Category: All Australian states and territories

Photo: Mark Direen, Pexels

Good road craft for Australian learners comes down to five habits the official handbooks keep repeating: set the seat, wheel and mirrors up before you move, keep your eyes scanning, keep a three-second gap, brake early and progressively, and never coast in neutral or with the clutch down. This guide pulls those basics from the ACT Road Rules Handbook, the ACT learner guide Road Ready: towards your Ps and the NT Road Users’ Handbook. The techniques apply in every state, but the road rules and licence rules differ, so check your own state’s handbook too.

How do you set up the driver’s seat correctly?

Do it every time you get into a car, and every time you swap cars with your supervisor. The ACT learner guide lists not adjusting the seat, mirrors and seatbelt in an unfamiliar car as a common fault.

1. Seat distance: sit back and put one arm straight out over the top of the steering wheel. Adjust the seat so you can work the pedals properly and the seat back so your wrist rests on the top of the wheel (ACT method). When your hands are on the wheel, your elbows will be bent.
2. Seat back and position: fairly upright, supporting your back and shoulders, with your backside right into the back of the seat and knees slightly bent (NT handbook). Sit high enough to see the road clearly (ACT handbook).
3. Steering wheel: if it adjusts, set it low, facing your chest rather than your face. The NT handbook says this also lets the driver’s airbag work as designed.
4. Head restraint: adjust it for your height. The ACT guide suggests the centre of the head restraint at about eye level; check your owner’s manual.
5. Mirrors: adjust them after the seat, not before.
6. Seatbelt: low, flat and firm. Low across the hips, no twists, and pulled firm to remove slack.

Pre-drive checks the handbooks expect

Before you move off, the ACT handbook lists these checks:

• Walk around the car for obvious damage, and make sure nothing (especially a child, bike or toy) is in the way.
• Mirrors, windows and headlights clean, with no stickers or ornaments blocking your view.
• No loose items that could fly around in a crash, and all doors properly closed.
• Everyone wearing a seatbelt.
• You know where each control is and how it works. Check the gauges, warning lights and fuel.

Before starting the engine, the ACT guide adds: handbrake on, gear lever in neutral (manual) or park (automatic), and check the warning lights again once the engine is running.

Moving off safely

Under the ACT handbook you must give at least five seconds of indication before pulling out from the kerb. Then:

• check your mirrors and do a head check over your shoulder, then check again just before moving;
• make sure there is no danger to pedestrians, and look both ways for traffic and bicycles;
• when leaving a driveway or car park, give way to all traffic on the road and to pedestrians and cyclists on the footpath.

In a manual, bring the clutch up slowly to the friction point. Kangaroo hopping at first is normal. For a full clutch routine, see clutch control for learner drivers.

Observation: what scanning actually means

The NT handbook calls scanning the key to good observation: keep your eyes moving, check one area for a couple of seconds, then move on. Look:

• into the distance;
• at the road surface;
• to your left and right;
• regularly at your mirrors and instruments.

Other handbook points worth building into every drive:

• Mirrors every 8 to 10 seconds, and always before you slow down, stop or speed up (ACT guide).
• Head checks every time you merge or change lanes. Mirrors leave blind spots.
• Watch the driver, not just the car. The NT handbook suggests looking at the drivers of approaching cars so you notice when they are distracted.
• Five seconds ahead: if you cannot see at least five seconds ahead, you must slow down (NT handbook).
• Avoid tunnel vision. The ACT guide’s common faults include staring rigidly ahead and looking too long in one direction.

Scanning is also what the hazard perception test measures. See hazard perception tests across Australia compared.

Steering basics

• Hands at “10 to 2” or “quarter to 3” on the wheel, thumbs along the rim (ACT and NT handbooks).
• Use push-pull steering for most turns. Hand-over-hand is the other accepted method.
• Do not let the wheel spin back by itself after a turn. Use your hands to guide it back to the centre.
• Slow down before the turn, and wait until the car starts to straighten before accelerating.
• One hand must have a firm grip on the wheel at all times while moving. Do not rest your elbow on the window frame.

Why is coasting unsafe?

The ACT handbook says never coast or freewheel with the clutch pushed in or the gear lever in neutral. In gear, the car stays stable and grips the road better, and the engine helps hold your speed downhill. Out of gear, you lose stability and control of your speed, especially on corners, and can run off the road or roll over.

It is also a legal issue. It is an offence to drive without proper control of your vehicle, and the ACT handbook says that holding the clutch down for any distance, other than the last 2 or 3 metres before you stop, means you do not have proper control.

