How licensing works in the NT
The Northern Territory has three main stages. You start with a learner licence (L plates), then hold a provisional licence (P plates), then get an open licence. Licensing is handled by the Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR).
| Stage | Minimum age | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Learner licence | 16 | Pass an eyesight test and the 30-question road rules test. Zero BAC, 80 km/h maximum. |
| Practical driving test | After 6 months on Ls | Taken with an authorised driving examiner. |
| Provisional licence | After the practical test | 2 years if under 25, or 1 year if 25 or over. Zero BAC, 100 km/h maximum. |
| Open licence | After Ps | Z condition (zero BAC) for 12 months or until 25, whichever is sooner. |
The Driver Knowledge Test
First you become an MVR customer. Bring evidence of your identity and that you live in the NT, and an MVR officer takes your photo. Then you pass an eyesight test (or give a recent eye exam report from a doctor or optometrist) and the Driver Knowledge Test.
- 30 multiple-choice questions, picked at random from a bank of over 300.
- Pass mark: 26 of 30.
- Sit it at any MVR office, up to one hour before closing. Pay the test fee first.
- You can sit it only once a day, and you pay for each attempt.
- Cheating means an instant fail and a two-week ban.
- A verbal test is available, with or without an interpreter, if reading or writing English is hard for you.
- A pass stays valid for 12 months if you do not apply for your Ls straight away.
Give way: let traffic you must give way to go first. Stop: stop completely, then give way.
Rules for learner drivers
- Alcohol: your BAC must be zero.
- Speed: never over 80 km/h, even where the limit is higher. Obey any lower limit.
- L plates: black L on yellow, at the front and rear of the car, and on a trailer if you tow one.
- Phones: no use of any phone function, including hands-free or loudspeaker.
- Licence: carry your learner licence at all times when driving.
- Seatbelts: everyone in the car must wear a seatbelt or approved child restraint.
Your supervising driver
- Must sit in the front passenger seat at all times.
- Must hold a current full Australian licence. A provisional licence does not count.
- Can be a relative, a friend or a driving instructor.
- A fully licensed supervisor must have a BAC below 0.05%. A professional instructor must have zero.
How much practice?
The NT Government suggests 20 or more hours to learn the car's controls and about 80 more hours to become a low-risk driver. You must hold your learner licence for at least 6 continuous months before the practical test. The DriveSafe NT program fits inside this time and offers subsidised lessons and fees.
Your provisional licence and beyond
After you pass the practical driving test with an authorised driving examiner, take your test sheet to an MVR office and pay the provisional licence fee.
- How long: 2 years if you are under 25, or 1 year if you are 25 or over.
- Alcohol: zero BAC.
- Speed: never over 100 km/h.
- P plates: at the front and rear of the car.
The Z condition and a free licence
When your Ps end, a Z condition keeps your BAC at zero for 12 months or until you turn 25, whichever is sooner. If you held your Ps for 12 months or more with no infringements or suspensions, you can get a free 10-year open licence if you apply on time.
Breaking your L or P conditions can cost you your licence, so learn them as well as the road rules. The practical test checks that you can drive safely on your own, so practise in the places and conditions you will really drive in, including at night and on country roads.