Loughrea named the best place for driving tests, Tallaght the worst

James Cox

Loughrea in Co Galway has been crowned Ireland’s best driving test centre.

It boasts the second-highest pass rate in the country at 64.8 per cent, according to research from insurance broker Quote Devil.

Loughrea test centre is aldo efficient in its service, with learners waiting just 14.5 weeks between applying and taking their test.

Just behind is Carrick-on-Shannon’s test centre in Co Leitrim, which on average sees 89.2 per cent of its monthly test applications scheduled. It has a longer wait time of 17.2 weeks but still has a strong pass rate of 61.8 per cent.

Rounding off the top three is Clifden in Co Galway. Learners statistically have the best chance of success here, with the centre having the highest average pass rate of those analysed at 71.2 per cent.

Located just outside the capital, Tallaght test centre takes the unenviable title of Ireland’s worst test centre. Its central location makes it a hotspot for applications, with an average of 1,822 submissions per month.

"The centre is impressively efficient, scheduling 99.8 per cent of applications by the end of the month," the report notes.

Hpwever, the sheer volume of applications means people wait up to six months for a test date. Tallaght’s 42 per cent pass rate is well below the national average.

Wilton test centre, Co Cork takes second place on the list of worst driving test centres in the country. While it boasts a slightly higher pass rate than Tallaght at 44.3 per cent and a shorter average wait time of 21.4 weeks, it still struggles with an overwhelming volume of applications.

Claiming third place is Finglas test centre in County Dublin. Much like Tallaght, its close proximity to the capital makes it a highly sought-after location, with an average of 1,161 applications submitted each month. Despite its high demand, the centre maintains an 85.5 per cent scheduling efficiency, resulting in a comparatively short average wait time of 16.1 weeks.

The pass rate at the Finglas test centre is just 37.1 per cent, one of the lowest in the country.