Applying for a learner permit or driver licence in Qld

Applying for a learner licence in Queensland

In Queensland’s Graduated Licensing System, you can get a car learner licence from 16 years of age. You need to apply for a learner licence before driving a car.

To apply for a learner licence, visit a driver licence-issuing centre (such as a Queensland Transport Customer Service Centre) and:

complete an application form
show proof of your identity through primary (e.g. birth certificate, passport) and secondary identification (e.g. bank or credit card with your signature)
prove your date of birth and where you live
pass an eyesight test (if required)
pass a written learner licence test on road rules (30 multiple-choice questions)
pick up a learner licence kit, including a logbook

Holding a learner licence

A learner licence holder must have a licensed driver in the car with them at all times. This person must have held an open driver licence for the type of vehicle you're driving for at least one year.

Once you have your learner licence, you must gain at least 100 hours of supervised on-road driving experience over a 12-month period. This includes at least 10 hours of night driving.

You must hold your learner licence for a minimum of 12 months before you’re eligible for a provisional licence.

Learner driver logbooks

You must record your learner drives in a certified Queensland Transport logbook. Your supervising driver must verify each logbook entry.

If you lose your logbook, you will have to re-enter the details in a new logbook and have each entry certified by the supervising driver or driver trainer.

To avoid losing this valuable information, use the logbook in the learn2go program.

The learn2go program logbook lets you keep an online back up copy of your drives. All your drives are saved under your unique username so you’ll never lose the details.

If you’re a learner driver over 25 years of age, you’re not required to complete the logbook. However, you’re still encouraged to gain at least 100 hours of supervised on-road driving experience.

L plates for learner drivers

While driving, all learner licence holders must display an L plate on the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorcycle). L plates are available free from RACQ branches.

Applying for a provisional licence

To get a provisional licence you must:

be at least 17 years old
have completed and recorded at least 100 hours of supervised on-road driving, including 10 hours of night driving
lodge your logbook with Australia Post

Queensland Transport will review your logbook and advise whether you’re eligible to book your Q-SAFE practical driving assessment through a licence-issuing centre.

Provisional (P1 and P2) licences

Provisional licence holders under 25 years will start the first stage of the provisional period on a P1 licence. The P1 stage will be a minimum 12-month cumulative period and will have more restrictions and conditions than the second stage (P2).

A P1 provisional licence holder must:

display red P plates for a minimum 12 month period
carry only one passenger aged under 21 from 11pm to 5am (excluding immediate family members)
not use a mobile phone while driving, including hands-free kits and blue tooth
not allow passengers to use a mobile phone with a loudspeaker function
comply with high-powered vehicle restrictions, including
- vehicles with eight or more cylinders
- turbocharged vehicles (except diesel)
- supercharged vehicles (except diesel)
- vehicles with an engine output of more than 200kw
- vehicles with a rotary engine above 1146cc
- vehicles with an engine performance modification that is not standard to the original manufacturers vehicle specifications and requires approval from an approved person

If you are unsure whether a vehicle is restricted, or wish to apply for an exemption, contact Queensland Transport on 13 23 80.

To progress to the P2 stage, you must pass a hazard perception test. (Drivers over 25 years of age do not need to do a hazard perception test).

P2 licences

P2 provisional licence holders aged less than 25 years must:

display green P plates for the rest of the provisional licence period
continue to comply with high-powered vehicle restrictions (see P1)

P plates must be conspicuously displayed on both the front and rear of a vehicle. You can get free P plates from RACQ branches.

Open licence

Your age will determine how long you must hold your provisional licence before getting an open licence.

If you are:

under 23 years of age, you must hold a P1 licence for a minimum of one year (cumulative) and then a P2 licence for a minimum two years (cumulative), totalling three years on a provisional licence
at least 23 years but not 24 years of age, you must hold a P1 licence for a minimum of one year (cumulative) and then a P2 licence for one year (cumulative)
24 years, but not 25 years of age, you must hold a P1 licence for a minimum of one year (cumulative) before obtaining your open licence
25 years of age and over, you progress immediately to a P2 licence, to be held for one year (cumulative)

Print Version