Photo: Thennicke, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Before you can get your Ps in the ACT, your logbook must show 100 supervised driving hours, including 10 at night, if your learner licence was issued before you turned 25. If you were 25 or older, it is 50 hours including 5 at night. Instructor lessons and three optional courses can cut the real driving time a lot. Here is exactly how the credits work.
How many hours do you need for your ACT Ps?
| Your age when your Ls were issued | Total hours | Of which at night |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | 100 | 10 |
| 25 or older | 50 | 5 |
Access Canberra gives you a logbook with your learner licence. Record every drive in it. You bring the completed logbook to your assessment and to Access Canberra when you apply for your Ps.
Who can supervise you?
- Anyone with a valid full Australian driver licence: a parent, family member or friend, or an ACT Accredited Driving Instructor.
- They must sit in the front passenger seat.
- They must have zero alcohol and no drugs in their system.
How do the 3 for 1 instructor hours work in the ACT?
Each hour with an ACT Accredited Driving Instructor counts as 3 hours, for your first 10 instructor hours. That is 30 logbook hours from 10 lessons. After 10 hours, instructor time counts one for one. Hours with non-accredited instructors always count one for one.
Optional courses that earn credit
| Course | Credit | Who can do it | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safer Driver Course | 20 hours | Learners under 25 when their Ls were issued, after at least 3 months on Ls | 2.5-hour theory workshop plus a 1-hour practical drive with an accredited instructor, usually 2 learners per car |
| Vulnerable Road User Program | 10 hours | All learners, after 3 months on Ls | Self-directed learning, then a 2-hour workshop on sharing the road with cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians |
| Learner Driver First Aid Program | 5 hours | Learners who have held their Ls at least 3 months | One approved first aid course completed after 22 November 2023; some are free, formats vary |
For the Safer Driver Course, you must already have done either 10 hours with an accredited instructor or 30 hours with a supervisor before the practical component.
For first aid credit, take a printed certificate or the original electronic copy to Access Canberra. Photographs of the certificate are not accepted.
Worked example: the fewest real hours for an under-25
| Source | Real time | Logbook credit |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lessons with an accredited instructor | 10 hours | 30 hours |
| Safer Driver Course | 3.5 hours | 20 hours |
| Vulnerable Road User Program | About 2 hours plus self-study | 10 hours |
| Learner Driver First Aid | Course length varies | 5 hours |
| Supervised driving with family or friends (include all 10 night hours) | 35 hours | 35 hours |
| Total | 100 hours |
Credits are a way to reach the minimum, not a target. The one-off assessment page notes that more than half of people fail their driving test, and most learners need 10 to 15 lessons for CBT&A. Real practice in rain, at night and on busy roads is what gets you through.
Bringing hours from another state
If you transfer an interstate learner licence to the ACT, City Services says your previous driving hours and education are recognised. Bring the logbook issued by the other state or territory when you apply for your Ps.
Exemptions from the hours requirement
In exceptional cases you can apply to Access Canberra for an exemption from the required hours, but only if all of these apply:
- you were under 25 when your Ls were issued
- you have held your Ls for at least 6 months
- you have done at least 50 supervised hours
Grounds are serious impairment to your career, education or family business, or other exceptional circumstances, and you must show you have no other suitable transport. You cannot be exempted from the Hazard Perception Test or the driving assessment. If granted, your licence may carry restrictions, for example no unsupervised night driving if you lack night hours.
Common questions
Do night hours with an instructor count 3 for 1?
The official pages say each hour supervised by an ACT Accredited Driving Instructor gets 3 hours credit up to 10 hours, without separating day and night. Ask Access Canberra how credited hours count towards the night minimum before relying on it.
Does the pre-learner course give logbook credit?
No. Only instructor hours and the three optional courses above are listed as credit.
Can I do the Safer Driver Course if I am 25 or older?
No. It is limited to learners who were under 25 when their learner licence was issued. Older learners need only 50 hours anyway.
Do I still need the hours if I choose CBT&A?
Yes. CBT&A replaces the government test, not the hours or the Hazard Perception Test. See CBT&A or the one-off driving assessment.
What counts as night driving?
The Access Canberra pages do not define it. Check the instructions printed in your ACT logbook.
Related: ACT Hazard Perception Test, ACT learner and P plate rules. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in the ACT.
Sources
- Access Canberra, “Get your provisional driver licence” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- Access Canberra, “One off practical driving assessment” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- City Services, “Learner and provisional driver safety” (cityservices.act.gov.au)
- City Services, “Safe plates frequently asked questions” (cityservices.act.gov.au)