How to get your driver licence in Australia: rules by state

Every Australian state and territory uses a graduated licensing system: you start on a learner licence, move to a provisional (P) licence and then graduate to a full licence. The broad steps are similar everywhere, but the minimum ages, how long you hold each licence and how many supervised hours you log all vary.

This guide explains the common steps, compares the key rules for each state and territory, and links to the official pages so you can check the current details where you live.

The common steps to a driver licence

1. Pass a road rules knowledge test. It’s usually computer-based and drawn from your state’s road rules handbook. You’ll also need to prove your identity and pass an eyesight test.
2. Get your learner licence and drive with a supervisor. A supervising driver must hold a full licence. You display L plates and follow learner restrictions, such as lower speed limits in some states and zero alcohol.
3. Log your supervised hours. Younger learners record their driving in a log book or app, often including a set number of night hours.
4. Pass the hazard perception test and driving test. Most states require a computer-based hazard perception test and a practical on-road test before you can move to a provisional licence. The order and names of these tests vary.
5. Drive on your provisional licence. P-platers follow restrictions such as zero alcohol, passenger limits and mobile phone bans, usually over two stages (P1 and P2).
6. Graduate to a full licence once you’ve held your provisional licence for the required time without losing it.

Key rules by state and territory

The table below summarises the rules for learners under 25 when this guide was updated. Drivers aged 25 and over often have shorter learner periods and fewer or no log book hours. Rules change, so always confirm on your state’s official site before you plan.

State or territory	Minimum learner age	Minimum learner period	Supervised hours	Provisional licence
NSW	16	12 months	120, including 20 at night	P1 after 12 months on your learner licence
Victoria	16	12 months (under 21)	120, including 20 at night (under 21)	From 18
Queensland	16	12 months	100, including 10 at night	P1 from 17
Western Australia	16	6 months before the hazard perception test	50, including 5 at night	Driving test from 17
South Australia	16	12 months	75, including 15 at night	P1 from 17
Tasmania	16	12 months	80, including 15 at night	P1 assessment after 12 months on your learner licence
ACT	15 years and 9 months	12 months	100, including 10 at night	From 17
Northern Territory	16	6 months	Check the NT site	After 6 months on your learner licence

Official sources: Service NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, ACT and Northern Territory.

State differences worth knowing

NSW

You must pass the Driver Knowledge Test before applying for a learner licence. Learners under 25 log 120 hours, and each hour with a licensed NSW driving instructor counts as 3 hours, up to 10 instructor hours (20 bonus hours). The Safer Drivers Course adds 20 hours of log book credit. Learners aged 25 or over don’t need to log hours. See using your learner driver log book.

Victoria

The learner period depends on your age: 12 months if you’re under 21, 6 months from 21 to under 25 and 3 months if you’re 25 or older. You need to pass a hazard perception test and a drive test to get your probationary licence.

Queensland

Learners under 25 log 100 hours. Drivers aged 25 or older don’t need a log book and move straight to a P2 licence after passing the practical test.

South Australia

You can sit the learner’s theory test from 15 years and 9 months, but the permit is issued from 16. To get your P1 licence, you can either pass a Vehicle On-road Test (VORT) or complete competency-based training and assessment (CBT&A) with an authorised instructor. Either way, you also need to pass a hazard perception test.

Tasmania

Tasmania changed its graduated licensing system from 1 December 2020, including a single learner stage of at least 12 months, 80 hours of logged driving (15 at night) and a hazard perception test. Check Plates Plus for the stage that applies to you.

ACT

Before you can get a learner licence, you complete a pre-learner licence course and pass the ACT road rules test through an ACT-based training provider. Each hour with an ACT-accredited driving instructor counts as 3 hours, up to 10 instructor hours.

Tips for getting through each stage

• Study the current handbook, not an old copy or a family member’s memory of the rules.
• Start logging early and spread your hours across different roads, traffic levels, weather and night driving.
• Book some professional lessons. A driving instructor can set good habits early and prepare you for what the examiner expects. In some states, those hours also earn log book bonuses.
• Do a mock test in the weeks before your practical test.
• Check your restrictions for each stage, especially passenger limits and phone rules on your Ps.

Thinking about teaching others to drive?

If you enjoy helping learners through these stages, you could do it professionally. Driving instructors need the TLI41225 Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training and a licence or accreditation from their state or territory. See the state pathways page for what applies where you live.

Frequently asked questions

Thinking about becoming a driving instructor? Book a free consultation to talk it through, or see the TLI41225 course overview.