Photo: Melike B, Pexels
In most of Australia, if you pass your practical driving test in an automatic car, your licence is limited to automatics for a while. How long that lasts, and how you remove it, depends on the state. South Australia is the exception: its licence covers both. This checklist compares all eight states and territories as of November 2026, for learners deciding which car to test in and P platers who now want to drive a manual.
Key facts
- Shortest restriction: NSW (P1 only) and the NT (first 12 months of Ps).
- Longest: Victoria (all of P1 and P2, about 4 years) and Tasmania (3 years before it can be removed without a test).
- No restriction: South Australia. My Licence says an SA licence covers manual and automatic cars whichever you tested in.
- Lasts until you act: Queensland and WA keep the automatic condition or class on the licence until you qualify in a manual.
- Driving a manual alone while restricted breaks your licence conditions. In most states you may practise in a manual with a fully licensed supervisor.
Automatic licence conditions compared
| State | Pass in an automatic and… | How long | How it comes off |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | You can drive a manual only with a supervisor holding a full Australian licence | P1 only | Ends automatically when you move to P2 |
| VIC | A condition: automatics only | Whole P1 and P2 period | Pass another drive test in a manual, or it is removed when you get your full licence |
| QLD | Class CA (automatic car) on the licence: automatics only | Until removed | Pass a practical test in a manual (confirm with TMR) |
| WA | C-A class licence: automatics only | Until you upgrade | Upgrade to a C class licence (ask DTMI what is required) |
| SA | No restriction | n/a | n/a |
| TAS | Condition A: automatic vehicle only | Until removed | After 3 years on the licence, Service Tasmania can remove it; sooner, pass a driving assessment in a manual |
| ACT | A condition: manual only with a full licence holder beside you and L plates displayed | Until removed | Pass in a manual, or ask for removal after 12 months on your Ps |
| NT | Automatic-only condition; manual only with a full licence holder supervising | First 12 months of Ps | Removed at an MVR office after 12 months, or pass the test again in a manual |
NSW: P1 only
Pass the Driving Test in an automatic and, on P1, you may drive a manual only when supervised by someone with a full Australian licence. The restriction ends when you move to P2, after at least 12 months on P1. No second test is needed. More: NSW learner, P1 and P2 restrictions.
Victoria: the A condition for your whole P period
A pass in an automatic puts an A condition on your probationary licence for all of P1 and P2. Your options:
- Do nothing. The condition is removed when you get your full licence.
- Pass a drive test in a manual. Then pay the licence variation fee to have the A condition removed.
While practising in a manual, you need a fully licensed supervisor beside you and a yellow “Driver under instruction” plate as well as your P plates. Step by step: upgrading from an automatic to a manual licence. Victoria also bans electronic park brakes for solo drive tests: see which cars you can use for the VicRoads drive test.
Queensland: condition code A
Queensland’s Driver Licensing Regulation lists condition code A: the holder may only drive a motor vehicle with an automatic transmission. The regulation also says the holder of an open class C licence with that condition is authorised to learn to drive a manual car. On the licence card, TMR shows an automatic-only car licence as class CA rather than class C with a separate code. To practise in a manual, your supervisor must have held an open licence for that class for at least 1 year and you must display L plates. Pass a practical driving test in a manual to have the restriction removed. Confirm the booking steps with TMR on 13 23 80. See the Q-Safe practical driving test.
Western Australia: C or C-A class
WA issues two car classes:
- C class: manual and automatic cars.
- C-A class: automatic cars only. You get this if you pass your PDA in a car with an automatic or synchromesh transmission, and the restriction appears on your licence card.
DTMI says you can always upgrade from C-A to C class later. Ask DTMI on 13 11 56 what the upgrade involves before you book anything. A supervising driver with an automatic-only licence cannot supervise a learner in a manual. More: the WA PDA and supervising a learner driver in WA.
South Australia: no automatic restriction
My Licence says a driver’s licence issued in South Australia covers both automatic and manual vehicles, whatever type you passed your test in. An “A” code can still appear on an SA licence (for example for medical reasons), but passing the VORT or CBT&A in an automatic does not add it. If you have never driven a manual, take lessons before you try one. See VORT or CBT&A.
Tasmania: the 3-year rule
Pass the P1 assessment in an automatic and your licence carries condition A (automatic vehicle only). To remove it:
- Held for 3 years or more (not counting suspension or disqualification): Service Tasmania can remove it without a manual assessment.
