Car

Overview - from learner to full licence

There are seven steps you'll need to complete to progress from a car learner licence to a full licence.

The steps are:

  1. Pass the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) - get your learner licence.
  2. Hold your learner licence at least 12 months and complete 120 hours of supervised driving practice including 20 hours of night driving (for drivers under the age of 25 only).
  3. Pass the Driving Test - progress to a Provisional Licence - stage 1 (P1 licence).
  4. Hold your P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months.
  5. Pass the Hazard Perception Test - progress to Provisional Licence - stage 2 (P2 licence).
  6. Hold your P2 licence for a minimum of 24 months.
  7. Pass the Driver Qualification Test (DQT) - progress to a full licence.

GEARED

If you're a young driver, visit GEARED to find out everything you need to know about getting and keeping your licence.

Interstate and Overseas learners

If you are transferring your interstate and overseas learner licence, you are exempt from the 120 hours Learner Driver 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 and complete 120 hours of driving practice (including 20 hours of night driving) before a further test can be attempted. Roads and Maritime Services will recognise any Learner Driver Log Book hours recorded in your home state provided appropriate documentation is presented. 

Structured driving lessons

Learner drivers who complete a one hour structured driving lesson with a fully licensed driving instructor can record three hours driving experience in their Learner Driver Log Book. A maximum of 10 hours of lessons will be accepted and recorded as 30 hours in the log book. Note: These changes do not mean driving lessons are compulsory or that you should stop having lessons after reaching the 10 hours of training.

Log book exemptions

Those who are exempt from holding a log book include:

  • Learner drivers aged 25 years and over.

  • 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 Roads and Maritime Services.
  • Motorcycle rider learner licence holders.

Licence and registration warning

An organisation named UPMART currently claims that it can provide perpetual motor vehicle registration and 100-year driver licences.

Under NSW Legislation Roads and Maritime Services is the only vehicle registration and driver licensing authority in NSW. See Licence and Registration warning for more information.

DriveGreen

Motor vehicle emissions are the main source of air pollution in urban centres and the fuel they burn is a major contributor to climate change.

The DriveGreen calculator was developed to encourage NSW drivers to counteract their carbon emissions and drive green through the purchase of a wide range of carbon offsets. It calculates the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted from your car each year. Read more »