Log book hours and supervised practice in Victoria

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say how many hours you need and how many must be at night.
• You can record hours correctly in myLearners or the paper log book.
• You can check that a supervisor is allowed to supervise you.
• You can describe the four learning stages.
• You can avoid the errors that get a log book rejected.

What you need to know and understand

• If you are under 21 when you go for your licence test, you need at least 120 hours, including at least 20 hours at night.
• You can log hours in the myLearners app or the official Learner Log Book.
• A supervising driver must hold a current full (not probationary) Australian or overseas licence for that type of vehicle and sit in the front passenger seat.
• Supervisors must have a BAC below 0.05 (0.00 for driving instructors or drivers with a Z condition) and must not drink alcohol while supervising.
• Hours with a professional driving instructor are recorded too, using the instructor's number.
• An invalid log book means losing your test fees and a wait of at least six weeks before the drive test.
• Putting fake hours in a log book is an offence.
• If you are 21 or over, you do not have to present a log book, but practice is still strongly encouraged.

The four stages of learning

The Victorian Learner Kit and myLearners split your hours into four stages so you build skills in a sensible order:

1. Controlling the car: starting, stopping and steering in quiet places away from traffic. This is the shortest stage.
2. Driving on quiet low speed roads: using your car control while watching for other road users.
3. Complex driving situations: busier roads, more traffic and harder hazards.
4. Rehearsing solo driving: the longest stage, driving in all conditions with the supervisor saying very little, so you are ready to drive alone.

Getting your log book accepted

VicRoads checks your record before the drive test and can refuse entries it does not think are valid or complete. For a paper log book:

• use the official log book, never a photocopy, and write in pen, not pencil
• complete every trip entry and have the supervisor sign each one
• never change entries with correction fluid (white-out), and keep pages undamaged and readable with your details at the top of each page
• make sure every supervisor adds their licence number (or instructor number) and signature to the list of supervising drivers
• complete the Declaration of Completion with a supervising driver once you pass 120 hours
• do not fill in entries at the service centre on test day

Making the hours count

Spread practice over different roads, speeds, weather and times of day. Night hours matter because crash risk for new drivers is higher after dark. In Melbourne, include roads with trams and hook-turn intersections. In the country, include gravel roads and higher speed zones.

If hardship or genuine previous driving experience makes the hours impossible, you can apply to VicRoads for an exemption. Interstate and overseas log book hours can also be recognised. Our Managing risk as a new Victorian driver guide explains why these hours make such a difference.

Common mistakes

• Leaving night driving until the end. Book regular night drives from Stage 2 onwards.
• Letting a P plater or friend on a learner permit supervise. Only full licence holders can.
• Using white-out or pencil in the log book, which can get entries rejected.
• Driving the same short route every time. Variety is what builds real hazard skills.

Test yourself: Log book hours and supervised practice in Victoria

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

Go deeper

• Driving with Trams in Victoria
• Learning to Drive in Victoria
• New Driver Crash Risk in Victoria