In 2025, the national learner driver backlog rose to between 83,000 and 100,000 applicants, with some waiting up to 20 weeks for a test.<\/p>\n
However, new research by 123.ie Insurance has revealed the best counties in Ireland for learner drivers.<\/p>\n
Learner drivers in Kilkenny have reason to feel positive, as the research has named it one of the best places in Ireland to learn to drive as the county ranked 12th overall, scoring 451 out of 600.<\/p>\n
The study analysed the latest data from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Central Statistics Office (CSO), including test centres, tests delivered, pass rates, waiting times, fatal collisions and penalty points in 2025. Each county was scored out of 600 to show where learners have the best chance of getting their full driving licence.<\/p>\n
Nationally, Longford has been named the best county in Ireland for learner drivers, with a top score of 585.3. It recorded a strong 58pc pass rate, an average waiting time of just five weeks, and importantly no fatal collisions in 2025.<\/p>\n
Even with just one test centre, the county delivered 1,938 tests, showing steady access for learners without long delays. Longford also had a relatively low number of penalty points at 5,149, pointing to safer roads overall.<\/p>\n
In second place was Leitrim with a strong score of 573.8. Learners wait an average of just four weeks for a test, helping them book and sit their test sooner.<\/p>\n
The county recorded a 54pc pass rate and only one fatal collision, showing solid results for safety. Leitrim offers a quieter and less stressful place for learners to build confidence on the road.<\/p>\n
Rounding out the top three was Cavan with a score of 559.6. Learner drivers benefit from a short four-week waiting time, and with more than 3,500 tests delivered in 2025, there are plenty of opportunities to get on the road and sit the test.<\/p>\n
The county has a 51pc pass rate, and its mix of rural roads and busier routes, including those around the Cavan Crystal Hotel bypass, gives learners the chance to practise in a range of driving conditions. This kind of experience can make a real difference when it comes to test day.<\/p>\n
Finally, Roscommon and Sligo placed fourth and fifth, with respective scores of 545.1 and 534.4.<\/p>\n
Roscommon recorded a solid 54pc pass rate and an average waiting time of just four weeks, helping learners progress to test day without long delays. While five fatal collisions were recorded last year, 7,263 drivers had penalty points, the sixth lowest figure in the country.<\/p>\n
While in Sligo, learners benefit from a short four-week waiting time, a 51pc pass rate, and just one fatal collision recorded in 2025, the second lowest in the country.<\/p>\n
With a mix of town, rural and coastal roads, including routes along the Wild Atlantic Way, learners gain experience sharing the road with tourists and cyclists. All of this helps build confidence so when test day arrives, they can feel ready for whatever the road brings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In 2025, the national learner driver backlog rose to between 83,000 and 100,000 applicants, with some waiting up…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":353979,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[7499,61,60,43],"class_list":["post-353978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-aisling-bolton-dowling","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353978"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353978\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/353979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}