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Getting Your Licence

LICENCING REQUIREMENTS IN Australian states vary but one thing is common. Road authorities are digging deeper into their tool chest than ever before to fight the over-representation of young drivers in the road toll. Indeed, many states have already or are currently in the process of unrolling extensively revised licencing systems. What does this mean for new drivers? Well, the goalposts are moving and the days gaining a licence with minimum effort are fast disappearing. The licencing process is generally more complex, time-intensive and, in a growing number of cases, requires applicants to prove their experience. And, once they are on the road, new drivers face a growing number of restrictions.



ACT
You must be at least 17 and have had your learner’s for six months, but there is no mandatory requirement in terms of driving hours.
As for the licence testing, you can either do the official government practical driving test or undergo continued driver training and assessment with an accredited driving instructor.
Pass your tests and a provisional licence is issued for three years, but you can drop this to six months by completing an optional provisional licence course.

NSW
You can go for your provisional licence at 17 but must have held your learner’s permit for 12 months and produce a log book showing 120 hours of supervised driving practice, including 20 hours of night driving. Like other examples of these systems an accredited driving instructor isn’t mandatory, but supervising drivers must meet certain conditions. And passing the practical driving test is only the start. You must hold your stage 1 (P1) provisional licence for 12 months and then pass a hazard perception test before gaining a stage 2 (P2) provisional licence. This must be held for 24 months, and then a driver qualification test passed, before a full licence is granted.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
You must be at least 17 and have held your learner’s for six months but, unlike the bigger states, there is no mandatory requirement in terms of driving hours. Pass the practical driving test and you are issued with a provisional licence. A full licence is issued after 24 months.

QUEENSLAND
You can go for your provisional licence at 17 but you must have held your Ls for a minimum of 12 months and present a log book showing 100 hours of supervised driving experience, including 10 hours of night driving.
Like NSW, the licensing process is graduated. Passing your initial driving test gets you a P1 licence – and red-coloured P-plates. This must be held for 12 months and a hazard perception test passed to gain your P2 licence – and green-coloured Ps. Two more years on these is required before you can progress to a full licence.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
You must be at least 16 years and 6 months old and have held your Ls for six months. You will also need to produce a log book showing 50 hours of supervised driving experience, including 10 hours of night driving.
Like the ACT, South Australians can choose between an official practical driving test or continued driver training and assessment with an accredited driving instructor to gain their P1 provisional licence.
After 12 months and completing a hazard perception test, you will be awarded your P2 licence. A total provisional licence (P1 and P2) time of two years is required before you get your full licence.

TASMANIA
Tasmanians must be at least 17, have had their learner’s for six months and also need to provide a logbook detailing 50 hours of supervised driving experience to go for their provisional licence.
Otherwise, it’s simply a matter of passing a practical driving test. Once issued, the provisional period is three years for under 22s (older applicants get different conditions).a practical driving test. Once issued, the provisional period is three years for under 22s (older applicants get different conditions).

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
New drivers are required to undergo proper lessons and a driving assessment test before they are issued with their full learner’s permit.
For a provisional licence you need to be 17, had your full Ls for six months and show a logbook detailing a minimum 25 hours of supervised driving in a range of conditions. Pass the practical driving test and the provisional period is two years.

VICTORIA
You must be 18 and have had your learner’s for a minimum of 12 months before you can be tested for a probationary licence. You now also need to provide a log book showing 120 hours of supervised driving experience, including at least 10 hours of night driving.
The testing process includes a practical driving assessment and hazard perception test. The current probationary period is three years with no further tests before a full licence is granted, but as of July 2008 Victoria will introduce a graduated probationary system comprising one-year P1 and three-year P2 licences.

drive.com.au