 8/10 weeks.

I'd wait 5 months then apply to Raheny.

I was about to suggest the above! Best course of action IMO. Raheny Test Centre FTW!

Zascar · 22-02-2008 1:18pm

Can you apply now and say that the soonest you can do it is e.g. August?

colm_c · 22-02-2008 2:08pm

Zascar wrote: »

Can you apply now and say that the soonest you can do it is e.g. August?

Don't think so, but sure it's worth a try.

Steffano2002 · 22-02-2008 2:10pm

I don't see them accomodating such requests... Would be an administration nightmare!

colm_c · 22-02-2008 2:15pm

Steffano2002 wrote: »

I don't see them accomodating such requests... Would be an administration nightmare!

Sure it would only cost the taxpayer couple of million :rolleyes:

Wossack · 22-02-2008 3:24pm

Could you not use the section of the form you can fill out to specify a window of unavailability? (section 5 of the form)

guess it'd be cheeky to say, yes, Im unavailable to take my test in the period of.. uh.. now till the beginning of August

anonymousjunkie · 22-02-2008 3:25pm

colm_c wrote: »

Don't think so, but sure it's worth a try.

Yeah, you can!. Sign up online and theres an option to give dates that you won't be available, so mark now to whenever in august as times your not available. Did it myself the other day, although it was only for about 6 weeks, but same principle.

fornow · 22-02-2008 4:21pm

colm_c wrote: »

www.drivingtest.ie

You can apply online, if you can take your test in Raheny (Dublin) you'll get a date in 8/10 weeks.

good luck! raheny is a 5 month wait right now

Steffano2002 · 24-02-2008 6:05pm

fornow wrote: »

good luck! raheny is a 5 month wait right now

I knew this would happen eventually... Raheny is becoming the victim of its own success and every biker is applying there now... I'm happy I got my License 2 years ago!

Dub13 · 28-02-2008 9:59am

The 5 month wait in Raheny could be for cars...?for some reason they fast track bikes in Raheny,I know this as Mrs Dub13 put in for her car test in Raheny the same day I put in for my bike test.She was waiting about a year I got my bike test in about 3 weeks.

Wishbone Ash · 28-02-2008 10:02am

Dub13 wrote: »

The 5 month wait in Raheny could be for cars...?for some reason they fast track bikes in Raheny,I know this as Mrs Dub13 put in for her car test in Raheny the same day I put in for my bike test.She was waiting about a year I got my bike test in about 3 weeks.

The waiting time for non-category B vehicles is always faster regardless of which test centre it is.

Wishbone Ash · 28-02-2008 10:11am

Zascar wrote: »

Apparently you now have have your provisional licence 6 months before you're even allowed to apply for the test

That is not correct. If it is a 1st Learner Permit, you may apply at any time but you must have held it for 6 months before taking the test.

Dub13 · 28-02-2008 10:14am

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The waiting time for non-category B vehicles is always faster regardless of which test centre it is.

Is there any reason for this...?I can understand a truck or bus test been fast tracked as it could be for employment reasons,but why fast track a bike test...?

RosieJoe · 28-02-2008 12:27pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The waiting time for non-category B vehicles is always faster regardless of which test centre it is.

^^^ Not so at all ^^^
I have applyed for the bike test and I was told by the RSA that there is nearly a year wait to get your test. Churchtown is over a year :eek:

Reason for delays are that they are waiting until the weather improves, so hardly any tests are done over Winter. Testers are only assigned to a test centre for a week at a time. Only one tester per site, this is down to the radio head sets being single frequency. If more than one test on at the same time there would be interference between testers on the same frequency.

Wishbone Ash · 28-02-2008 2:29pm

RosieJoe wrote: »

^^^ Not so at all ^^^
I have applyed for the bike test and I was told by the RSA that there is nearly a year wait to get your test. Churchtown is over a year :eek:

Reason for delays are that they are waiting until the weather improves, so hardly any tests are done over Winter. Testers are only assigned to a test centre for a week at a time. Only one tester per site, this is down to the radio head sets being single frequency. If more than one test on at the same time there would be interference between testers on the same frequency.