Braking: progressive, two-stage and in a straight line

The NT handbook describes two-stage braking: a light press to “set up” the brakes, a short pause, then “squeeze” on the pressure you need. The ACT guide calls the same idea progressive braking. Both handbooks agree on these points:

• Check your mirrors before you brake.
• Brake early and gently. Never brake hard unless it is a real emergency.
• Brake in a straight line where you can.
• Harsh braking can cause a skid, especially on wet or gravel roads.
• In a manual, push the clutch in just before the engine would stall, and stay in gear until you stop.
• Ease the brake pressure in the last 2 metres to avoid a jerk as you stop (ACT guide).
• Going down a long hill, choose a lower gear before the descent so the brakes do not overheat. This applies to automatics too.

The NT handbook adds that your brakes, not swerving, should be your first line of defence. Swerving can turn a minor hazard into a head-on crash.

How far does a car travel before it stops?

Total stopping distance is the distance covered while you react plus the braking distance. The ACT handbook’s figures, for a car with good brakes and tyres on a dry, smooth road:

At 60 km/h	Distance
While reacting (average reaction time of 2 seconds)	34 metres
While braking	21 metres
Total stopping distance	55 metres

Things to remember from the same section:

• At 60 km/h you cover about 17 metres every second.
• Even a very alert driver needs at least one second to react. If you are not giving driving your full attention, it takes much longer.
• Double your speed and your reaction distance doubles, but your total stopping distance more than doubles.

The NT handbook uses the same logic to explain the three-second gap: about 1.5 seconds to react and about 1.5 seconds to respond. Keep at least three seconds behind the car in front, and much more in rain, at night or on gravel. The ACT handbook says to at least double it to six or seven seconds in those conditions.

Emergency braking with ABS

Most cars learners drive have anti-lock brakes (ABS). In an emergency stop:

• Do not pump the brakes. Keep the pedal pressed down hard and steer away from the danger (NT handbook).
• Expect the pedal to pulse or feel strange. That is the ABS working. Keep the pressure on (ACT guide and NT handbook).
• ABS lets you steer while braking hard. On most sealed roads it can shorten the stop, but don’t count on it, and on loose gravel it can make the stop longer. It also will not stop brakes fading on a long descent if you ride them all the way down (ACT handbook).

If your car does not have ABS and the wheels lock, the ACT guide says to ease off the brake straight away to the point where the wheels turn again while still slowing hard.

Eco driving: smooth is cheaper

The NT handbook’s eco driving tips double as good road craft:

• Keep a steady speed. Smooth acceleration and slowing use less fuel.
• Stick to the speed limit. Higher speeds burn more fuel.
• Check tyre pressure often. Under-inflated tyres increase fuel use.
• Do not over-rev. In a manual, change up at lower revs without labouring the engine.
• Do not warm the engine up before setting off, except in cold climates or after a long time unused. Gentle driving warms it.
• Turn the engine off when stopped for a long time, and take off roof and bike racks when not in use.
• Use air conditioning only when you need it.

For more on driving smoothly, see eco-safe driving and smooth driving tips.

Where to read more for your state

These basics are covered in plain English in the ACT Road Rules Handbook study guide and the NT Road Users Handbook study guide. For the licence stages and logbook hours in every state, see learner licence rules in every Australian state compared.

Sources

• ACT Government, “ACT Road Rules Handbook”, January 2019 edition, Part D Road craft (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• ACT Government, “Road Ready: towards your Ps in the ACT, a learner driver guide”, March 2018 (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Northern Territory Government, “Road Users’ Handbook”, Fifth Edition, August 2020, Section 4 Safe driving (nt.gov.au)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Light Vehicle Antilock Brake System Research Program, Task 4” (nhtsa.gov)

Photo: Philip Mallis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Australia has one national scheme, the Australian Disability Parking Scheme. Its permit is recognised in every state and territory and uses nationally consistent eligibility criteria, but you apply through the state or territory where you live, and each one runs its own application process and fees. Eligibility is based on mobility: for example, losing the use of one or both legs, needing a mobility aid, or being permanently blind. The permit belongs to the person, not the car, so a learner or P plater can use it when driving the permit holder.

How the national scheme works

• One permit, accepted nationally. All states and territories take part in the Australian Disability Parking Scheme.
• States run it. State and territory governments manage the scheme, issue permits and set fees and renewal rules.
• Same national eligibility. The scheme sets nationally consistent criteria, with each state applying them through its own medical certification form.
• Local parking rules still apply. What extra time you get on a timed space can differ between states, so check signs and local rules when travelling.

NSW: the Mobility Parking Scheme

NSW runs the scheme as the Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS), issued by Transport for NSW and applied for through Service NSW.

Item	NSW rule
Who is eligible	People who have lost the use of one or both legs, whose condition is badly affected by walking 100 metres, who need a mobility aid, or who are permanently blind
Not enough on its own	Behavioural, mental health or psychosocial issues alone do not qualify
Permit length	Individual permit for 5 years for a permanent disability; temporary permit for up to 6 months
National card	You receive the Australian Disability Parking Permit too, at no extra charge, and display both

The NSW handbook says you can park in a disability space if you have a current MPS permit, or if you are driving a person who has one, and the permit is displayed.

