How to get driver licence in NSW

To get your driver’s licence in NSW, you need to go through four main stages: getting your learner licence > getting your provisional 1 licence > getting your provisional 2 licence > getting your full licence.

Licensing information on this site will be updated on a irregular basis. We  will do our best  to  provide up-to-date information according to current legal obligations regarding licensing. The NSW licencing authority is: Roads & Maritime Services

Finding a good driving instructor in New South Wales is a very important part of getting your driver license.Why bother wasting time shopping around when driving instructors can come to you. Register and publish your request via this page. Also you can compare driving lesson prices from Sydney driving schools.

 

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driving_licence_NSW

Learner licence

What are the prerequisites?

  • minimum age 16 years old
  • Must be a resident of the NSW

What test/s do I have to take?

  • Driving Knowledge Test
  • Eyesight Test

What’s on the test?

  • Section 1: 15 general knowledge road rules questions
  • Section 2: 30 road sign and traffic questions

What do I need to score to pass?

  • Section 1: at least 12 correct answers
  • Section 2: at least 29 correct answers

What study materials do I need?

The Road User’s Handbook, available online or  at any motor registry

How do I book the test?

  • Online
  • By phone on 13 22 13
  • In person at any motor registry

Where do I take the test?

At any motor registry

What do I bring to the test?

  • Evidence of identity (passport or birth certificate, for example)
  • Means to pay for the test and licence fee

I’ve completed the requirements, now how do I get my learner licence?

Your learner licence will be issued to you on the spot when you successfully complete the required tests and pay the licence fee.

What does having a learner licence mean?

  • You are now permitted to drive a car under supervision. Your supervisor must be someone with a full Australian driver’s licence
  • You must adhere to the special rules for learner drivers

What are the special rules for learner drivers

  • Must clearly display L plates on front and rear of the vehicle’s exterior
  • Must be supervised at all times by a person with a full Australian driver licence
  • Must not exceed a blood alcohol level of 0.00%
  • Cannot tow
  • Must not exceed 80km/h
  • Cannot supervise another learner
  • Cannot use a mobile phone (including hands-free devices)
  • Must only carry the number of passengers that can be seated with seatbelts
  • Must wear a seatbelt when driving

What happens next?

If you are under 25, before you can progress to your P1 licence, you must:

  • Have held your learner licence for at least 12 months
  • Complete at least 120 hours of supervised driving practice (including 20 hours of night driving) and record it in your Learner Driver Log Book, which will be given to you when you receive your learner licence)

Drivers over 25 are exempt from the 12 month tenure and log book requirements

Provisional licence 1 (P1)

What are the prerequisites?

  • Minimum Age: 17
  • Under 25 years old:
    a.Must have held your NSW learner licence for a minimum of 12 months
    b.Must have completed at least 120 hours of driving practice (including 20 hours of night driving). These hours must be recorded in your Learner Driver Log Book, which was given to you when you received your learner licence.
  • 25 and older: Must hold a NSW learner licence

What test/s do I have to take?
A practical Driving Test

What’s on the test?
A testing officer will monitor your driving over a set course, assessing your performance in five key areas: speed management, road positioning, decision-making, responding to hazards and vehicle control

What study materials do I need?
You don’t need a handbook for the Driving Test, but you might find the A Guide to the Driving Test booklet helpful

How do I book the test?

  • Online
  • By phone on 13 22 13
  • In person at any motor registry

Where do I take the test?
At any motor registry

What do I bring to the test?

  • Evidence of identity (passport or birth certificate, for example)
  • Means to pay for the test and licence fee
  • Your completed and signed Learner Driver Logbook
  • A fully-licenced driver
  • A clean, registered, roadworthy vehicle

I’ve completed the requirements, now how do I get my P1 licence?

Your P1 licence will be issued to you on the spot when you successfully complete the required tests and pay the licence fee.

What does having a P1 licence mean?

  • You are now permitted to drive a car without supervision
  • You must adhere to the special rules for P1 drivers

What are the special rules for P1 drivers

  • Must clearly display red P plates on front and rear of the vehicle’s exterior
  • Must not exceed a blood alcohol level of 0.00%
  • Cannot tow more than 250kg
  • Must not exceed 90km/h
  • Must not accumulate three or more demerit points
  • Cannot supervise a learner driver
  • Cannot use a mobile phone (including hands-free devices)
  • Must wear a seatbelt when driving, and ensure all passengers wear seatbelts
  • If under 25:
    a.Cannot drive with more than one passenger under 21 between 11pm and 5am
    b.Cannot drive a vehicle that has eight or more cylinders or is turbo or supercharged (some further vehicle restrictions apply

What happens next?
Once you have held your P1 licence for at least 12 months, you are eligible to apply for your P2 licence

Provisional Licence 2 (P2)

What are the prerequisites?

  • Minimum Age:18
  • Must have held a NSW P1 licence for at least 12 months

What test/s do I have to take?
The Hazard Perception Test

What’s on the The Hazard Perception test?
The test is touch-screen based, simulating real-life situations with 15 short videos and testing your ability to respond to dangers on the road

What study materials do I need?
The Hazard Perception Handbook, available online or at any motor registry

How do I book the test?

  • Online
  • By phone on 13 22 13
  • In person at any motor registry

Where do I take the test?
At any motor registry

What do I bring to the test?

  • Evidence of identity (passport or birth certificate, for example)
  • Means to pay for the test and licence fee
  • Your P1 licence

I’ve completed the requirements, now how do I get my P2 licence?
Your P2 licence will be issued to you on the spot when you successfully complete the required tests and pay the licence fee

What does having a P2 licence mean?
You must adhere to the special rules for P2 drivers

What are the special rules for P2 drivers

  • Must clearly display green P plates on front and rear of the vehicle’s exterior
  • Must not exceed a blood alcohol level of 0.00%
  • Must not exceed 100km/h
  • Must not accumulate more than six demerit points
  • Cannot supervise a learner driver
  • Must wear a seatbelt when driving, and ensure all passengers wear seatbelts

What happens next?
Once you have held your P2 licence for at least 24 months, you are eligible to apply for your full licence

Full licence

What are the prerequisites?

  • Minimum Age:20
  • Must have held a NSW P2 licence for at least 24 months

What test/s do I have to take?
The Driver Qualification Test

What’s on the test?
The Driver Qualification Test combines knowledge questions (road rules and safety) with a more advanced version of the Hazard Perception Test that you completed to get your P2 licence.

What study materials do I need?
The Driver Qualification Handbook, available online or at any motor registry.

How do I book the test?

  • Online
  • By phone on 13 22 13
  • In person at any motor registry
  • Where do I take the test?
  • At any motor registry

What do I bring to the test?

  • Evidence of identity (passport or birth certificate, for example)
  • Means to pay for the test and licence fee
  • Your P2 licence

I’ve completed the requirements, now how do I get my full licence?
Your full licence will be issued to you on the spot when you successfully complete the required tests and pay the licence fee

What does having a full licence mean?
Now that you are a little more experienced, you no longer have to adhere to the special rules that apply to provisional drivers, but you do need to abide by the general rules and restrictions that apply to all NSW drivers