How to Get Your ACT Driver’s Licence

Learning to drive can be daunting, but it’s one of life’s most important (and useful) skills. When you secure your full licence, not only will you enjoy a sense of achievement, but you’ll also gain a new sense of independence. Where you go is up to you. 

This guide breaks down how to get your ACT driver’s licence so you can get on the road as soon as possible.  

How Old Do I Have to Be to Start Driving?

In the ACT, you can start driving at the age of 15 years and 9 months. 

However, you won’t be able to obtain your provisional licence (your P1s) until you are at least 17 years of age. You must hold your learner’s licence for at least 12 months, or 6 months if you’re aged over 25. 

Things are a little different if you’re an overseas licence holder looking to obtain an ACT licence. Click here for more information.

How to Get Your Learner’s Licence in the ACT

To get your learner’s permit in the ACT, you must complete the Pre-Learner Licence Course and pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test, which is a computerised test.

The Pre-Learner Licence course is provided by most ACT schools as a part of the Year 10 curriculum, free of charge. If you missed out, it’s also available from various training providers in the ACT. Find a provider here. 

You’ll need to visit the Safe Plates Testing website to book your ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test. We highly recommend running through a few practice tests to check your knowledge for any gaps and get an idea of what to expect on the day. You can do a practice knowledge assessment here.

Once you’ve completed these steps, it’s time to head to an Access Canberra Service Centre to apply for your learner’s licence.

To apply, you must 

• complete an eye test and pass the minimum eyesight requirements
• provide a passed ACT Road Rules Knowledge test certificate
• provide proof of identity and residency
• pay the prescribed fee

If your application is successful, you’ll be mailed your new learner’s licence and licence pack. 

I Have My Ls — What Now?

Congratulations! It’s time to start learning the practical skills of driving a car. 

While on your learner’s licence, you need to:

• Display your ‘L’ plates on the front and back of the car
• Ensure the person supervising you has a full Australian driver’s licence
• Have a blood and breath alcohol concentration of zero
• Not exceed speed limits
• Not tow trailers over 750kg GVM

As a learner driver, you need to meet a set number of supervised driving hours, which must be recorded in your learner logbook. 

We recommend you start taking regular driving lessons with a qualified instructor as soon as possible. This will set you up with good driving habits and a thorough understanding of how to deal with road hazards. Professional driving lessons also give you the best chance of meeting the competency standards required to obtain your provisional licence.  

You can book a lesson with a qualified driving instructor at EzLicence. Choose from over 800 verified instructors (you can change your instructor anytime) through our 24/7 online booking and rescheduling system.

You can also complete additional road safety courses, which will act as additional credit that goes towards your supervised learner driving hours. 

How Many Driving Hours Do I Need with a Supervising Driver? 

For all learners who are under 25 years of age, you will need to log a minimum of 100 supervised driving hours, including at least 10 hours of night driving. 

For learners over 25 years of age, you will need to log a minimum of 50 supervised driving hours, including at least 5 hours of night driving.

In the ACT, a scheme allows you to receive up to 20 bonus log book hours if you take lessons with an ACT-accredited driving instructor. 

For every 1-hour structured driving lesson you complete with a licensed ACT driving instructor, you can record 3 hours of driving experience in your log book. A maximum of 10 hours of lessons will be accepted and can be recorded as 30 hours of driving experience.

 All of our EzLicence driving instructors in the ACT are able to support this scheme, so take your pick and get driving! 

How to Get Your Provisional Licence 

You’ve completed your learner hours, so what’s next?

It’s time to apply for your provisional licence. You can do this in two ways, by either

• completing the Competency-Based Training and Assessment with an ACT-accredited driving instructor who trains and assesses learners (CBT&A). In this course, you will tick off 22 different driving skills in your logbook with your instructor. 

or 

• by booking a practical driving assessment with a Government Licence Examiner. Here, you will undergo a 45-minute driving test, where you will be tested on a range of driving skills 

If your ACT Learner’s licence was issued before January 1st 2020, you must

• Have held your learner's licence for at least six months
• Be at least 17 years of age 
• Have completed the one-off practical driving assessment with a Government Assessor or the CBT&A

If your ACT learner licence was issued or renewed after January 1st 2020, and you have a car licence, you’ll be on the Graduated Licensing Scheme (GLS). 

