Parking theory test questions
Parking looks simple, but where you leave a vehicle can create real danger or block the road for everyone else, which is why the Irish driving theory test covers it carefully. You need to know the places where parking is never allowed, such as near junctions, on bends, on the brows of hills, at crossings and on footpaths, and why each of those spots matters for the safety of other road users. The test also asks about yellow line meanings, disc and pay parking and considerate parking generally. The simple test behind most answers is whether your car would make the road less safe or harder to use for anyone else. The questions below come from our question bank and show every answer option, mark the correct answer and explain it. They cover where parking is prohibited, the distances involved and when parking is permitted. Read the explanations, then practise the rules of the road in a full session.
Related reading: Parking rules.
1. When is parking permitted on the brow of a hill?
- AParking is permitted when a vehicle has an efficient handbrake.
- BWhen the driver angles the wheels towards the kerb.
- Parking is never permitted on the brow of a hill.Correct
- DOnly when there is no traffic on the road.
Parking on the brow of a hill or on a humpbacked bridge is prohibited. Parking in such a place may restrict the zone of vision of drivers approaching the hill and force them into the path of oncoming traffic.
2. When is parking permitted on a footpath?
- AWhen cars are parked on both sides of the road.
- BWhen no more than half of the vehicle is on the footpath.
- It is never permitted to park on a footpath.Correct
- DWhen at least half of the footpath remains free for pedestrians.
It is an offence to park on a footpath. Where a vehicle is parked on a footpath, pedestrians may have to step onto the road to go around the vehicle and so place themselves in danger.
3. When wanting to stop temporarily in a congested area where should the driver park?
- Park in a safe, legal and convenient place.Correct
- BDouble park in a convenient place with your hazard lights on.
- CPark slightly up on the footpath with the hazard lights on.
- DPark on the footpath so as not to impede the free flow of traffic in the road.
You should park only where it is safe, legal and convenient to do so. Your parked vehicle must not cause a danger or an obstruction to other road users. The use of hazard warning lights does not excuse unsafe or illegal parking.
4. When is double parking permitted?
- AWhen there is a hard shoulder.
- BWhen there are double white lines.
- CWhen there are double yellow lines.
- It is never permitted.Correct
Double parking is never permitted. Parking is never permitted where it might interfere in any way with the normal flow of traffic or obstruct or endanger other road users.
5. Is a driver permitted to park at an entrance to a property?
- AYes, for 1 hour between 23:30 hrs to 07:00 hrs.
- BYes, for 1 hour between 07:00 hrs to 23:30 hrs.
- Yes, with the property owner’s consent.Correct
- DYes, outside business hours.
You may park across the entrance to a property only with the owner’s consent. Parking across an entrance may cause inconvenience and danger to persons entering or leaving the property.
6. When is parking permitted at a taxi rank?
- AWhen parking for less than 15 minutes.
- BWhen waiting to collect passengers from a taxi.
- CWhen the rank is unoccupied.
- Parking at a taxi rank is prohibited unless driving a taxi.Correct
Stopping or parking within an area marked as a taxi rank is prohibited as this may obstruct taxis entering or leaving the rank.
7. What distance before a zebra crossing is parking prohibited?
- A20 metres.
- B5 metres.
- 15 metres.Correct
- D10 metres.
It is an offence to park 15 metres before or 5 metres after a pedestrian crossing. Parking in this manner may restrict the zone of vision of drivers approaching the crossing and endanger pedestrians.
8. Within what distance of a road junction is parking prohibited?
- 5 metres, unless parking spaces are clearly marked.Correct
- B10 metres, unless parking spaces are clearly marked.
- C20 metres, unless parking spaces are clearly marked.
- D15 metres, unless parking spaces are clearly marked.
It is an offence to park within 5 metres of a road junction unless parking spaces are clearly marked. Parking in that area may restrict the zone of vision of drivers approaching the junction and may cause an obstruction to large vehicles wishing to turn.
9. When is parking permitted at a sharp bend?
- AWhen drivers coming from behind can see the parked vehicle.
- BWhen parking no more than 45 centimetres from the kerb or edge of the road.
- Parking is never permitted at a sharp bend.Correct
- DWhen the hazard warning lights of the parked vehicle are on.
Parking is never permitted where it might interfere in any way with the normal flow of traffic or obstruct or endanger other road users – for example, by forcing other drivers into the path of oncoming traffic.
10. Where is a driver allowed to park?
- Where the driver is not blocking other road users their view of traffic signals or the road ahead.Correct
- BAt road works.
- CWhere there is a continuous white line along the centre of the road.
- DOn a footpath.
It is an offence to park at the side of a road that has a single or double continuous white line along its centre. Parking on such a road could create an obstruction and may cause inconvenience or danger to other road users.