The Cost of Getting Your Driving Licence in Every State

Learning to drive is an essential life skill that unlocks greater independence and opens up new opportunities. However, obtaining your driving licence comes at a cost - a cost that significantly differs based on where you live! 

So how much does it cost to get your driving licence? We’ve crunched the price of taking the necessary tests, obtaining the correct licences and the average price of lessons in each state to reveal exactly how much you need to spend to get your driving licence across Australia. 

South Australia is named the most expensive state to get your driving licence 

The research finds that getting your licence costs approximately $1,300 in South Australia. This is 40% higher than the cost to learn to drive in Queensland, the second most expensive state, and 780% more expensive than the cheapest state, Northern Territory. 

The largest proportion of the investment in learning to drive in South Australia goes into lessons. However, even without taking lessons into account, South Australia ranks top of the list of states where it is most expensive to obtain your licence, at $649 in total. 

Outside of lessons, the most expensive part of getting your licence in South Australia is the driving test to acquire your P1 Licence, which costs an average of $258, the most costly test out of all states by more than double. 

Northern Territory has the lowest cost for getting your driving licence 

Those learning to drive in the Northern Territory are lucky enough to benefit from the DriveSafe program. For $110 learners receive education and training from qualified driving instructors, along with over $600 in subsidies towards obtaining a driver's licence, including $500 of e-vouchers for driving lessons and two Practical Driving Assessment attempts. The only additional cost students are required to pay is for a full licence, which costs $38 for one year. 

When the cost of lessons isn’t considered, Victoria is the cheapest state to get your full licence. The Learner Permit fee, Probationary Licence and first attempts at the Learner Permit and Hazard Perception Test are waived under the Motorist Package and Safe Driver Program. You can also get a free 3-year licence under the Free Licence Scheme if you meet the listed criteria. 

The Value of Professional Driving Lessons

The investment in driving lessons comprises the largest portion of the cost of getting a driving licence in all states, but is arguably one of the most crucial steps towards becoming a skilled and confident driver, and can set you up for cost savings down the road. The average price of a one-hour driving lesson in Australia is currently $80 and the average learner driver takes six lessons with a professional instructor. 

Professional lessons are essential for mastering safe and correct driving techniques. In the short term, driving lessons can increase your likelihood of passing your driving test on the first go, reducing the cost (and stress!) of taking retests. Professional driving instructors know exactly what the test examiner is going to look for in your driving test and some instructors may even be able to tell you the expected route of a driving test at a specific service centre. Also, in some states like NSW, QLD and ACT, professional driving lessons can help you to get your licence faster by taking advantage of the 3 for 1 bonus logbook scheme.  And in the long term, investing in professional driving lessons can help you to save on your insurance bill and avoid fines on the road by ensuring your driving techniques and habits are as safe as possible. 

Our previous research found that South Australia is home to the most expensive driving lessons, costing $109 per hour on average. Meanwhile, outside of the Northern Territory, Tasmania has the cheapest lesson costs at $69.44 per hour. 

To help make the journey to getting your licence as affordable as possible make sure to compare the cost of driving instructors in your local area. 

Additional costs of getting your licence 

Western Australia comes top for the cost of your L licence, at $143.30. However, this price includes the cost of your first Practical Driving Assessment. The only extra you’ll have to pay before passing this test is your hazard perception, which costs $28.40.

New South Wales, in cities such as Sydney, is where learner drivers pay the most for their P1 licence ($69). Meanwhile, Adelaide and South Australia is the state where a P2 Licence is most expensive ($109) and Queensland, in areas such as Brisbane, is home to the most expensive full licence ($88.55). 

Western Australian cities such as Perth, Tasmanian cities such as Hobart, and Victorian cities such as Melbourne all offer safe drive discounts which can help reduce the cost of obtaining your licence by up to $46 - another reason why taking driving lessons is great for your bank balance in the long run! 

 

About the data

• Data is obtained by each state's governing body for licence and testing fees. 
• Prices provided take into account 1st time pass for each test, for drivers under 25 years old.
• Separate pricing of each journey is provided for 
  • Total Regular Cost
  • Total with 6 Driving Lessons
  • Total with 6 Driving Lessons + Safe Driving Discounts
• Lesson costs are based on the average price per hour of driving lessons booked on the EzLicence platform between Jan 1 - May 19 2024. EzLicence does not operate in NT, therefore no data is provided for this measure.
• Prices provided are inclusive of GST
• Prices provided are correct as of 15th July, 2024
• State specific pricing notes are included here.