Tips For Getting Your Learner Driver's Licence In Australia

Before you get behind the wheel for your first driving lesson, you need to obtain a learner driver's licence from your local state or territory government.

The rules for obtaining a licence differ for each state or territory, but most states require you to pass a Driver Knowledge Test or Ls Test before you can apply for a learner licence and then move onto a provisional licence.

Passing the learners test is not that difficult, it’s simply designed to ensure you are safe on the open road. But we know some people get nervous about taking tests. So in this guide, we’re going to cover some tips to help you pass your Ls test on the first attempt.

The requirements for getting a learner licence in each state

NSW

The learner must be 16 years old or above

They must pass a Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) before applying for a learner licence

The Learner licence (Red L plates) must be held for a minimum of 12 months, during which time they must complete 120 hours of supervised driving time

They must maintain a drivers logbook to record their driving hours

They must pass a driving test and Hazard Perception Test (HPT) before applying for a Provisional (P1) licence

The Provisional P1 licence (Red P Plates) must be held for a minimum of 12 months before graduating to a Provisional P2 licence

The Provisional P2 licence (Green P Plates) must be held for a minimum of 2 years before applying for a full licence

Provisional licence holders must not exceed a speed of 90km/h regardless of the posted limit

ACT

The learner must be 15 years and nine months old or above

They must complete a Pre-Learner licence course and pass the ACT Road Rules based knowledge test to obtain a Learners Permit

They must complete 100 supervised driving hours if under 25 (50 hours if over 25)

The Learners Permit must be held for a minimum of 12 months

Drivers under 25 must then hold a P1 (Red P Plates) for a minimum of 12 months before progressing to P2 (Green P Plates)

Drivers over 25 can progress straight to P2

Victoria

The learner must be 16 years old or above

They must pass a Driver Assessment test comprising of 30 multiple choice questions

They must complete a minimum of 120 hours of recorded driving time

They must complete a Hazard Perception Test before applying for a probationary P1 licence

Drivers must hold a P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months before applying for a P2 licence

The Probationary P2 licence must be held for a minimum of three years before applying for a full license

Queensland

The learner must be 16 years old or above

Learners need to pass a Driver Assessment test comprising of 30 multiple choice questions to obtain a Learner licence

Learners must complete a minimum of 120 hours of recorded driving time, including at least 10 hours of night driving before applying for a probationary P1 licence.

They must hold a P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months and pass a Hazard Perception Test before applying for a P2 licence

The P2 licence must be held for a minimum of 12 months before applying for a full licence

South Australia

The learner must be 16 years old or above

Learners must pass a learner test before applying for a learner licence

The learner licence must be held for a minimum of 2 years

Learners must not exceed 100km/h regardless of the posted limit

After two years learners can progress to a P1 licence which must be held for a minimum of 12 months

They can then progress to a P2 licence which must be held for a minimum of 2 years

Western Australia

The learner must be 16 years old or above

Learners must pass a Learner Test and a Hazard Perception Test before applying for a learner licence

An official logbook must be purchased to record driver hours

50 supervised driver hours must be recorded before a practical driver assessment is taken

Learners are restricted to 100km/h regardless of the posted limit

Learners will remain on a restricted (Red P Plates) licence for 6 months

Drivers then graduate to a provincial (Green P Plates) licence which must be held for a minimum of 3 years before applying for a full license

 

Northern Territory

The learner must be 16 years old or above

They must first enrol on a DriveSafe NT course and pass the Driver Theory Test which consists of 30 multiple-choice questions

Learner licence holders must not exceed 80km/h regardless of posted limits

Learner licences must be held for a minimum of 6 months before taking the practical driving test and applying for a Probationary (Green P Plate) licence

Drivers under 25 must hold a probationary license for a minimum of 2 years. Drivers older than 25 can progress to a full licence after 12 months

How to prepare for your Ls test

1. Understand the format of the test

Most driver knowledge or theory tests are computer-based and consist of between 30 and 45 multiple-choice questions. These are randomly selected from a bank of more than 600 questions.

The test is usually split into two sections. With up to 15 general knowledge questions in the first section and up to 30 road safety questions in the second section, the next few tips will ensure you have the right level of knowledge to pass the first time.

2. Study the road user's handbook

The Road Users Handbook is vital reading for all learners. This will provide the information you need about road signs, speed limits, safe driving and much more. You can view the handbook online for FREE but it is usually better to purchase a hard copy.

3. Take practice tests

Once you feel confident it’s a good idea to take a practice test. This will help to highlight areas where you need to improve. You can take a practice test online for FREE here or download the official app from the App Store or Google Play.

4. Be an observant passenger

When travelling in a car, try to observe the road ahead. This will help you to identify road signs and hazards in the real world. Run through these in your head as you ride along. If you encounter something you are not familiar with, check the Road Users Handbook.

Safe driving tips

Once you pass your Ls test, you’re ready to head out on the road to get some practice. This is an exciting but nail-biting experience for most people. But once you get over the first lesson, you’ll be surprised how quickly you get the hang of it.

The most important thing is to remain safe at all times, so here are a few driving tips to help keep you safe on the road. They should also help make you a better, more considerate driver as well.

Avoid distractions

During your first few lessons, it's a good idea to eliminate all possible distractions. So turn off your phone and the radio. The last thing you want is your phone bleeping as you navigate a difficult bend.

Be considerate of other road users

Safe driving is not just about keeping yourself safe, you should also be considerate of other road users. So make sure you give cyclists at least 1m space on roads with limits of less than 60km/h and 1.5m on roads with speeds above 60km/h.

Drive to the conditions

The more you drive the more you will experience unusual road conditions. You should continuously adapt your driving to suit the conditions. Reduce your speed in fog and rain and avoid making any sudden braking or steering movements that can unsettle the car.

Anticipate potential hazards

You should learn to anticipate potential hazards as you drive along. Hazards in suburban areas include pedestrians crossing the road without looking. While country hazards include wildlife behaving erratically and slow-moving farm vehicles.

Be aware of pedestrians

As a driver, you need to be aware of pedestrians and anticipate their behaviour. Always give pedestrians plenty of room and prepare to stop if you see people waiting to cross the road. If children are present, expect the unexpected, slow down and prepare to stop.

Getting your full licence

Regardless of your state, you need to work through several stages before applying for an open licence. In most states, this process takes two to three years to complete. During this period, you must ensure that you comply with any restrictions imposed by the probationary licence.

Failure to follow the rules will result in Demerit points being recorded against you. It only requires 4 Demerit points within 12 months for a probationary licence to be suspended. So drive carefully, or you’ll have to wait even longer before you can tear up those Green P plates.

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