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Licencing

From OCAU Wiki

Driving licences are granted by the state governments. For more information visit their respective websites.

Contents

New South Wales

Learner licence

Minimum age

You can apply for your Learner licence from the age of 16.

How do you get it?

Sit your Driver Knowledge Test (DKT). This is a computer-based, multiple-choice test.

Period

Your learner's permit lasts for 3 years. You must complete 120 hours of logged driving (which includes 20 hours of night driving), hold your learner's permit for at least 12 months (drivers over 25 are exempt from the tenure requirement), and be at least 17 before you can go for your Provisional (P1) licence.

Major conditions and restrictions

  • You must be supervised at all times by someone holding a full Australian driver's licence while driving. This person must be in a fit state to drive (ie: under 0.05 BAC etc..)
  • You must display L plates at all times while driving ("If placing L signs on windows, they must be held against the glass, be displayed conspicuously in the lower left-hand (passenger) side of the windscreen and on the lower left-hand side of the rear facing window and must not be placed on any other part of the window area")
  • You must not travel faster than 80km/h
  • You must not tow another vehicle
  • You must not accumulate any demerit points
  • You must be 0.00 BAC (You cannot consume any alcohol prior to driving)

There are other conditions. Check the Learner licence link above.

Provisional (P1) licence

Minimum age

You can apply for your Provisional (P1) licence from the age of 17.

How do you get it?

After meeting the Learner licence requirements, you can take your Driving Ability Road Test (DART). This is a driving test (usually lasting 20-30 minutes) which involves a number of the concepts outlined in the DART handbook, available from any motor registry (e.g. 3-point turns, reverse parallel parking, roundabouts, stop signs, etc free driving test video tutorials)

Period

Your Provisional (P1) licence lasts 18 months. After 12 months, you are eligible to go for your Provisional (P2) licence.

Major conditions and restrictions

  • You must display a P1 Plate (red P on white background) at the front and rear of your car, in the same way as L plates are displayed.
  • You must not travel faster than 90km/h.
  • You must not tow a trailer of more than 250kg unloaded weight.
  • You must be 0.00 BAC (No Drinking before driving)
  • You must not accumulate more than 3 demerit points.
  • You must not drive a manual vehicle, unless you took your DART in a manual vehicle.
  • Prohibited to drive any cars listed here (pdf):
    • Eight or more cylinders.
    • A turbocharged engine.
    • A supercharged engine.
    • Engine performance modifications.
    • Certain high performance six cylinder engine vehicles.
  • Passenger condition - Once provisional (P1 and P2) drivers are disqualified for a driving offence that is committed on or after 11 July 2005 and have served the disqualification period, the provisional licence holder will be restricted from carrying more than one passenger when driving. This condition will apply for 12 months.
  • There are other conditions. Check the Provisional (P1) licence link above.

Provisional (P2) licence

Minimum age

You can apply for your Provisional (P2) licence from the age of 18.

How do you get it?

After holding your Provisional (P1) licence for a minimum of 12 months, you can sit for your Hazard Perception Test (HPT). This is a touch-screen computer-based video test, which examines your ability to respond to hazards. For example: "You are travelling in a 100km/h zone, touch the screen when/if you would overtake".

Period

Your provisional (P2) licence lasts for 30 months. After 24 months, you are eligible to go for your full (unrestricted licence).

Major conditions and restrictions

  • You must display a P2 Plate (green P on white background) at the front and rear of your car, in the same way as L and P1 plates are displayed.
  • You must not travel faster than 100km/h.
  • You must be under 0.00 BAC (ie: you can not drink anything prior to driving).
  • You must not accumulate more than 6 demerit points.
  • Prohibited to drive any cars listed here (pdf):
    • Eight or more cylinders.
    • A turbocharged engine.
    • A supercharged engine.
    • Engine performance modifications.
    • Certain high performance six cylinder engine vehicles.
  • Passenger condition - Once provisional (P1 and P2) drivers are disqualified for a driving offence that is committed on or after 11 July 2005 and have served the disqualification period, the provisional licence holder will be restricted from carrying more than one passenger when driving. This condition will apply for 12 months.

