Introduction:  A person may learn to drive in Australia either with a professional driving instructor or with another licensed driver accompanying them.  Conditions relating to the learner and accompanying driver are set out in this table and the notes following.  Although the general approach is similar each Australian State and Territory has its own rules and requirements.  

Special conditions apply to learning to ride and drive motorcycles and heavy vehicles.  These are not covered in this table.

Learner Licence or Permit

Condition

NSW

Victoria

Queensland

Western Australia

South Australia

Tasmania

Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory

Minimum age

16

16

16 years 6 months

16 years 6 months

16

16 (can sit for knowledge test at 15/11mths)

15 years 9 months

16

Minimum duration

6 months

6 months continuous if under 25; 3 months if over

6 months in two years

6 months

6 months

6 months

Nil

Demerit points

No demerit but infringements can result in loss of licence

5 in one year

4 in one year

4

4 in one year or 12 in 3 years

12 in three years

NT exempt

Log book practice

50 hours

(recommended) 120 hours supervised driving practice

Voluntary log book in official learner driver’s guide

25 hours in Phase II

If undertaking competency based training

50 hours

Recommended 50 hours but not recorded.

N/a

Speed limit

80 km/h

Posted speed limits

Posted speed limits

100 km/h

80 km/h, but up to 100 if with licensed driving instructor in driving school car with dual controls

80 km/h

Posted speed limits

80 km/h unless participating in an approved training course

Other

Licence tenure 36 months

Phase 1 and Phase II Learner Permit.  Driving test to pass to Phase 2

Accompanying driver must have held licence for at least 4 years

Supervising driver must have had full licence for continuous period of two years

Must have completed Road Ready course through school, college or private provider

If eligible - Subsidised 10 hours theory and 8 hours driving training

General:  Before a learner’s permit is issued applicants must show proof of identity and residence, pass a knowledge test of road rules and an eyesight test.  Learner permit holders must be accompanied at all times by a fully licensed driver (i.e. holding a full licence not a provisional or probationary licence and not under suspension); both learner and accompanying driver must be under the legal blood alcohol limit. In most jurisdictions learner’s permits are issued for manual or automatic transmission vehicles; if automatic the learner is restricted to that type.  Generally towing is prohibited while on a learner’s permit (in ACT trailer to 750kg is permitted).  While the learner is at the wheel a plate 150mmx150mm showing a black ‘L’ on a yellow field must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle. 

Alcohol:  The general prescribed blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Australia is 0.05%, with zero for drivers of heavy vehicles, dangerous goods vehicles, emergency vehicles, public service vehicles (including buses, taxis and hire cars), and driving instructors and supervisors of learner drivers.  For learner and provisional licence holders the limit is 0% or, in the ACT, 0.02%.

In all Australian States and Territories the learner’s permit and driver’s licence is a credit card sized photographic licence.  Proof of identity is stringent because the licence once issued is a primary form of identification for other purposes. 

Copyright © 2004, Ken Smith, FACRS; Smithworks