How licensing works in the ACT
The ACT uses a graduated licensing system. You start with a learner licence (Ls), then a provisional licence (Ps) for 3 years, then a full licence. The provisional period has two stages: P1 with red plates and P2 with green plates.
| Stage | Minimum age | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Learner licence | 15 years and 9 months | Pre-Learner Licence Course and Road Rules test. Valid for 5 years. |
| Hazard Perception Test | After 3 months on Ls | Online test. The pass does not expire. |
| P1 (red P) | 17 | Hold Ls for 12 months (6 months if 25 or over) and log your hours. P1 lasts 1 year. |
| P2 (green P) | After P1 | The remaining 2 years. Drivers who get Ps at 25 or over are P2 for all 3 years. |
| Full licence | After 3 years on Ps | A clean record on Ps earns fee discounts. |
The Pre-Learner Licence Course and Road Rules test
In the ACT you cannot just walk in and sit a test. You first complete the Pre-Learner Licence Course with an approved training provider. It is a 10-hour program in four modules that teaches the basics of safe driving. Some ACT schools offer it free to Year 10 students.
- Complete the four learning modules.
- Score at least 50% on the Course Content Test, a multiple-choice quiz on the modules.
- Pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test.
- Take your pass certificate, proof of identity and residency to an Access Canberra Service Centre, pass an eyesight test and pay the fee.
Test format
- 35 multiple-choice questions, picked at random from a bank of over 300.
- The test is computerised and marks itself.
- Some questions are mandatory. You must get all of them right.
- On the other, general knowledge questions you may make no more than four mistakes.
- A pass is valid for 2 years, so apply for your Ls within that time.
Give way: slow down and stop if needed for traffic you must give way to. Stop: stop completely at the line before going on.
Rules for learner drivers
- Supervisor: must sit in the front passenger seat at all times and must have zero blood alcohol and no drugs.
- Alcohol and drugs: no alcohol or drugs in your system while driving.
- Phones: no mobile device use at all, including hands-free or loudspeaker, while driving or stopped but not parked.
- L plates: correctly displayed at the front and rear.
- Towing: no trailer over 750 kg.
- Passengers: no limits for learners, as long as your supervisor is beside you.
Logbook hours
| Your age when Ls were issued | Hours | Night hours |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | 100 | 10 |
| 25 or over | 50 | 5 |
- Each hour with an accredited driving instructor counts as 3 hours, up to a maximum.
- The Safer Driver Course (learners under 25, after 3 months on Ls) counts as 20 hours.
- The Vulnerable Road User Program counts as 10 hours, and Learner Driver First Aid as 5 hours.
Getting and keeping your Ps
To get your Ps you must be 17, hold your Ls for 12 months (6 months if you were 25 or over when they were issued), finish your hours and pass the Hazard Perception Test. You can try the HPT after 3 months on your Ls. The first attempt is free. If you fail, wait 24 hours and pay a fee to try again.
- P1 (red plates, 1 year): from 11 pm to 5 am you may carry only one passenger aged 16 to 22, with exemptions for work, school and family. No trailer over 750 kg.
- P2 (green plates, 2 years).
- All P drivers: no alcohol or drugs, no phone use including hands-free, and plates of the right colour front and rear.
- Demerit points: 4 or more in 3 years can lead to suspension or disqualification for L and P drivers.