GLS requirements for a provisional licence are as follows. You must

• Hold an active ACT learner’s licence for a minimum of 12 months (six months if you’re over age 25)
• Have completed the online Hazard Perception Test (can only be undertaken after 3 months of holding your active ACT learner’s licence)
• Have completed the driving hours and recorded them in your logbook
• Have completed the one-off practical driving assessment with a Government Assessor or the CBT&A

Interstate and Overseas Licence Holders

If you hold a licence from a non-approved country, you will need to complete the full Pre-Learner Licence Course before booking in for your driving assessment.

When you head in for your driving assessment, you’ll need to bring your foreign driver’s licence and international driving permit.  

If you’re attempting the assessment for the first time, you won’t have to complete the Hazard Perception test. 

However, if you have failed the assessment before, you will need to apply for an ACT learner’s licence and complete the Hazard Perception Test after 3 months of holding the learner’s licence. 

What is the Hazard Perception Test? 

The Hazard Perception Test (HPT) is an online test that measures your ability to detect and respond to dangerous situations on the road. 

You must complete the HPT prior to upgrading your Learner Licence to a Provisional Licence. You can sit the HPT once you have held your Ls for at least 3 months. Click here for the HPT (there’s also a section where you can sit practice questions).

Should I Do the Logbook (CBT&A) Method or Sit the Government One-Off Test? 

There are two pathways to getting your P’s in the ACT.

You can either choose the one-off practical assessment with a Government Licence Examiner or complete the CBT&A logbook course.

The main benefit of the government test is that it can help already-skilled drivers obtain their licence faster. However, there’s often a waiting period to sit the test, and if you fail the costs can add up quickly.

The logbook CBT&A approach allows you to progress at your own pace. You’ll be assessed on your final drive (a 30-minute test at the end of your training) by the same instructor that you’ve been practising with. 

Fortunately, you’re never locked into one method; you can switch whenever you like.

If you’re unsure, we recommend booking a driving lesson and asking your qualified EzLicence instructor for advice on which pathway works best for you.

Booking Your Driving Assessment 

So, you’ve decided on your assessment path, and you’re ready to book in.

First, make sure that you meet all of the requirements for your licence type and have completed all of the necessary training and steps. 

If you hold an ACT learner’s licence, you can book in for your assessment by calling the Access Canberra Service Centre on 13 22 81 or visiting an Access Canberra Service Centre.

If you hold an overseas or interstate licence, you must book in person at an Access Canberra Service Centre.

Be sure to arrive on time. If you’re more than five minutes late, the assessment will not be conducted, and you’ll need to book in and pay the full fee again. If you need to cancel or reschedule, be sure to give 48 hours notice. You may need to pay a fee. 

When you’re heading in for your driving assessment, you’ll need to supply a car that is 

• Registered
• Clean
• Roadworthy
• Displaying ‘L’ plates
• Fuelled for the 55-minute test
• Fitted with lap-sash seatbelts
• Fitted with a centre-mounted park brake that is accessible from the passenger seat 
• Clear of loose items

You will need to bring with you

• Your ACT learner’s licence or other proof of identity 
• Proof that you have completed the required driving hours (if applicable)
• Proof that you have passed the Hazard Perception Test (if applicable)
• Your licence history from your jurisdiction (interstate licence holders)
• Proof of identity and residency (interstate and overseas licence holders)
• Your foreign licence and international driving permit (overseas licence holders)
• Passed Pre-Learner Licence Course and Knowledge test certificates (overseas licence holders)

Taking Your Driving Assessment 

When you arrive for your test, make sure you have everything you need for the assessment. 

Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment. Your driving examiner will meet you in the Service Centre, and you will head out for your test. 

After your assessment, your examiner will let you know your result.

For successful ACT learner licence holders aged under 25, your P1 licence will be mailed to you. If you’re over 25, your P2 licence will be mailed to you. 

If you are unsuccessful as an ACT learner licence holder, you will be provided with verbal feedback and emailed your report. You will need to wait 48 hours before retaking the test. 

For successful overseas licence holders, you’ll need all of your identity documents (as outlined above) with you. Your ACT licence will be mailed to you. 

For unsuccessful overseas licence holders, you’ll be given feedback, and you will need to attend an Access Canberra Service Centre to be issued with an ACT Learner Licence. Once you have your learner licence, you will need to complete the requirements of the GLS before trying for your Provisional Licence again. 

Secure Your ACT Driver’s Licence  

Now that you know how to get your ACT driver’s licence, it’s time to kick things into gear.

Our EzLicence instructors in Canberra are ready to help you along the way. Visit our support page for additional information, or secure a spot with one of our qualified driving instructors.