- Held for less than 3 years: pass a driving assessment in a manual car.
- Added for medical reasons: provide a medical report saying why it no longer applies.
Either way, you go to Service Tasmania, book the assessment if needed, complete a licence application, pay the fee and have your photo taken. To practise, drive with someone who holds a basic manual car licence (not provisional or restricted) and follow learner conditions: L plates, 90 km/h maximum and zero alcohol. See the Tasmanian P1 driving assessment.
ACT: the A condition
Pass in an automatic, whether through CBT&A or the one-off assessment, and your licence carries an A condition. You can drive a manual only with a full licence holder beside you and L plates displayed, until you either pass in a manual or ask for the condition to be removed after 12 months on your Ps. It is removed automatically when you renew to a full licence after 3 years. See CBT&A or the one-off driving assessment.
Northern Territory: the first 12 months
An automatic pass gives you an automatic-only condition for the first 12 months of your provisional licence. During that time you may drive a manual only with a full licence holder supervising. After 12 months, have the condition removed at an MVR office. To drive a manual alone sooner, pass the practical test again in a manual. Many NT examiners hire out test cars, and their list shows whether each one offers manual, automatic or both. See NT P plate rules.
Should you test in an automatic or a manual?
| Your situation | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Family car and likely first car are automatics | Automatic. Most restrictions will not affect you. |
| You may need to drive a manual ute or van for work | Manual, especially in VIC, QLD, WA, TAS and the ACT, where the restriction lasts longest or needs a second test |
| You live in SA | Either. Your licence covers both. |
| You are struggling with clutch control and the test date is close | Automatic now, manual later. In NSW the restriction ends at P2 and in the NT after 12 months. |
Whichever you pick, the test car must still meet your state’s vehicle rules. See the driving test day checklist and, for automatic driving technique, learning to drive an automatic car.
Worked examples
A Victorian who passes in an automatic at 18
The A condition stays through P1 and P2. At 18 the minimum probationary period runs to about 22, so, unless they pass a manual drive test sooner, they cannot drive a manual alone until then.
A NSW driver who passes in an automatic
On P1 they can drive the family manual only with a full licence holder beside them. Twelve months later, on P2, they can drive it alone with no further test.
A Tasmanian who passes in an automatic
Three years later, Service Tasmania can remove the condition without a test. If they need a manual sooner, they book a manual driving assessment.
Common questions
Can I learn in a manual and test in an automatic?
Yes. The car you test in decides the condition, not the car you learned in.
What happens if I drive a manual while restricted?
You are breaking a licence condition. Tasmania warns that your licence may be suspended or cancelled, and Victoria lists a fine and demerit points. P platers have low demerit limits. See demerit limits for L and P platers.
Does the restriction apply when I drive interstate?
Yes. Your licence conditions travel with you. See driving interstate on L or P plates.
Can someone with an automatic-only licence supervise a learner in a manual?
Not in WA, where Drive Safe says so directly. In other states, the supervisor must hold a licence for the car the learner is driving, so assume not.
Are cars with dual-clutch or semi-automatic gearboxes manual?
As a rule of thumb, if there is no clutch pedal, expect it to count as an automatic. WA counts synchromesh test cars with automatics for the C-A restriction. Ask your state agency if your car is unusual.
Do I pay to remove the condition?
Usually yes: a test fee if a manual test is needed, plus a licence variation or replacement fee in some states (Victoria and Tasmania mention one). See the cost of getting a licence in Australia.
Related: practical driving tests in every state compared and P plate rules compared.
Sources
- Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook” and “A Guide to the Driving Test” (nsw.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook and drive test pages (transport.vic.gov.au)
- Queensland Government, “Transport Operations (Road Use Management: Driver Licensing) Regulation 2021”, section 15 and schedule 3 (legislation.qld.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Car licence” and “Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) vehicle standard” (transport.wa.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users” (transport.wa.gov.au)
- Government of South Australia, My Licence, “Frequently asked questions” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
- Government of South Australia, “Licence conditions” (sa.gov.au)
- Transport Services Tasmania, “Licence conditions” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Access Canberra, “One-off practical driving assessment” and “Licence classes and conditions” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Driver licence classes and conditions” and “Take a practical driving test with an authorised driving examiner” (nt.gov.au)