‘When can I get my driver’s licence?’: State-by-state breakdown

Every adolescent awaits the day they can legally apply for a driver’s licence. It’s considered a rite of passage for young Australians that awards freedom, and is also considered by many to be the point when a teenager transitions into an adult.

The long process begins at age 16 when teenagers can apply for a Learner Permit. This is the first hurdle for teenagers to overcome in order to earn a Probationary (or Provisional) Licence, and it places several restrictions on drivers in their learning phase.

The process of progressing to a full driver’s licence isn’t quick (or even simple) – and often takes at least two years of tuition alongside a licensed (and sober) parent or adult in the passenger seat as well as several other restrictions.

It might sound like a long and arduous process, but obtaining a driver’s licence in Australia is far easier and much cheaper than it is in some other countries, like Germany, for example.

Germany requires its would-be drivers to undergo a series of first aid training, eye examinations, professional driving lessons, and extensive theoretical tests.

Getting a driver’s licence in European countries can cost thousands of euros – especially if you don’t pass on your first attempt. Likewise, Japanese learner-drivers undergo considered, lengthy, and costly application schemes to earn their place on the roads.

Comparatively, it's fairly easy to get a driver's licence in Australia. But, while Australia as a country is governed by many of the same road rules and regulations across state lines – not all jurisdictions are equal when it comes to getting your licence.

Did you know that one territory allows learners to undergo only six months of supervised driving before progressing to a provisional licence, while in others, you don't have to do a practical driver's test at all?

Here’s a breakdown of each state and territory’s requirements.

According to the New South Wales government, the process of getting a full driver’s licence is called the Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS).

A teenager can begin the GLS as soon as they turn 16 years of age, provided they can prove their identity, pass an eyesight test, and pass the theoretical Driver Knowledge Test.

From there, Learners can progress to unsupervised driving (‘red Ps’) after logging 120 hours of driving time (including 20 hours of night driving) and after holding the Learner Permit for 12 months. They also must complete a hazard perception test and practical driving assessment to proceed.

This means the earliest age NSW teenagers can collect a provisional P1 licence and drive unsupervised is 17.

Victorian teenagers are allowed to apply for a Learner’s Permit from the age of 15 years and 11 months, but will only be issued one as they turn 16.

Learner drivers need to accrue 120 hours of supervised driving (including 20 hours of night driving) before applying for a Probationary 1 (P1) Licence. This involves completing a theoretical hazard perception test and then a practical driving test with an accredited assessor.

Drivers also need to be at least 18 years old to get a Probationary Licence. Learners above that age can get their Probationary Licence only after holding a Learner Permit for a minimum of 12 months, if they are under 21.

To apply for a Learner’s Permit in Western Australia you will need to be at least 16 years old and sit tests including an eyesight test and a driving theory test.

Driving a car unsupervised requires a Provisional Licence. This can only be applied once a Learner turns 17 years old, has acquired 50 hours of supervised driving (including five hours of night driving), passes a hazard perception test and practical driving assessment, and holds a Learner Permit for at least six months.

Tasmanian teenagers are allowed to apply for a Learner’s Permit when they reach 15 years and 11 months. However, the permit will not be issued until after they turn 16 years old, pass an eye test, and the learner driver knowledge test.

Progressing to a provisional licence requires logging 80 hours of supervised driving (including 15 hours at night), reaching the age of 17, holding the Learner Licence for a continuous 12 months, and passing the provisional driving assessment.

Queensland goes by the Graduated Licensing System, which involves seven distinct steps in order to get a full, unrestricted driver’s licence.

Teenagers can begin the process of getting a Learner Licence at the age of 16. They must hold a Learner Licence for at least 12 months, pass a hazard perception test, and complete 100 hours of supervised driving (including 10 hours of night driving) to apply for a provisional (P1) licence.

Drivers also need to reach 17 years of age and pass a hazard perception test and practical driving assessment before getting a P1 Provisional Licence.

South Australian teenagers can apply for a Learner’s Permit when they reach 15 years and 9 months. However, a permit will only be issued once they turn 16 and successfully pass the driving theory test.

Learners must hold that permit for 12 months and accumulate 75 hours of supervised driving (this includes a minimum of 15 hours of night driving).

From there, Learners can progress to a Provisional Licence when they turn 17 years old and successfully complete a hazard perception test, and either a practical driving test with an authorised examiner or a competency-based training and assessment course.

The latter is completed with a certified instructor during the learning phase who will assess a driver's competency over a series of driving sessions.

To get a Learner Licence in the ACT, teenagers must be at least 15 years and 9 months old, study a pre-learner licence course and pass the ACT Road Rules test.

Progressing to a Provisional Licence requires completing 100 hours of supervised driving (including 10 hours completed at night), completing a hazard perception test, reaching 17 years of age, and holding the Learner Licence for 12 months.

Learners will also have to undergo either a practical driving test with an examiner or complete a competency-based training and assessment course. The latter occurs during the learning phase and requires a certified assessor to evaluate a learner's driving skills over a series of driving sessions.

If you’re a Northern Territory resident and are at least 16 years old, you can apply for a Learner Permit. The requirements to get a Learner Permit involve being a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) customer, as well as eyesight and theory tests.

The NT government recommends 20 hours of practice for operating a car and an additional 80 hours of practice to learn how to become a low-risk driver.

To get a provisional licence, Learners must hold the Learner Licence continuously for at least six months. At this point, Learners can undergo a practical driving test and pay a fee to get a Provisional Licence.

Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned journalists got the better end of the deal. With tenures at CarAdvice, Wheels Media, and now Drive, Tom's breadth of experience and industry knowledge informs a strong opinion on all things automotive. At Drive, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories.

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