Photo: Philip Mallis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Australian licensing and road rule terms change from state to state: the learner test is the DKT in NSW, PrepL in Queensland and the CTT in WA, and the practical test can be a Q-Safe test, a PDA or a VORT. This glossary explains the abbreviations and road terms a learner meets, with the official spelling and the state that uses each one. Use it alongside your own state’s handbook, because the same word can mean slightly different things in different states.
The same step, different names: a state-by-state table
| Jurisdiction | Learner test | Hazard test | Practical test | First licence stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) | Hazard Perception Test (HPT) | Driving Test | Learner licence, then P1 and P2 provisional |
| Victoria | Learner Permit Test | Hazard Perception Test | Drive test | Learner permit, then P1 and P2 probationary |
| Queensland | PrepL (or the written road rules test) | Hazard perception test | Q-Safe practical driving test | Learner licence, then P1 and P2 provisional |
| WA | Computerised Theory Test (CTT) | Hazard Perception Test (HPT) | Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) | Learner’s permit, then a 2-year provisional licence |
| SA | myLs online course or the in-office theory test | Hazard Perception Test | VORT or CBT&A | Learner’s permit, then P1 and P2 provisional |
| Tasmania | Driver knowledge test (Plates Plus course) | Hazard Perception Test | P1 driving assessment | Learner licence (L1, L2), then P1 and P2 |
| ACT | Pre-Learner Licence Course and road rules knowledge test | Hazard Perception Test | CBT&A or the one-off driving assessment | Learner driver licence, then provisional |
| NT | Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) | None | Practical driving test with an authorised examiner | Learner licence, then provisional |
Full comparisons: learner knowledge tests compared, hazard perception tests compared and practical driving tests compared.
Licensing terms A to Z
BAC
Blood alcohol concentration: the amount of alcohol in your blood, the figure police measure. Learners and P platers must have zero BAC. See zero alcohol for learners and P platers.
CBT&A
Competency Based Training and Assessment. In SA and the ACT, an accredited instructor teaches and assesses you in stages instead of one final test. SA’s handbook offers it as one of two routes to your Ps, alongside the VORT. See VORT or CBT&A and CBT&A or the one-off assessment in the ACT.
CTT
Computerised Theory Test, WA’s learner’s permit test. See the WA Computerised Theory Test.
Demerit points
Points recorded against your licence for traffic offences. Learners and P platers have much lower limits than full licence holders. See demerit limits for L and P platers compared.
DKT
Driver Knowledge Test. The learner test in NSW, and the name the NT also uses for its theory test. See the NSW Driver Knowledge Test and the NT driver knowledge test.
Double demerits
Extra demerit points for some offences during holiday periods, used by some states only. See double demerit points in Australia.
DriveSafe NT
The NT program offering learner help, including free lessons and subsidies. See DriveSafe NT.
GDL or Graduated Licensing Scheme
The staged system of learner, provisional and full licences, with rules relaxing as you gain experience. SA’s handbook calls it the “Graduated Licensing Scheme”. Victoria’s handbook uses “Graduated Licensing System”.
HPT
Hazard Perception Test: a computer test of how well you spot and respond to traffic hazards. Every state and territory except the NT has one.
Keys4Life
A WA school road safety program. Completing it within the last 2 years means you don’t take or pay for the CTT.
L plates, Ls
The learner licence or permit, and the yellow “L” plates you display while learning. “Getting your Ls” means passing the learner test.
Learn&Log
WA’s free digital learner log book, in the ServiceWA app. See WA learner rules and the 50 hour logbook.
Logbook
The record of supervised driving hours most states require before the practical test. The hours and the format, paper or app, vary by state.
myLs
SA’s online learner course and test, done through your mySAGOV account. See myLs or the in-office theory test.
Open licence, full licence, unrestricted licence
The licence after your provisional period. Queensland calls it an open licence. Most other states say full licence.
P plates, Ps, P1 and P2
Your provisional (or, in Victoria, probationary) licence and its plates. Most states split it into two stages, P1 then P2. WA has one 2-year provisional licence: red P plates for the first 6 months, then green for 18 months. See P plate rules compared.
PDA
Practical Driving Assessment, WA’s driving test. See the WA Practical Driving Assessment.
Plates Plus
Tasmania’s learner pathway and course. See the Tasmanian driver knowledge test and Plates Plus.
PrepL
Queensland’s online learner course and road rules assessment. See PrepL and the Queensland written road rules test.
Probationary licence
Victoria’s word for a provisional licence. The stages are still P1 and P2.
Q-Safe
Queensland’s practical driving test. See the Q-Safe practical driving test.
QSD
Qualified Supervising Driver, an SA term. For example, SA P1 drivers under 25 must not carry more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 (not counting immediate family) unless a Qualified Supervising Driver is with them. See SA P1 rules.
RBT
Random breath testing, roadside alcohol tests by police. Drug tests are also done at the roadside: see drug driving in Australia.
Safer Drivers Course
A NSW course that can count towards learner logbook hours. See the NSW learner log book.