Full licence

Minimum age

You can apply for your Full licence from the age of 20.

How do you get it?

After holding your Provisional (P2) licence for a minimum of 24 months, you can sit for your Driver Qualification Test (DQT). This is a two part test - one part consisting of 10 multiple choice questions about hazard perception, the other a touch-screen computer-based video test, which is similar to the HPT, but more involved (including multiple responses per video).

Period

Upon successful completion, you receive your unrestricted Silver licence (which lasts for 1 or 3 years). If you hold this for a period of 5 continuous years, you may then get your Gold licence, which lasts for 5 years. Although there is no functional difference between the Silver and Gold, the Gold license is marginally cheaper than the Silver on a per annum basis.

Major conditions and restrictions

  • You must not travel faster than 110km/h in NSW.
  • You must be under 0.05 BAC.
  • You must not accumulate more than 11 demerit points.

How do Demerit Points work?

Provided you have no prior driving offences, you start with 0 demerit points. The following is a rundown of the demerit point limits you are given on each licence class:

  • Learner licence - Learner licences do not operate on a points scheme. If you are issued with numerous infringements, the RTA can cancel your licence at their discretion.
  • Provisional (P1) licence - 4
  • Provisional (P2) licence - 7
  • Full licence - 12

Once you reach this limit, your licence is suspended. For example, if you are on a P1 licence, and you accumulate 3 demerit points, you may continue to drive (carefully!), because your licence is only suspended if you reach 4 demerit points. If this happens you are suspended from driving. On a provisional licence, the suspension period is three months.

On a full licence, the suspension periods are as follows:

  • 12 to 15 points: 3 months
  • 16 to 19 points: 4 months
  • 20 or more points: 5 months

If you receive any demerit points on your full licence, and those points don't cause your licence to be suspended, you retain those demerit points for 3 years. They are cleared 3 years from the date they were given.

You can check the status of your demerit points here.

How many points do I lose for road offenses?

(As of June 2005) Note: The fines below are for light vehicles only. Heavier fines apply for trucks, coaches and heavy vehicles.

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/penalties/demeritpoints/index.html

  • Not more than 15km/h over the speed limit - 3 points + $75 fine.
  • More than 15km/h over, but not more than 30kmh over - 3 points + $208 fine.
  • More than 30km/h over, but not more than 45km/h over - 4 points + $579 fine + automatic 3 month suspension.
  • More than 45km/h over - 6 points + $1,5597+ automatic 6 month suspension.
  • More than 130km/h, but not more than 140km/h in a 110km/h zone (for drivers whose speed is not restricted, i.e., full licence holders) - Automatic 1 month suspension.
  • Double Demerit periods: "On declared public holiday long weekend periods in NSW the demerit points for all speeding, seat belt, child restraint and helmet offences are doubled, and all other offences increase by one demerit point."

FAQ

Q: What are "Blacks"?

A: "Blacks" is a slang term used to describe a full licence. There is no "black" licence. There are only Silver, Gold and Magenta full licences.

Q: I'm 21, and I'm on my Green Ps. I've had my provisional licence (P1+P2) for more than three years. What is my BAC restriction?

A: It is 0.00, apply for your full licence.

Q: I'm on my P2 licence. I have accumulated 6 demerit points. Can I still drive?

A: Yes, but don't screw up. Your next offence will cause you to lose your licence.

Q: My mate said if I receive a speeding fine, I should send them a cheque for 50c more than the fine. Then, when they send me the 50c refund, as long as I don't cash it, I'll never lose the points. Is that true?

A: NO!

Q: Are all my demerit points cleared from my record when I complete a period of suspension?

A: Only demerit points that contributed to your suspension period will be cleared from your record. These will be the ones shown on your Notice of Suspension document issued by the RTA. If other offences are recorded after a Notice of Suspension is issued, the points for those offences will remain on your record (from the RTA website).

Victoria

Western Australia

South Australia

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