Patente D quiz: how the theory exam for the bus licence works in Italy

The patente D is the higher licence (patente superiore) for buses. If you apply for it directly, or if you apply for the DE, the theory exam has 40 True or False statements: you read the sentence and decide if it is true or false.

You have 40 minutes, and you pass the test with at most 4 mistakes.

The exam is on a computer: for the C1, C, D1 and D licences, theory exams on a computer started on 2 March 2015.

For the D1 and D1E licences, the ones for smaller buses, the theory exam is shorter: 20 statements in 20 minutes, passed with at most 2 mistakes.

If you already have the D1 and apply for the D, you also take this test of 20 statements, instead of the one with 40. If you are thinking of starting with the D1, keep in mind that later the move up to the D has a shorter theory test.

For the C1, C, D1 and D licences the theory exam is only in Italian or in the languages of the protected minorities, that is French and German.

If Italian is not your first language, read a few statements aloud every day and write down the new words with their translation.

On PatenteInTasca the theory for the D and D1 licences is divided into 16 chapters: they are the same as for the patente C, without the one on goods. Among them you find driving and rest periods (periodi di guida e di riposo), the tachograph (cronotachigrafo), loading vehicles, brakes and tyres.

The advice is to study one chapter at a time and answer the statements on that topic. When you know all the chapters well, move on to full exam simulations (simulazioni d'esame), which mix the topics as in the exam.

Some tips for the last weeks before the exam:

• Do timed simulations: 40 statements in 40 minutes, or 20 in 20 minutes if you already have the D1.
• Read each statement to the end before you answer.
• Read the explanations of the wrong answers again and go back to the chapter of that question.

Remember that to drive a bus for work you also need the CQC persone (CQC for passengers), the carta di qualificazione del conducente (driver qualification card), with a separate exam. PatenteInTasca is not affiliated with the Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (MIT, the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport) or with the Motorizzazione (the vehicle licensing office), and it is not a driving school.