The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has expanded its pilot online driver theory test service to include cars and motorbikes on a limited basis. The RSA has been working to deliver an online service, with a pilot online test already underway for trucks and buses.
The new offering online will accommodate some 4,000 online theory tests for all categories of vehicles per month. This is being rolled out on a pilot basis and tests are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. A new online service will become more widely available later in the year, and assuming the pilot phase is successful many more customers will be able to opt to do the test online.
Driver theory tests, through the network of test centres around the country, have not been available to customers due to government restrictions under public health advice to minimise the impact of Covid-19.
In light of the significant backlog of customers awaiting tests, the RSA will increase capacity in physical testing centres. This will see the number of tests in centres increase from an average of approximately 15,000 tests per month (pre-Covid) and will build up to 50,000 per month once the service is permitted to re-open.
While the online pilot service will not immediately address the significant backlog of customers waiting for a driver theory test, it has been expanded to allow people sit a theory test remotely for all vehicle categories.
During the pilot phase remote online testing will be available initially on a limited basis. Extra capacity will be added later in the year to allow more customers to sit their theory test remotely.
The online appointments that have been released to date for booking have been for the month of June only, and additional numbers for June and July will be released on theorytest.ie in the coming weeks.
Driver Theory Test customers are asked to note that online theory tests can only be booked via www.theorytest.ie using a Windows (8 or above) laptop or desktop computer and the latest Google Chrome web browser. The call centre team members cannot create an online testing appointment.
The online testing service is available to all candidates on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Customer will also need to follow the technological, environmental and security requirements to be able to test via online testing (more details available on www.theorytest.ie).
These technical requirement are set out on the theorytest.ie website and advised to candidates in their confirmation email as well as guidance as to how they can meet the necessary standards. We are currently delivering online theory tests to truck and bus drivers and the technical issues are not a significant barrier to undertaking the test.
A key software component which is required to use the ProProctor software is not currently supported by Apple MAC devices.
The exam will be available for Apple MAC devices in the next phase of the project later this year. Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft and as such cannot be supported by the theory test online software.