Irish Driving Test Grade 2 & Grade 3 Faults Explained
Understand the current RSA marking thresholds, what Grade 2 and Grade 3 faults mean, and which fault totals result in an Irish driving test fail.
Faults below the serious threshold
The current RSA marking guide says faults falling between 0% and 35% on its assessment scale are not recorded because they are not considered serious. Do not use this as permission to ignore small habits: repeated weak behaviour can develop into a recorded serious fault in a different situation.
Grade 2 Faults (More Serious)
These are potentially dangerous faults. For example, poor observation, incorrect road position, or failing to check mirrors. If you accumulate too many Grade 2 faults, you will fail the test.
Grade 3 Faults (Dangerous)
A Grade 3 fault is a dangerous or potentially dangerous error that requires the tester to intervene, or poses an immediate risk to other road users. A single Grade 3 fault results in an automatic fail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Grade 2 faults result in failing the Irish driving test?
The current RSA marking guidance states that failure arises from four of the same Grade 2 fault for one aspect, six or more Grade 2 faults under the same heading, or nine or more Grade 2 faults overall.
What happens if I get a Grade 3 fault?
A single Grade 3 fault is a direct fail. It means the examiner deemed the action dangerous to yourself, the examiner, or other road users.
Does a stalled engine mean I fail the driving test?
Not automatically. The examiner assesses the circumstances, your control of the vehicle and whether the stall creates or contributes to danger. Secure the car, observe properly and recover calmly rather than rushing the restart.
Official RSA & Department of Transport Sourced References
All test marking thresholds, legislation, and manoeuvre criteria are derived from current official Irish Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Department of Transport publications.
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