The Official Manual 8.0 prints eleven sample questions in Chapter 11: six for the Industry Knowledge module and five for Area Knowledge (one each for Dublin, Limerick, Carlow, Cork and Waterford). They are the only questions the NTA has ever published, so they are worth ten minutes of your time, even though the live test uses its own bank.
Answer them below. Each one shows the Manual page the answer comes from, and the Area questions show the place on a map.
Answer key, printable
Looking for the “SPSV sample questions and answers PDF”? The NTA does not publish one; the Manual prints the questions without answers. Here they are in one table, with our answer and the Manual page it rests on. to keep a copy.
| # | Question | Answer | Manual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which of the following describes a taxi standing for hire? | The taxi is stationary and available for hire. | glossary, p. 12 |
| 2 | The Fixed Payment Offence ‘Failure to display tamper-proof licence disc’ carries a penalty of: | €150 | §5.13, p. 100 |
| 3 | To complete a change of vehicle process, the applicant must confirm that they: | Own or hold the replacement vehicle under lease or hire-purchase. | §4, p. 68 |
| 4 | How many weeks prior to the expiry date are drivers advised to renew their SPSV driver licences? | 6 weeks | §9, p. 165 |
| 5 | Which of the following is found on a taxi’s In-Vehicle Information Card? | Information on how to understand a taxi fare. | glossary, p. 10 |
| 6 | If seats have been added or adapted to a vehicle, where would you need to get certification? | The manufacturer. | §3, p. 50 |
| 7 | Drury Street runs one-way between which of the following streets? (Dublin) | Stephen Street Lower to Exchequer Street. | §11.5, p. 205 |
| 8 | When travelling from Adare to Newcastle West, which of the following places does a driver pass through? (Limerick) | Croagh | §11.5, p. 205 |
| 9 | On what road in Carlow Town is the Dolmen Hotel located? (Carlow) | Kilkenny Road | §11.5, p. 205 |
| 10 | The main entrance to Cork University Hospital is accessed directly from what road in Cork City? (Cork) | Wilton Road | §11.5, p. 205 |
| 11 | Where in Waterford City is the Clock Tower located? (Waterford) | Meagher's Quay | §11.5, p. 206 |
What the samples tell you about the real test
- Numbers are quoted exactly. “€150”, “6 weeks”. Distractors are neighbouring values, so half-remembering a figure is worth nothing. Our key numbers page lists every one.
- Definitions matter. Standing versus plying for hire, In-Vehicle Information Card versus driver ID. The glossary at the front of the Manual is examinable.
- Area questions are places, not directions. Which road, which town you pass through, between which streets a one-way runs. Nothing asks for turn-by-turn routes.
- Every county is treated the same. The Carlow and Waterford samples are as specific as the Dublin one. Rural counties get street-level questions about their main towns.
When you are done, the full banks are here: Industry Knowledge by chapter and Area Knowledge for your county.