Getting your Australian Capital Territory learner licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say the minimum age to apply for ACT Ls.
• You can list the steps you must finish before visiting Access Canberra.
• You can describe the kinds of identity and residency documents you need.
• You can explain the rules for displaying L plates.
• You can state the main conditions that apply to learners and their supervisors.

What you need to know and understand

• You can apply for a learner car licence from 15 years and 9 months of age.
• You must complete the Pre-Learner Licence Course and pass the Road Rules Knowledge Test first.
• The Pre-Learner Licence Course is a 10-hour program, usually done at school or through an approved provider.
• You apply in person at an Access Canberra Service Centre with proof of identity and residency, your course and test certificates, an eyesight test and the licence fee.
• At the counter you get a temporary licence, a logbook and a set of L plates. Your licence card is posted to you and can take up to 21 business days.
• Learner licences issued from 1 January 2020 are valid for 5 years. To renew one, you must pass the Road Rules Knowledge Test again.
• L plates go on the front and rear of the car, where other drivers can clearly see them.

Before you visit Access Canberra

The Pre-Learner Licence Course has four modules covering risky decisions, speed, alcohol and drugs, trip planning, hazards, vulnerable road users and the ACT licensing steps. To finish it you attend every module, pass a 35-question multiple-choice assessment and pass the Road Rules Knowledge Test. Some providers offer the course free or at a reduced price for eligible people.

• Read the ACT Road Rules Handbook before the test.
• Keep your course and test certificates safe; you need them to apply.
• Check current fees on the Access Canberra fee list, as they change each year.

What to bring on the day

You will also do an eyesight test at the counter. Access Canberra can change its list of accepted documents, so check it before you go.

• Proof of identity documents from the list Access Canberra accepts.
• Proof of your ACT residential address. If you are under 18 and have nothing showing your address, a parent or guardian can come with you and sign a declaration that you live with them.
• Your Pre-Learner Licence Course and Road Rules Knowledge Test certificates.
• Payment for the learner licence fee.

Your first drives on Ls

• Always have a supervisor with a full Australian licence in the front passenger seat.
• Zero alcohol for you and your supervisor, and no drugs.
• No mobile phone use at all, including hands-free or speaker mode.
• Do not tow a trailer over 750 kg.
• There is no passenger limit for learners, but every passenger must be properly restrained.

Common mistakes

• Turning up without the right identity and address documents. Check the accepted list before you go.
• Placing L plates behind wiper arms or tinted glass. They must be clearly visible from in front and behind.
• Letting a friend on a provisional licence supervise you. The supervisor must hold a full Australian licence.
• Leaving L plates on when a fully licensed person drives the car. Only a learner may drive with L plates showing.

Test yourself: Getting your Australian Capital Territory learner licence

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• ACT Pre-Learner Course and Road Rules Test
• Learning to Drive in the ACT