Driving to exam centre.

apkbarry

Is it ok to drive to the exam centre alone?

apkbarry

apkbarry wrote: »

Is it ok to drive to the exam centre alone?

No

apkbarry

bluewolf wrote: »

No

Seriously? I was told it was =/

number10a

Well it's against the law. But that's the guards' concern. Not the test centre. So they'll say nothing to you, but the guards won't be happy if they stop you. I drove to my test on my own and twas grand.

apkbarry

number10a wrote: »

Well it's against the law. But that's the guards' concern. Not the test centre. So they'll say nothing to you, but the guards won't be happy if they stop you. I drove to my test on my own and twas grand.

That's a bit... ****... to say the least. No one is available to take me in (and they didn't want to know when it was) so I have to chance it. Just thought I'd check before I did it. Sorta regretting I did now...

number10a

apkbarry wrote: »

That's a bit... ****... to say the least. No one is available to take me in (and they didn't want to know when it was) so I have to chance it. Just thought I'd check before I did it. Sorta regretting I did now...

I presume you knew all along though that you're not allowed to drive on your own with a provisional licence?? The morning of your test is no different. You're still a learner driver. Even when you've passed the test, you're not supposed to be unaccompanied until you've gone to get your full licence.

Oh_Noes

The testers can't say anything to you about it, who's to say that you weren't accompanied to the centre and your friend/relative went off somewhere?

I'd say even in the unlikely scenario that the gardai did stop you, you could show them your appointment letter. They'd probably just wish you luck on the test and let you off.

If you're really worried about it you could always just take someone along to the centre and park up in the vicinity the night before and walk/taxi home and back again to do the test the next day.

Good luck with the test

mossyc123

apkbarry wrote: »

That's a bit... ****... to say the least. No one is available to take me in (and they didn't want to know when it was) so I have to chance it. Just thought I'd check before I did it. Sorta regretting I did now...

You'll be absolutely fine.

I drive on my provisional licence on my own every day and have never been stopped by the Gardai.

Planning to do the test this Summer when things are less busy...

Best of luck!

apkbarry

apkbarry wrote: »

Seriously? I was told it was =/

Probably by someone who thinks breaking the law is fine
e.g. the poster above me

I dont mean to be on a high horse, I'm just telling you it's not ok. so as long as you're aware you're chancing it then off you go

Best of luck for the test though

mossyc123

OP just weigh up the chances of getting caught.

They are extremely low.

If you are that pre-occupied with possibly getting stopped by the Gardai you should probably get someone to accompany you on the day as that will raise your stress levels and effect your preperation for the test.

If you can't get someone then just try your best to put it to the back of your mind... you'll have more important things to be worrying about!

If (and its a big if) a Guard does stop you just show him the appointment for the test and he/she will probably just send you on your way.

Don't worry about it it's not a big deal!

Permabear

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apkbarry

number10a wrote: »

I presume you knew all along though that you're not allowed to drive on your own with a provisional licence?? The morning of your test is no different. You're still a learner driver. Even when you've passed the test, you're not supposed to be unaccompanied until you've gone to get your full licence.

Ah I know your not allowed drive alone being a provisional driver. But I was told by my parents it is ok to drive in on your own. God damn. Never listen to parents. Always check it out yourself.

shinikins

When i passed my test a few years back one of the testers failed a girl immediately for turning up to the centre unaccompanied. My mother had come with me and she and another lady tried to get him to change his mind, but he refused pointe blank-he reasoned that the driving test began as soon as you entered the test centre property, and you and your car should be ready to go.
I've heard of other people failing for the same reason in the years since, so i wouldn't take the chance tbh.

Reloc8

^ Really ? Even on his reasoning the car was there and ready to go and so was she. Can't see what the problem was.

Seriously, how does a tester know if you drove in unaccompanied ? When I passed mine I was there on my tod (admittedly my instructor had accompanied me but he'd buggered off by then). No one asked me how I got there - you'd think if this was happening you'd see a lot more posts in here on that specific point.

Anyway, as noted above, the tester won't care how you get there, the gardai might.

cosmic

Oh_Noes wrote: »

The testers can't say anything to you about it, who's to say that you weren't accompanied to the centre and your friend/relative went off somewhere?

shinikins wrote: »

When i passed my test a few years back one of the testers failed a girl immediately for turning up to the centre unaccompanied.

Reloc8 wrote: »

Seriously, how does a tester know if you drove in unaccompanied ?

When I was parking my car at the test centre my tester was in the middle of doing the under the bonnet and secondary controls checks with another person taking the test. He looked straight at me and even watched me reverse park the car (which was unnerving!). Luckily my OH was with me in the car.

witchgirl26

number10a wrote: »

I presume you knew all along though that you're not allowed to drive on your own with a provisional licence?? The morning of your test is no different. You're still a learner driver. Even when you've passed the test, you're not supposed to be unaccompanied until you've gone to get your full licence.

I thought that once you passed you could drive by yourself but that you had to present the letter showing you passed (or a copy of it) if you're stopped, while you're waiting for your full licence.

That said to the OP I wouldn't chance driving to the test by yourself. Like others have said, it can be a risky thing. I went with my best friend to my first test & you could see the testers looking at you in the waiting area to see were you with someone.

Squirm

I had this problem last week. I didn't chance it and my OH came with me and then took a bus home. It was not convenient in the least, especially considering I had an hour long lesson beforehand, so hanging around for the 40mins wasn't an option.

TBH my biggest fear was not being fined by the guards (although I did fear that), it was being in an accident and my insurance not paying out. If you do not have an accompanying driver with you, you have breeched the terms of your insurance contract and if they get wind of it they don't have to cover you. So if a police report was taken at the scene, you could be fecked. I gather they pay out third party, but you would be left footing the bill for your own vehicle and personal medical expenses etc. Your insurance company will confirm this. I find a lot of my friends who drive unaccompanied don't believe this is true, I think to justify breaking the law. I am very much in the minority, as basically all of my friends and family drove unaccompanied and didn't see a problem with it.

My driving tester said it was fine for me to drive home alone (I had someone lined up to come out to me) as long as I had my cert. of competency by the way. Don't know if he was correct in saying this, but either way you have 11 days I believe it is to present your license to the Guardaí and your full one shouldn't take longer than this to be processed. My insurance company said they accept a cert. of competency in lieu of your full license, until you have that in your possession.

Anyway, best of luck in your test!!

matt70iu

I can understand you being nervous OP. I passed my test a couple of years ago, but had driven alone on a provisional for years. Basically when I was forced to take the test because of my 2nd learner permit being close to expiry.

Yes it was and is illegal. Yes, I was stopped by the guards a few times, who at most gave out to me and sent me on my way.

Would I advise other people to do what I did, which was basically break the law? No.

There is nothing worse than coming up to a Garda check point and know that your going to be pulled and given the third degree thanks to that green learner permit!

Guess I was too laid back about getting my test. If you can drive with a fully qualified driver to take you to the test centre, do, you'll feel much more relaxed by the sound of it.

Best of luck in your test!!!

Noo

Ah you'll be grand, i did my test 4 times, first 3 times someone came with me and they all buggered off leaving me on my own, no one was to know anyone had come with me, the fourth time i didnt bother asking anyone. The guards are rarely out and about that time of day enforcing this law. And my test centre was around the corner from a garda station, i'd say theyre well used to seeing people unaccompanied around that area.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

apkbarry

Hi Permabear, this thread can be closed now. I passed