Supervisor, supervising driver
The fully licensed driver who sits beside a learner. Each state sets who can supervise. See supervising in NSW, Queensland and WA.
U class
SA’s licence class for ultra high powered vehicles. See high powered vehicles and the U class licence.
VORT
Vehicle On Road Test, SA’s one-off practical driving test, the alternative to CBT&A.
Road and rule terms A to Z
Clearway
A road where you must not stop during the hours on the sign, except in an emergency. In NSW a broken kerb line marks a clearway. See parking rules in Australia.
Floodway
A section of road that water can flow across. WA’s handbook calls floodways and river crossings dangerous places and tells inexperienced drivers to use another route if there is one. See driving in rain, fog, smoke and floods.
Give way
Slow down and stop if needed so you don’t cause another road user to change speed or direction. SA’s handbook stresses that nobody has an absolute right of way. See giving way in Australia.
Hook turn
A right turn made from the left side of the intersection, required where there are traffic lights and a Hook Turn sign, found at some intersections in central and South Melbourne. You move forward on the far left of the intersection and turn when the lights for the road you are entering go green. See how to do a hook turn in Melbourne.
Keep left
Drive in the left lane unless you are overtaking or turning right. Victoria’s handbook says that on roads with a limit over 80 km/h you must keep out of the right lane unless you are overtaking or one of the exceptions applies.
Road-related area
Places that aren’t roads but still fall under the road rules. Tasmania’s handbook lists road-dividing strips, footpaths and nature strips next to a road, areas open to the public for bicycles or animals, and any other area open to the public for driving, riding or parking, such as a car park.
Road train and B-double
Long heavy vehicles with several trailers, common in the NT and WA. A Multi Combination (MC) licence is needed to drive them. See sharing the road with trucks, buses and road trains.
Safety zone
A Victorian term for the area around certain tram stops. See driving with trams in Victoria.
School zone
A lower speed limit near schools at set times. Times and limits differ between states. See school zones in every state.
Shared zone
A street shared by pedestrians, bicycles and other vehicles. In NSW the limit is 10 km/h and you must give way to any pedestrian in the zone, stopping if necessary.
Slip lane
A separate left-turn lane at an intersection, usually divided from the other lanes by a traffic island. See turning and indicating rules in Australia.
Transit lane (T2, T3)
A lane reserved during set hours for vehicles carrying a minimum number of people, shown on the sign. See NSW transit lanes, bus lanes and T-ways.
Wombat crossing
A pedestrian crossing on a raised section of road. SA’s handbook says these usually come with a 40 km/h speed limit. See pedestrian, school and wombat crossings.
Zip merge
When two lines of traffic merge into one with no lane lines marked, you give way to a vehicle on your left or right if any part of it is ahead of yours, so cars merge alternately. SA’s handbook says it doesn’t apply where lane lines are marked and one lane ends, such as at the end of an overtaking lane or entering a freeway. In that case, the driver in the ending lane gives way. See overtaking, merging and changing lanes.
Car ownership terms
CTP and green slip
Compulsory Third Party insurance, which covers injury to people in road crashes. Every registered car must have it. In NSW you buy it separately, as a “green slip”. See car insurance for learners and P platers.
Rego
Short for registration: the yearly fee that lets a car be driven on the road. See registration, CTP and roadworthy checks in each state.
Pink slip and roadworthy
A vehicle safety inspection. In NSW it is commonly called a pink slip. Other states have their own roadworthy or inspection rules. See NSW car registration and pink slips.
E-tag
The windscreen tag that pays tolls electronically. See toll roads for new drivers.
Common questions
What is the difference between a learner licence and a learner permit?
Only the name. NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and the NT say learner licence. Victoria says learner permit. WA and SA say learner’s permit. The ACT says learner driver licence.
Is a probationary licence the same as a provisional licence?
Yes, in practice. Victoria uses “probationary”. The other states use “provisional”.
What does DKT stand for?
Driver Knowledge Test, the NSW learner test. The NT uses the same name for its theory test.
What is CBT&A?
Competency Based Training and Assessment: an instructor-led route to your Ps in SA and the ACT, instead of a single driving test.
Is the hook turn used outside Melbourne?
Hook Turn signs are found at some intersections in central Melbourne and South Melbourne. You must hook turn wherever there are traffic lights and a Hook Turn sign.
Which states have no hazard perception test?
The NT has no HPT. Every other state and territory has one.
More: the Australian Road Rules explained, Australian road signs explained and learner licence rules compared.
Sources
- Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook” (MR200, February 2026), including Care, Courtesy, Common Sense, Zip merge, Wombat crossings and the Graduated Licensing Scheme (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Road Users’ Handbook”, Licence classes (nt.gov.au)
- Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook”, Road lanes, lines and markings (nsw.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth Tasmania, “Tasmanian Road Rules” handbook, What is a road or road-related area? (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Take the Computerised Theory Test (CTT)”, “Get your provisional licence” and “Keys4Life program” (transport.wa.gov.au)