Iceland Driving Theory Test (ÖR-próf) exam-day guide
Iceland Driving Theory Test (ÖR-próf) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID (passport or Icelandic driving licence / ID card)
Bring the original document, not a copy or photo. The name must match the name on your registration. If you are unsure which IDs the test centre accepts, confirm with the provider before test day.
Appointment confirmation / booking reference
Have the confirmation email or reference number ready on your phone and, as a backup, printed. It speeds up check-in and resolves any booking discrepancy at the desk.
Know the exact test centre address and arrival time
Arrive with time to spare so you are calm and checked in before the start. Confirm the address and reporting time on your booking confirmation, since centres and schedules vary.
Corrective lenses if required on your licence or health certificate
If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the vision requirement, bring them and wear them. Testing without a required correction can be treated as a failure or lead to an endorsement on your licence.
Valid learner's permit / right to take the test
Bring whatever document proves you are entitled to sit the test (learner's permit, completed course certificates, medical certificate if required). Requirements differ by licence category and age, so confirm the exact list with the provider.
Vehicle in roadworthy condition (if you supply the car)
Check tyres, lights, indicators, brake lights, horn, wipers, washers, mirrors, seat belts and warning lamps. A defective vehicle can end the test before it starts. If the school supplies the car, ask them to confirm its condition.
Fuel or charge and clean windscreen/windows
Top up fuel or charge so the test is not interrupted, and clean glass and mirrors so visibility is not a distraction. Remove loose objects from the cabin and boot.
Loose comfortable clothing and flat shoes
Wear what you would normally drive in. Avoid thick-soled or slip-on footwear that reduces pedal feel, and avoid clothing that restricts shoulder checks.
Phone silenced and put away
Switch the phone to silent or off and stow it before entering the car. Using a handheld phone during the test is a serious fault and may end the test.
Review the theory essentials the day before
Re-read speed limits, right-of-way at unmarked junctions, roundabout rules, overtaking bans, parking rules and alcohol/drug limits. A short, focused review is more useful than cramming new material.
Plan the journey to the centre
Check traffic, weather and road conditions the night before and on the morning. In winter, allow extra time for snow, ice and studded-tyre traffic. Confirm whether the centre expects you earlier than the stated time.
Confirm payment and any outstanding paperwork with the provider
Verify that the test fee is paid and that no certificates or signatures are missing. If anything is unclear, contact the provider in advance rather than at the desk.
Plan the day
Confirm the booking, address, reporting time and fee status with the provider. Check that your learner's permit and any course or medical certificates are valid and in your possession. Re-read the areas you find hardest: priority rules, roundabouts, speed limits, overtaking and parking. Do one or two short practice drives in varied conditions, including a stretch of built-up area and a rural road, and practise the manoeuvres the examiner is likely to ask for. Get a full night's sleep each night; fatigue is the most common avoidable cause of silly mistakes.
Prepare your documents and place them in one bag. Check the vehicle: tyres and pressures, all lights and indicators, brake lights, horn, wipers, washer fluid, mirrors, seat belts and warning lamps. Clean the windows and remove clutter. Check the weather forecast and plan the route and parking at the centre. Do a light review of theory only; stop studying early and avoid alcohol. Confirm the reporting time once more and set two alarms.
Eat a normal meal and avoid heavy caffeine if you are already nervous. Leave earlier than the journey planner suggests. Arrive at the centre, check in, present your ID and confirmation, and follow the staff's instructions. Use the waiting time for calm breathing and a last look at your notes, not for new material. In the car, adjust the seat, headrest, steering wheel and mirrors before moving off, and fasten your seat belt.
Listen to each instruction fully and ask for clarification only if you genuinely did not hear or understand it. Drive to the conditions, not to the speed limit: keep a safe following distance, signal clearly and in good time, and make deliberate mirror and shoulder checks. Narrate nothing unless asked; let your driving show your awareness. Treat every junction, roundabout and pedestrian crossing as an observation point. If you make a mistake, continue calmly and safely rather than trying to correct it aggressively. At the end, stop where instructed, secure the vehicle and wait for the examiner's debrief.
Rules to check
Bring original photo identification that matches your booking; a copy or a photo on a phone is normally not accepted. If you are unsure which documents the centre accepts, confirm with the provider before test day.
Arrive on time and check in as instructed. Late arrival may mean the test is refused and the fee forfeited; confirm the centre's late-arrival policy with the provider.
Switch off or silence your phone and keep it out of reach while driving. Any handheld use during the test is treated as a serious fault.
Follow the examiner's directions exactly, but never make an unsafe manoeuvre on instruction alone. If an instruction would require breaking a traffic rule or driving dangerously, say so and act safely; the examiner will assess your judgement.
Seat belts must be worn by everyone in the car, and the vehicle must be roadworthy and correctly insured for the test. A defective or unsuitable vehicle can lead to the test being cancelled.
You may normally ask the examiner to repeat an instruction you did not hear. Do not ask for help with how to perform a manoeuvre; the assessment is of your independent driving.
The result is based on the examiner's assessment of your driving, including observations, control, positioning, speed, signalling and interaction with other road users. Serious or repeated faults lead to a fail; confirm the exact fault criteria and scoring with the provider.
If you have a disability, medical condition or need an interpreter or other accommodation, arrange it with the provider well before the test date rather than on the day.