GUIDE TO GETTING YOUR LICENCE

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Getting a car driver’s licence involves gradually progressing through a series of stages until you qualify for a full licence.

There is a different process for:

• returning drivers 

• transferring an interstate and overseas licence

• motorcycle licence.

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STEP 1 Check you can get your licence

 

Through all the getting a driver's licence stages you must:

• meet the age and time requirements

• be medically fit to drive

• not be disqualified from driving.

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STEP 2 Apply for a learner's permit

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You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old to start the process of completing and passing a learner's theory test before you can get your learner's permit (L's).

 

You can only be issued a learner's permit when you are at least 16 years old.

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To get your L's you'll need to:

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Your learner's permit will be valid for 2 years.

• study for and pass a theory test

• attend a Service SA customer service centre to provide evidence of identity, have your photo taken, and apply for your learner's permit.

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STEP 3 Driving on your L's and progressing to a provisional licence

 

Having your learner's permit means you're allowed to drive a car on the road with a qualified supervising driver or driving instructor but there are conditions.

To get a P1 provisional licence you must:

• have a learner's permit for at least:

  • 12 months if you're between 17 and 24 years old

  • 6 months if you're at least 25 years old​

• complete at least 75 hours of driving including a minimum of 15 hours at night with a qualified supervising driver or a driving instructor. This must be recorded in a log book.

• pass either a:

  • Vehicle on Road Test (VORT)  practical driving test with a VORT authorised examiner

  • Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) course

• get a certificate of competency for passing either the VORT test or CBT&A course.​

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STEP 4 Apply for a provisional licence

 

Book an appointment to do a hazard perception test at a Service SA customer service centre.

Take the required documentation with you to the customer service centre:

• learner's permit

• certificate of competency

• Driving Companion with your completed declaration showing completion of the compulsory driving hours

• a completed application form 

Once you've passed the test at the centre you'll be issued a provisional licence (P's).

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STEP 5 Driving on your P's

 

Your provisional licence is valid for 3 years  - P1 for 1 year and P2 for 2 years.

On your P's you can drive independently, without a supervising driver but there are conditions.

If you're eligible your P1 licence will automatically be upgraded to a P2 licence when both of these apply:

• you're at least 18 years old

• you've held a P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months

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STEP 6 Full licence

 

When you are due to progress to your full driver's licence, a licence renewal notice will be automatically posted to you. Your provisional conditions will finish midnight of the expiry of your P2 licence.

You must:

• be at least 20 years old

• held a provisional licence for at least 3 years - including at least 12 months on P1 and at least 2 years on P2.

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