Letter to Minister for Transport about the outrageous cost of RSA licence testing.

Dear Minister,
I am writing to express dismay at the mounting cost of obtaining driving licences.

I have recently considered adding a c category to my licence, but have abandoned the idea purely because of the cost involved. I estimated that it would cost around 1000 euros for lessons, but also a further 700 euros in admin fees. The combined cost of tests, administration and obtaining documents is completely excessive I believe and a serious disincentive to anyone minded to do this test for employment reasons.

Can anyone justify a system where you have to pay for a theory test and once you pass it and have your permit, then have to pay for and sit another theory test (CPC test -now mandatory for all c licences). Likewise, we must now pay for and sit a practical test for CPC before paying for and sitting the actual driving test. This is pointless and expensive duplication.

Furthermore, the cost of each of these tests and admin procedures is excessive. How on earth can it cost 55 euros to add a category to an existing licence? Or 72 euros to sit a computerised multiple choice test?

I fully support efforts to have a high quality testing process, but the present system is unnecessarily complex, segmented and expensive. The RSA should be self sufficient -but not racketeering. You need to impress upon them that as a public monopoly, they must be more responsible with their demands for money.

sincerely