Prerequisites:
To get your learner car licence you must pass the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT). The resources on this site should help you achieve this. You must also be 16 or older, prove your identity, pass an eyesight test and pay the licence and test fees (we can’t help with this).
Licence features:
When you pass the DKT, your learner licence is valid for 5 years or until you get your Red Ps (provisional P1 licence). Your learner licence can be renewed after 5 years, but you’ll have to pass the DKT again, so start getting those hours up as soon as you can.
In addition to following the road rules like all road users should, there are specific rules associated with a learner licence. Disobeying these additional rules could result in heavy fines or loss of licence.
| Blood Alcohol Concentration | Zero (no alcohol in your system) |
| Demerit points | 4 points in a 3-year period |
| Plate display | L plates (black L on a yellow background) must be displayed clearly on the exterior of the front and back of the vehicle (or an L sign on the roof) |
| Maximum speed limit | 90km/h |
| Supervision | Full Australian licence holder, who is under the 0.05 BAC limit for that licence, must sit in front passenger seat at all times |
| Towing | Not allowed |
| Location restrictions | Not allowed in Parramatta Park, Centennial Park or Moore Park in Sydney |
| Mobile phone | Not allowed unless vehicle is parked |
| Passenger limits | Only carry passengers who can be properly seated in seats and restrained by approved seat belts or restraints |
| Licence class
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Only applies to C class (car)
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Requirements to progress to Red Ps:
You must pass both the Hazard Perception Test and Practical Driving Test to progress to your Red Ps (Provisional P1 Licence).
Hazard Perception Test
For people under 25, the learner licence must be held for a minimum of 10 months before you can attempt a Hazard Perception Test.
For people over 25, you can attempt your Hazard Perception Test as soon as you hold a learner licence (there is no requirement for you to have held your licence for a specified time).
Practical Driving Test
For people under 25, the learner licence must be held for a minimum of 12 months and you must have already passed the Hazard Perception Test before you can attempt a practical driving test to move to your Red Ps.
On your learner licence, you must complete 120 hours of supervised driving (including 20 hours of night driving between sunset and sunrise). These hours must be recorded in the Learner Driver Log Book issued to you or via an RMS endorsed logbook app.
You are exempt from completing the log book and required hours if you:
- Are older than 25
- Have previously held a NSW, interstate or overseas driver licence (other than a learner licence)
- Currently hold an overseas licence (other than a learner licence) and are issued with a learner licence because you have failed a practical driving test
- Are specifically exempted by Roads and Maritime Services
Interstate licences:
Hours recorded in an interstate learner driver log book will count towards your NSW supervised hours if you can provide appropriate evidence.
Reducing the required hours:
There are two ways to reduce the hours required to progress to your Red Ps.
- Attending a Safer Drivers Course run by Roads and Maritime Services. This course teaches learners vital driving skills with the aim to reduce your crash risk when you are able to drive without supervision. Attending a Safer Drivers Course will count as 20 hours towards your required 120 hours. (You must have 50 hours of supervised driving before you can complete a Safer Drivers Course.)
- Complete professional driving lessons with accredited instructors. For each hour of professional driving lessons (up to a maximum of 10 hours) you receive an additional 2 hours of credit towards the required 120 hours.
These actions will make you a safer driver, increase your chances of passing the practical driving test and significantly reduce the required hours. By completing a Safer Drivers Course and 10 hours of professional driving lessons, you will already have 50 hours towards your 120 hour requirement (20 hours for the course + 10 supervised by instructor + 20 bonus hours for professional lessons). This means you will only need a further 70 hours (including 20 hours of night driving).
Before taking the practical driving test:
To move on to your Red Ps you must have:
- held your learner licence for at least 12 months (unless over 25)
- sat and passed the Hazard Perception Test (after holding your L plates for at least 10 months)
- completed the log book or log book app with the required hours (unless exempt), and
- confidence in your ability to pass the requirements of the test
Check out the other resources available to help you pass the Driver Knowledge Test and get your learner licence (L plates):
For comprehensive information on the learner licence and Driver Knowledge Test, please refer to the Roads and Maritime Services website. The above information is a summary of this content and although current when published may now be outdated. To ensure you are accessing the most current and accurate information, use the RMS website or visit your nearest Service NSW centre.
L Plates (Learners)
Red P Plates (P1)
Green P Plates (P2)
Full Licence