Learner's permit information

A new theory test was introduced on 15 December 2003. You will have to correctly answer 80 per cent of the test questions and all of the give way questions to qualify for a learner's permit. The cost of sitting the test won't change - it's still $21. If your permit expires, you will have to sit the theory test again. You must hold a learner's permit for at least six months before you can qualify for a provisional licence.

To pass the new theory test, applicants will need to answer at least 80 per cent of all test questions correctly. There are 50 questions in total made up of 32 multiple-choice Road Rules questions, 10 multiple-choice Road Safety questions and eight compulsory give way diagram questions.

If any of the eight compulsory give way diagram questions are answered incorrectly, the applicant will be considered to have failed the theory test.

If you answer all of the compulsory give way questions correctly, you will also need to answer at least 32 of the remaining 42 questions correctly to pass the theory test.

The following is an example of a Road Safety question that you may be asked during the theory test.

Question

If a vehicle you are driving is involved in an accident and people are injured, after stopping you should:-

A. Drive immediately to the nearest Police Station.
B. Give assistance to the injured person/s, and if possible get a message to the ambulance service (telephone 000).
C. Leave the scene of the accident.

If you elect to obtain the Provisional Licence by attempting the Vehicle On-Road Test (VORT) and you fail, you will be required to wait at least two weeks before doing the VORT again. However, you may elect to complete the Competency-Based Training course (Log Book Training) instead of attempting another VORT.

From 31 October 2005

The person accompanying a learner driver must hold a licence to drive that type of vehicle and their licence must not be a provisional licence or a licence subject to probationary conditions.

Under the new rules you will not be issued with a Provisional Licence until you have held a Learner's Permit for a total period of at least six calendar months and are aged at least 16 years and six months and have completed at least 50 hours of driving which includes at least 10 hours of night driving with a Qualified Supervising Driver*.