How do I get my learner licence?

To get your learner licence you need to be 16 years of age or older. You will need to attend an RTA motor registry prove your identity and pass a Driver Knowledge Test (DKT).

Booking your DKT
Because places are limited, you must book for your DKT. You can book your DKT online at myTests, by phoning 13 22 13 or at any motor registry.

The DKT and Road Users’ Handbook are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Korean, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese. The Road Users' Handbook (but not the test) is also available in Japanese.

Before taking the test, you should study the Road Users’ Handbook and the brochure Getting your driver licence, both of which are available on this site.

You can also download and study the list of DKT questions and do a practice DKT (use the related link to the DKT page).

What do I do once I have my learner licence?
Learner licences issued from 1 July 2007 will be valid for five years. When you are issued with your learner licence you will receive a Learner Driver Log Book so that you and your supervising driver(s) can record your driving experience. You will have to log at least 120 hours of supervised driving (which includes 20 hours of night driving) before you can attempt the Driving Test to move to a provisional licence. Night driving starts from sunset of one day and ends at sunrise on the following day.

Learners issued a licence prior 1 July 2007
If your learner licence is current at 30 June 2007, you can attempt the Driving Test once you have held your licence for at least six months and completed 50 hours of log book practice but only until the expiry date of your licence. Note: drivers over 25 years of age are exempt from the six month tenure requirement but must still complete the required log book hours.

If you have not passed the Driving Test by the expiry date of your licence, you will need to pass another Driver Knowledge Test (DKT), renew your licence and complete a total of 120 hours log book practice (including 20 hours of night driving) before another test can be attempted. Previous log book experience will be recognised and counted towards the 120 hours.

You will also need to complete 120 hours of log book practice (including 20 hours of night driving) if your licence is cancelled and you re-apply after 1 July 2007 (as in the case of a disqualification). This means that you will need to have also held your licence for at least 12 months (if you are under 25 years of age) before the Driving Test can be attempted.

If you are transferring your interstate and overseas learner licence after 1 July 2007, you will be exempt from the 120 hours log book requirements if you pass the Driving Test. However, if you fail the test, you will be issued with a NSW learner licence and be required to hold your licence for 12 months (if under 25 years of age) and complete 120 hours of log book practice (including 20 hours of night driving) before a further test can be attempted. The RTA will recognise any log book hours recorded in your home state provided appropriate documentation is presented.

Those who are exempt from holding a log book include:

Drivers who have previously held a NSW or interstate drivers licence other than a learner licence.
Drivers who apply for a learner licence and have previously held an overseas licence other than a learner licence.
Holders of an overseas licence, other than a learner licence, who are issued with a learner licence after failing one Driving Test.
Aged drivers issued with a learner licence after failing an age Driving Test.
Drivers specifically exempted by the RTA.

Learner drivers must:

Be supervised at all times by the holder of a full Australian driver licence.
Have L plates displayed conspicuously at the front and rear exterior of the car (or an L sign on the roof) when driving. The letter L on the plate must not be hidden.
Observe a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h.
Not tow any other vehicle.
Not exceed zero blood alcohol concentration ( this means you cannot drink before driving). It is also illegal to drive under the influence of drugs.
Not supervise another learner driver.
Only carry the number of passengers that can be properly seated in seats and restrained by approved seat belts or child restraints.
Only drive vehicles that have a seat belt fitted to the driver's position and you must wear the seat belt.
Not use any functions of a mobile phone including hands free devices.
Failure to comply with any of the above requirements is an offence and carries heavy penalties, including loss of licence.

From 28 September 2009, demerit points apply to learner drivers. A learner licence will be suspended or refused if the threshold of four (4) demerit points is reached or exceeded.

What happens next?
If you are 17 years of age or older, you are eligible to attempt the Driving Test if you have logged at least 120 hours driving time (which includes 20 hours of night driving) and have held your learner licence for at least 12 months (drivers over 25 are exempt from the tenure requirement). If you pass, you will be issued your provisional P1 licence. You can attempt the Driving Test in any type of light vehicle however you will be restricted from driving certain prohibited vehicles when a P licence is issued. For more information see the section on P1 and P2 vehicle and passenger conditions.

You should read A guide to the Driving Test for more information on what you need to do before the test and what you will be tested on.

Organ donation
Successful organ and tissue donation has given life and health to many people in our community. Organ transplants are only possible when people generously decide that in the event of their death they would like to donate their organs to help others. You can record your intention to become an organ donor on your driver licence.

Use the Organ donation related link (above right) to find out more.

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Call 02 9625 6560 to book a lesson near you in Sydney’s western suburbs.

Teresa's Driving schools allow clients to learn to drive in modern automatic and manual dual controlled vehicles together with male or female driving instructors.

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Teresa's Driving School lessons range from 1hr lessons to 2hr lessons, we also have intensive driving test preparations for your local RTA.

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