Obtaining a driver’s license in Victoria, Australia has quite a few steps to it and that can be confusing if you are not aware of the process. How long it can take before you are eligible for unrestricted driving in Victoria really depends on you and how much time you can devote to meeting the required training hours and passing the tests. You will undoubtedly cut that time down to the minimum if you opt to enlist help from the Safe N Smart Driving School Wollert experts, who serve much of the Melbourne North area and have helped hundreds of new drivers pass their VicRoads drive tests as quickly as possible with most of them accomplishing it in the very first attempt. Here is a general outline of what will be involved in your quest for the freedom and independence that driving in Victoria, Australia gives you.
Driving In Australia - Victoria
The minimum age to become fully licensed for an unrestricted driver’s license in Australia - in the state of Victoria - is 18, but you can obtain a learner’s permit for supervised driving in Australia at 16. Trust our expert Driving Instructors at Safe N Smart Driving School Wollert when we tell you that you will want a head start on your driving experience by starting as early as possible because waiting until you are 18 will not automatically make you eligible for any privileges. There is a certain age that you can skip some of the processes, but that is several years away and it behoves you to begin earning your Ls and Ps now! Here is a breakdown of the Ls and Ps driver’s license in Australia scheme:
Your Ls: Learner Permits
A learner’s permit can be issued to a driver who is over 16 years of age. This will give you permission for driving in Victoria, Australia so long as you are accompanied by a supervising driver who has a full driver’s license in Australia. The first step you will need to complete is passing a Learner Permit Test. This test can be taken online by booking it with VicRoads.
For the online Learner Permit Test, you should expect to spend 4 to 6 hours with training that includes the basic rules of the road in Australia, followed by an assessment test. The in-person test will generally take the same amount of time and cover the same material.
Some of the other requirements you must follow when driving in Victoria, Australia with a learner’s permit are never consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel, not towing a trailer, and having clearly identifiable “L” plates displayed on your vehicle at all times.
At Safe N Smart Driving School Wollert, we can give you valuable training during your learner’s permit phase that will make passing your future driving tests much more likely and easier. Before you can move on to the next stage, learning drivers who are under 21 years of age need to record in their learner’s logbook at least 120 hours of supervised driving as well as 20 hours of night driving in Australia. At Safe N Smart Driving School Wollert, our driving instructors can help you immensely in this area, as we have several driver training course packages available to suit many learners and their schedules.
The minimum period a learner’s permit must be held continuously before you can advance to the next stages varies by age:
Under 21: 12 months
21 to under 25: 6 months
25 or older: 3 months
Your Ps: Probationary Licenses
There are two probationary “P” type licenses you will obtain before you are driving in Australia unrestricted: the red P1 and green P2 licenses. To be eligible, drivers must be at least 18 years of age, have held a learner’s permit for 12 months, and have logged the necessary hours for both day and night driving - you can view all of the eligibility requirements at the VicRoads website here.
The P1 probationary license requires drivers to consume no alcohol, tow no trailers except for work purposes, and display white-on-red “P” plates on their vehicle at all times. You also must first pass a computerized Hazard Perception Test, as well as an eyesight test and a driver’s test. There are also limitations on the type of vehicle you can drive (generally nothing over 6-cylinders) and how many underage passengers you can carry.
The P2 probationary license has a minimum age requirement of 19 before you are able to obtain one. The same restrictions generally apply, except that you are allowed to tow trailers outside of a work setting. Your plates that must be displayed on your vehicle at all times also change - the white-on-green- “P” plates are now required.
The conditional period of time that drivers must continuously hold a “P” license before they can advance to a full-fledged driver’s license in Australia (Victoria) varies by age:
Under 21: A 4-year probationary license with 12 months at the P1 level and 3 years at the P2 level.
21 or older: A 3-year probationary license at the P2 level.
Preparing For The VicRoads Drive Test
Getting into the Ps is the goal of every new driver in Victoria, and maintaining a good driving record during that probationary period is critical to move on to the kind of freedom that comes with unrestricted driving. At Safe N Smart Driving School Wollert, we can help give you the instruction and assessment you need to complete every stage of the journey. There is a lot of information and skills that you must master in order to pass the VicRoads drive test, and the surest way to pass with the required 80% or above is with our dedicated instructors at Safe ‘N’ Smart Driving School!
We have many service locations all throughout Victoria including Coolaroo, Bundoora, Broadmeadows, Craigieburn, Mernda, Lalor, Reservoir, Mickleham, Epping, Wollert, Mill Park, Thomastown, South Morang and many more northern suburbs of Melbourne, and the quickest way to become certified for driving in Victoria, Australia is with our help. Book now for one of our many driving lesson and test packages and gain the valuable experience and skills necessary to operate safely on the open road. You can view all of our links for appointments and our services and rates at safensmart.com.au.