Photo: Mark Direen, Pexels
To get a learner licence in Tasmania you must pass the driver knowledge test. You can take it online at the end of the free Plates Plus course, or sit the standalone version at a Service Tasmania shop. This page is for pre-learners aged 15 and over. It covers the age rules, how the course works, the pass mark, what happens if you fail and what to bring when you collect your Ls.
Key facts
- You can start from 15 years and 11 months. The learner licence is issued from age 16.
- The Plates Plus course takes about four to six hours, and you can do it in short sessions.
- The online test has 30 questions. You need 27 correct to pass, and no question is compulsory.
- Allow 30 to 40 minutes. You must finish the test in one sitting.
- If you fail online, you wait 12 hours before the next attempt.
- The course and test are free. You pay only the learner licence fee: $40.68 as of November 2026.
- There is no practice test for the new car knowledge test.
Two ways to take the Tasmanian driver knowledge test
| Plates Plus course and online test | Standalone test at Service Tasmania | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Any phone, tablet or computer with internet | Any Service Tasmania shop |
| Course required first? | Yes. You unlock the test by earning three keys | No |
| What to bring | Client ID and date of birth to log in | Evidence of identity |
| If you fail | Retry online after 12 hours | Resit in a shop the next business day, or switch to the online course and test after 12 hours |
| Interpreter | You can do it with someone who translates for you | A professional interpreter is free |
| Pass rate | Higher | The department says standalone candidates are unlikely to pass |
The department recommends the online course for most people.
How the Plates Plus course works
- Get a client ID. Apply online through the Plates Plus login page (sent within one to two business days) or visit a Service Tasmania shop with your evidence of identity.
- Log in with your client ID and date of birth. Your progress saves as you go, so you can stop and come back on any device.
- Start with “Your driving attitude”. After that you can do the other sections in any order.
- Earn the three keys by passing the quizzes, activities and the challenge in each section: Your driving attitude, Signs and rules, and Sharing the road.
- Sit the driver knowledge test once all three keys are unlocked.
The course goes beyond the road rules. It covers the “fatal five” (speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, fatigue, distraction, and drink and drug driving) and uses 3D in-car scenes set in Tasmania. You have 12 months from enrolment to finish the course and pass the test. Enrolment opens at 15 years and 11 months, so you can be ready to collect your Ls on your 16th birthday.
What is the pass mark for the Tasmanian knowledge test?
You need at least 27 out of 30 on the Plates Plus driver knowledge test. Some questions have more than one correct answer. Each question has a hint telling you this, and you must select every correct answer to get the mark. After the test you get feedback on each question.
The test must be done in one go. Don’t refresh the page or use the back button. If your device crashes, you can restart on another device and you will not be locked out, but you lose your progress.
Is there a practice test?
No. There is no practice version of the new car driver knowledge test. The Plates Plus course works as ongoing practice. To prepare for either test:
- read the Tasmanian Road Rules handbook (see our handbook study guide)
- watch the official learn to drive videos, which come in English and four other languages
- look through the Example Driver Knowledge Questions PDF on the Transport Services knowledge test page.
The practice test on the Transport Services site is for motorcycles, not cars.
After you pass: collecting your learner licence
Within 12 months of passing online, go to a Service Tasmania shop. If you sat the standalone test, staff check your eligibility on the spot. Then you:
- show your evidence of identity
- have your photo and signature taken
- complete a form telling the Registrar of Motor Vehicles about any medical conditions that may affect your driving
- take an eye test
- pay the learner licence fee ($40.68 as of November 2026).
If you pass before you turn 16, come back on or after your birthday. Then read the Tasmanian learner rules and 80 logbook hours before your first drive.
Common questions
How many questions are on the Tasmanian learner test?
The Plates Plus driver knowledge test has 30 questions and you need 27 right. There are no compulsory questions.
Can I do the knowledge test at home?
Yes. The Plates Plus course and test work on most phones, tablets and computers. You need about 1.5 Mbps download speed, and the whole course downloads around 1.5 GB. Service Tasmania shops, libraries and schools have public computers.
How long do I have to wait after failing?
Online, 12 hours. At a Service Tasmania shop, you can resit the standalone test the next business day.
Can I switch to the online course if I fail at Service Tasmania?
Yes. The printout with your test ID also shows your client ID, which you use to log in to Plates Plus.
Can someone help me with the course?
The department encourages you to talk through road safety ideas with family while you do the course. Support staff will not give you test answers.
Can I use Plates Plus for a motorcycle licence?
No. It covers the car learner licence only.
Back to the full pathway: learning to drive in Tasmania. To see how other states test learners, read learner licence rules compared.
Sources
- Department of State Growth, “Getting your learner licence” (platesplus.tas.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth, “Course frequently asked questions” (platesplus.tas.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth, “Plates Plus platform factsheet” (platesplus.tas.gov.au)
- Transport Services Tasmania, “Driver knowledge test” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Transport Services Tasmania, “Licensing and assessment fees” (transport.tas.gov.au)