I did the bike test twice in Janurary (a few years ago). I was only waiting for a week or two. After failing the first I was rescheduled in a week for the second test (both in Finglas). Perhaps it has changed since I did it.

They abandoned the radio system initially as they were having too many problems with interference - perhaps that explains the delays nowadays.

RosieJoe · 28-02-2008 2:49pm

I bet you're glad you did your test back then so! I got a shock when I rang up to see why after 3 months I had no contact from them :eek: (That's to reiterate the shock I got

)

Was the same when I did my car test many years ago. Was only waiting 3 - 4 weeks to get an appointment.

Steffano2002 · 28-02-2008 3:57pm

RosieJoe wrote: »

Reason for delays are that they are waiting until the weather improves, so hardly any tests are done over Winter.

So using a bike on a wet, windy, horrible day isn't allowed then?

I ride my bike every day of the year regardless of weather conditions. Why would a test centre wait for sunny days to do tests? It's not like bikers take the bus when it rains (real bikers anyway)!

I find that stupid...

Dub13 · 28-02-2008 4:03pm

Steffano2002 wrote: »

So using a bike on a wet, windy, horrible day isn't allowed then?

I ride my bike every day of the year regardless of weather conditions. Why would a test centre wait for sunny days to do tests? It's not like bikers take the bus when it rains (real bikers anyway)!

I find that stupid...

But the tester will get wet,its one thing getting wet using someone else's car but for the bike test they have to use there own car.

RosieJoe · 28-02-2008 5:23pm

We are testing you in built up areas, not on motorways or even dual carriageways. It must be warm and dry, preferably sunny etc...

And then when you pass you can drive in any condition in any area. :eek:

Edit: Forgot to ask you Steffano, are you surprised?

Wishbone Ash · 28-02-2008 7:06pm

Steffano2002 wrote: »

So using a bike on a wet, windy, horrible day isn't allowed then?

I ride my bike every day of the year regardless of weather conditions. Why would a test centre wait for sunny days to do tests? It's not like bikers take the bus when it rains (real bikers anyway)!

I find that stupid...

Dub13 wrote: »

But the tester will get wet,its one thing getting wet using someone else's car but for the bike test they have to use there own car.

I'd say it probably an insurance thing. Someone probably came off a bike during a test and decided to sue them for scheduling the test in unfavourable conditions! :rolleyes:

Steffano2002 · 28-02-2008 7:28pm

RosieJoe wrote: »

Edit: Forgot to ask you Steffano, are you surprised?

No... Not really actually... :rolleyes:

Dub13 · 28-02-2008 7:48pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I'd say it probably an insurance thing. Someone probably came off a bike during a test and decided to sue them for scheduling the test in unfavourable conditions! :rolleyes:

On that note I presume the testers get a few bob extra for using there own cars on the bike test...?

Green_Martian · 08-03-2008 7:11pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

That is not correct. If it is a 1st Learner Permit, you may apply at any time but you must have held it for 6 months before taking the test.

Where is this information, as i cannot see it and im online applying for my bike test.

Anyway how are they going to know if you don't have the licence 6 months, would it be the codes beside the dates on the licence??

Cheers

Green_Martian · 08-03-2008 7:15pm

Forget my previous post, i just seen it on the driving teat website.

My learner permit is only from 03/03/08 till 11/05/08 as i still had some months left on my old car provisional, for which i now have a full licence. I have the code 992 opposite A1 and code 991 opposite A.
What do these mean???

Wossack · 09-03-2008 11:56pm

991 1st provisional for that category
992 2nd provisional for that category

Green_Martian · 10-03-2008 12:02am

Wossack wrote: »

991 1st provisional for that category
992 2nd provisional for that category

Cheers, so it looks like i will have to wait until sept before taken the test.

When getting my licence, the guy said i would have to have proof of applying for a test before getting my next one in May, would this be due to it being my second on A1???

Applying for the Motorbike Test

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