Louise is an SEO Writer for Spacer Technology, creating content for the Parkhound, WhereiPark, Spacer.com.au, and Spacer.com brands. Based in the Philippines, she transitioned from her government office job to copywriting in 2012 and has stayed in content production since.
Louise is an SEO Writer for Spacer Technology, creating content for the Parkhound, WhereiPark, Spacer.com.au, and Spacer.com brands. Based in the Philippines, she transitioned from her government office job to copywriting in 2012 and has stayed in content production since.
Born with an innate entrepreneurial spirit and a thirst for all things tech, Mike founded his first business at the age of 14 by developing websites for SMEs in the mid-90’s. Now with decades of hands-on experience building startups, Mike is a seasoned tech entrepreneur with a proven track record of scaling high-growth tech companies.
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The Australian government employs a Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS) in all its jurisdictions. This means that all novice drivers must undergo and meet or exceed the requirements of each driving licence stage before finally being granted a full licence.
For a learner driver, the key stage to earning this is to graduate from a learner’s permit to a P1 provisional licence. It sounds simple enough, but preparation is key here because having incomplete requirements will lead to immediate termination of the on-road driving test.
Below is a quick run-through of what you need to prepare and how to book your test schedule to serve as your final checklist. But if you’ve already got everything down pat, check out our tips on how to pass the driving assessment and get your provisional P1 licence.
To get your Provisional P1 Licence, you need to prepare all the driving test requirements and pass all the pertinent written or computerised tests beforehand. Make sure you also meet the requirements according to the state you’re applying for a driving licence in.
Before worrying about the actual test, you first need to make sure that you’re ready with the requirements. These are self-explanatory, and you should make sure to check that you’ve ticked all the boxes before booking a practical test.
Of course, this also means you must have the necessary driving skills and practice in different driving scenarios. This can be through taking professional driving lessons at a driving school, booking sessions with an experienced driving instructor, or simply learning proper driving manoeuvres from an experienced driver.
You may simply take a computerised hazard perception test at online prior to your practical driving exam, but you may also ask the testing office if you prefer a written exam on site if you have special needs, such as an interpreter service.
Not all states have the same requirements, so make sure that you meet the requirements of the state you are taking the test in.
As previously mentioned, most of the requirements to graduate to a Provisional P1 licence are similar, but there are some state-specific requirements you also need to take note of. Below is a table listing the differences, according to information from each state’s appropriate departments and agencies.
State | Learner’s Permit Holding Time |
Required Night Driving Hours |
Total Required Logged Driving Hours |
Logbook submission (before taking the test) |
---|---|---|---|---|
New South Wales | 12 months | 20 | 120 | 48 hours |
Queensland | 12 months | 10 | 100 | 12 business days |
South Australia | 12 months | 15 | 75 | Day of exam |
Tasmania | 12 months | 15 | 80 | As soon as complete |
Victoria | 12 months | 20 | 120 | – |
Western Australia | 6 months | 5 | 50 | – |
Northern Territory | 6 months | – | 80 | – |
Australian Capital Territory | 12 months | 10 | 100 | 48 hours |
The required holding times for learner’s permit listed above apply to learner drivers from 17 to 24 years old. For 25-year-old learners and older, the required time is usually halved. Likewise, the logbook requirement for examinees 25 years old and older is usually waived.
Each state has its own pertinent department that oversees driving licence testing and issuance. You may book a practical driving test in your state through the appropriate agencies linked below.
*Note: The DriveSafe NT Program fee already includes Learner and Provisional licence and test fees.
© This content is originally published for Parkhound, a Spacer Technologies company, and is protected under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth). Unauthorised use or reproduction of this article, in whole or in part, without permission is prohibited and may result in legal action.
Louise is an SEO Writer for Spacer Technology, creating content for the Parkhound, WhereiPark, Spacer.com.au, and Spacer.com brands. Based in the Philippines, she transitioned from her government office job to copywriting in 2012 and has stayed in content production since.
Louise is an SEO Writer for Spacer Technology, creating content for the Parkhound, WhereiPark, Spacer.com.au, and Spacer.com brands. Based in the Philippines, she transitioned from her government office job to copywriting in 2012 and has stayed in content production since.
© Parkhound 2025 – ABN: 96 602 017 210 – Level 3, 55 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009 – Proudly part of Spacer Technologies
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