How to study for the taxi licence test (SPSV)
A practical study guide to the SPSV Driver Entry Test · updated 25 September 2026
If you want to become a taxi driver in Ireland, you first need to pass the SPSV Driver Entry Test, often called the taxi test or taxi licence test. The same test is needed to drive a hackney or limousine. This guide gives you a simple plan to study for it: what is on the test, how to prepare for each module, and how to know you are ready to book.
The SPSV test at a glance
- Format: 90 multiple-choice questions in two modules.
- Industry Knowledge: 54 questions. You need 41 (75%).
- Area Knowledge: 36 questions on the county you want to work in. You need 27 (75%).
- You must pass both. If you fail one, you only repeat that module, within 12 months of your original test.
- Timing: about a minute a question — 54 minutes for Industry Knowledge, then 36 minutes for Area Knowledge.
- Cost and booking: €90. Book by phoning the NTA on 0818 064 000.
The Area Knowledge syllabus changed from 1 October 2025, so make sure you study the current version. For the full licence process, fees and documents, see our guide to becoming a taxi driver in Ireland.
Step 1: Study the official manual
The NTA’s Official Manual for Operating in the SPSV Industry is the textbook for the Industry Knowledge module, and there is an audio version too. It covers licensing, fares, vehicle standards, customer service and accessibility, safety, and running your SPSV business.
- Read one chapter at a time, then answer practice questions on that topic straight away.
- Take extra care with numbers. Fees, time limits, age limits and fines are easy to mix up.
- Don’t just memorise the right answer. Explain why each wrong option is wrong.
- Fares and fees change, so check current figures with the NTA and Transport for Ireland.
Step 2: Build your Dublin Area Knowledge
There is no single textbook for Area Knowledge, so this is where most people need the most practice. You need to know where places are, which areas border each other, and how to get between them.
Since October 2025 the test puts more weight on motorways and transport hubs, tourist attractions, hospitals, sports, theatre and music venues and, in cities, major street names, one-way systems and city routes.
- Always study with a map open. Find each place, then note one landmark near it.
- Learn Dublin in manageable sections: the north side, the city centre, then the south side.
- Learn which areas border each other, and the main road that links them.
- Know the M50 junctions and where the main motorways meet it. For example, the M1 meets the M50 at Junction 3.
- Test yourself with the map hidden, then check your answers against it.
Step 3: Practise little and often
- Short daily sessions work better than long cramming sessions. Twenty or thirty minutes a day adds up quickly.
- Practise one category at a time until it sticks, then mix categories together.
- Keep a list of questions you got wrong or guessed, and return to them until you answer each one correctly twice in a row.
- Give both modules time. A strong score in one does not make up for the other.
Step 4: Sit full mock tests before you book
- Sit full mock tests under test conditions: 54 Industry Knowledge questions, then 36 Area Knowledge questions, timed, with no notes.
- Aim for a safety margin. If you are only just reaching 75%, keep practising. Book when you are comfortably above it in both modules, test after test.
- After each mock test, review every question you missed and make sure you understand why.
On test day
- Bring everything your booking confirmation asks for.
- Read each question to the end before looking at the options. Small words like “not” and “must” matter.
- Rule out the options you know are wrong first.
- Keep an eye on the clock: about a minute a question.
- If you need extra time or one-to-one assistance, ask when you book.
Practise with GoSPSV
GoSPSV is a study app built around this plan. Study Industry Knowledge and Dublin Area Knowledge by category, with the answer and an explanation for every question, take quick quizzes and full category tests, then sit a timed 90-question mock test. Your mistakes come back until they stick, and progress tracking shows where to focus. Try 20 questions free; full access is a one-time payment of €29.99.
Quick answers
How do I become a taxi driver in Ireland?
Pass the SPSV Driver Entry Test (the taxi test), complete the free online Safeguarding and Disability Awareness course, then apply for your SPSV driver licence through your local Garda station. Our taxi licence guide explains each step, including fees and documents.
How long does it take to study for the SPSV test?
There is no set time. It depends on how well you already know the rules and the city. Your mock test results are the best guide: when you score comfortably above 75% in both modules, test after test, you are ready to book.
Which part of the SPSV test is harder?
For most people, Area Knowledge needs the most practice, because there is no single textbook and there are a lot of places to learn. Start it early.
What is the pass mark for the SPSV test?
75% in each module: at least 41 out of 54 for Industry Knowledge and 27 out of 36 for Area Knowledge.
Are GoSPSV’s questions the real SPSV exam questions?
No. GoSPSV’s practice questions are written for revision and based on official sources. They are not official NTA exam questions.
What happens if I fail one module of the SPSV test?
You only repeat the module you failed, within 12 months of your original test date. After that, you sit the whole test again.
Official sources
GoSPSV is an independent study resource. It is not a government body and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Transport Authority. Always confirm fees, rules and booking details with the NTA before you book: