Photo: Nick-D, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To get your Ls in the ACT you must finish the Pre-Learner Licence Course and pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test. This guide covers what the 10-hour course involves, where to do it (including free options), how the test works and what to bring to Access Canberra afterwards.
Who needs the pre-learner course?
Every new ACT car learner. To get a learner licence you must:
- be at least 15 years and 9 months old
- complete the Pre-Learner Licence Course and pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test
- provide proof of identity and residency
- pass an eye test at an Access Canberra Service Centre and pay the fee
What is in the ACT Pre-Learner Licence Course?
It is a 10-hour program in four modules:
| Module | Length | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Drive to arrive | 4 hours | How risky decisions lead to crashes, speeding, alcohol and drugs, how your choices affect passengers and others |
| 2. Prepare to drive | 1.5 hours | Checking the car and yourself before a trip, tiredness and time pressure, emergencies, choosing a safe car |
| 3. Drive time | 2.5 hours | Keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe, spotting hazards early, phone distraction, seatbelts and airbags |
| 4. Drive rules and tools | 1 hour | The steps to Ls and Ps, common ACT road rules, building supervised hours |
To pass, you must attend every module, pass a 35-question multiple-choice course assessment and pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test.
Where can I do the pre-learner course in Canberra?
Most high school and college students do it at school, and some ACT schools offer it free to Year 10 students as part of the curriculum. Otherwise, book with an approved provider. City Services lists them:
- No fee: Belconnen Youth Centre, MARSS Australia, Multicultural Hub Canberra, Northside Community Service, Youth Engagement Team (Woden Community Service), YWCA Canberra.
- Fee charged: ACT Driving Solutions, Canberra Institute of Technology, Fifth Gear Motoring, L2PP Driving Coaching School, Licence Factory, Lotus Driving School Canberra, Online Driving Courses, Pinnacle Driving School, Road Ready Centre.
City Services notes some providers offer the course free or subsidised for eligible participants. The list can change, so check the current one on the City Services “Learner and provisional driver safety” page before booking.
How does the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test work?
You sit it with your course provider (or at school). The ACT Road Rules Handbook (2019 edition) describes the knowledge test as 35 multiple-choice questions. Some are mandatory questions you must answer correctly, and on the rest you can get four wrong. Confirm the current format with your provider, because the handbook predates the current course.
The handbook also warns that many questions need common-sense answers, so read each one carefully rather than rushing.
How to prepare
- Read the ACT Road Rules Handbook. City Services says this is what you should study for the test. Our ACT Road Rules Handbook study guide breaks it down part by part.
- Practise on the Licence Knowledge Trainer at safeplatestesting.act.gov.au. It has 377 questions across car general, alcohol and drugs, intersections, seat belts, driving general and vulnerable road users.
- Focus on give way rules, roundabouts and crossings. Intersections are one of the Knowledge Trainer categories, and give way rules are also a competency in your driving assessment. See giving way in Australia.
After you pass: applying for your Ls
Take these to an Access Canberra Service Centre:
- the certificate showing you passed the ACT Road Rules Test (and course certificate)
- proof of identity and residency documents
- payment: the learner licence fee is $65.50 (as at 1 July 2026)
You will do an eye test on the day. If you are under 18 and have no documents showing your address, a parent or legal guardian can come with you and sign a declaration that you live with them. You leave with a temporary licence, a logbook and L plates; the card is posted within about 21 business days.
How long is the test result valid?
| Item | Valid for |
|---|---|
| ACT Road Rules Test result | 2 years |
| Learner licence | 5 years |
If you need to renew your learner licence, you must pass a new ACT Road Rules Test first.
Common questions
Is the pre-learner course free in the ACT?
It can be. Some schools run it free for Year 10 students, and several community providers on the City Services list charge no fee. Private driving schools set their own prices.
Can I do the course before I turn 15 years and 9 months?
The minimum age applies to the learner licence itself. Ask your provider about their own age entry rules, and remember the test result lasts 2 years, so timing it close to 15 years 9 months makes sense.
Can I do the ACT pre-learner course online?
One approved provider is called Online Driving Courses. Check each provider’s delivery format when you book, as the City Services list does not state it.
What happens if I fail the knowledge test?
Your provider handles resits. Contact them about their resit arrangements and any cost.
Does the pre-learner course count towards my logbook hours?
No. Access Canberra lists only instructor hours, the Safer Driver Course, the Vulnerable Road User Program and the Learner Driver First Aid Program as credit. See ACT logbook hours and credits.
Can I drive straight after passing the test?
Not until Access Canberra issues your learner licence. Once it does, you must display L plates and have a full Australian licence holder beside you. See ACT learner and P plate rules.
Back to the main guide: learning to drive in the ACT.
Sources
- Access Canberra, “Get your learner driver licence” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- Access Canberra, “Driver licence fees” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- City Services, “Learner and provisional driver safety” (cityservices.act.gov.au)
- Safe Plates Testing, “Licence Knowledge Questions” (safeplatestesting.act.gov.au)