Other states and territories

Apply through your own state or territory. Fees, renewal periods and the medical form differ, so check the current details with the issuing agency before you apply. Two examples of how the permit changes parking rules:

State	Extra parking time with a permit
South Australia	Sign under 30 minutes: you can park for 30 minutes. Sign of 30 minutes to 1 hour: 2 hours. Sign over 1 hour: twice the time shown. You pay meter fees only for the time on the sign. The extra time does not apply in disability spaces.
Tasmania	Park for twice as long as the sign shows, except in disability spaces. You can stop for up to 5 minutes in a No Parking area.

Learners, P platers and the permit

• You can use a permit when you are driving the permit holder, as long as it is displayed.
• The NSW rule covers the permit holder and a person driving the permit holder. Using someone else’s permit when they are not with you is not covered.
• If you are the permit holder and learning to drive, your learner rules (L plates, supervisor) apply as normal. The permit only changes where and how long you can park.

How to apply: the usual steps

1. Find your state or territory issuing agency.
2. Get the application form and the medical certification it asks for.
3. Submit it with any documents and fee the agency lists.
4. Display the permit as the instructions say, and renew before it expires.

Related guides

• Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
• Parking rules in Australia
• Learning to drive with a disability in Australia

Sources

• Department of Social Services, “Australian Disability Parking Scheme” (dss.gov.au)
• NSW Government, “Eligibility for a mobility parking permit” and “Where you can use a mobility parking permit” (nsw.gov.au)
• Service NSW, “Mobility Parking Scheme permit” terms and conditions (service.nsw.gov.au)
• Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook”, Accessible parking (nsw.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook” (MR200, 2026), Australian disability parking scheme (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• Department of State Growth Tasmania, “Tasmanian Road Rules” (transport.tas.gov.au)

Photo: Antoni Shkraba, Pexels

Australia has no national standard that lets you use a bioptic telescope to meet the driving eyesight requirement. The national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards (2022) describe bioptics but say there is insufficient evidence to set standards for using them while driving. A small number of people have been conditionally licensed to drive with one in a couple of Australian jurisdictions, case by case. Victoria commissioned a review in 2024, which concluded that any safety benefits are likely to be outweighed by increased risk. If you have low vision and want to drive, expect an individual assessment, not a set pathway.

This page explains the licensing position only. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist can advise on your own vision and low-vision aids.

What is a bioptic telescope?

A bioptic is a small telescope mounted on the top part of a pair of glasses (the carrier lens). The driver looks through the normal lens most of the time and dips their chin briefly to look through the telescope, for example to read a sign, then looks back through the normal lens.

What the national standard says

• The private (car) standard needs visual acuity of at least 6/12, and a licence is refused if the better eye is worse than 6/24. See Australian driving eyesight standards explained.
• Assessing Fitness to Drive describes bioptic telescopes and how drivers use them.
• It states there is currently insufficient evidence to set standards for using them while driving.
• So there is no national rule allowing a bioptic to be used to reach 6/12.

Has anyone in Australia been licensed with a bioptic?

Yes, but very few. The 2024 report to Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning notes that in a couple of Australian jurisdictions, a small number of people whose acuity does not meet the national standard have been conditionally licensed to drive using one. The report does not name the jurisdictions. Victoria’s transport department has received requests from drivers and learner permit applicants with low vision who want to use one.

Victoria’s 2024 review

Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning engaged La Trobe University to look at the safety of driving with bioptics. The summary report (September 2024) found:

• The research reviewed did not support the assumption that using a bioptic lowers crash risk.
• In many of the Victorian driving scenarios analysed, using a bioptic would increase risk, and the practical benefits were very limited.
• Using a bioptic takes time: the one study of how drivers use them found a median of 1.4 seconds per look, longer than checking a rear-view mirror.
• Overall, any road safety benefits, such as reading some signs earlier, are likely to be outweighed by increased risk.

The report is research advice, not a licensing rule. Check with the Department of Transport and Planning whether any bioptic licensing pathway is available.

How Australia compares

Country	Bioptic position for car drivers
Australia	No national standard; rare case-by-case conditional licences
United States	Most states allow bioptics under conditions, often with daylight-only limits. See bioptic driving laws by state.
UK and Ireland	Not accepted. See bioptic telescopes in the UK and Ireland.
Canada	Not accepted under the national standard, except Ontario. See Ontario’s vision standard and telescopic lenses.

If you have low vision and want to learn to drive

1. Get a full eye assessment from an optometrist or ophthalmologist, including your visual field.
2. Check whether you meet the standard with ordinary glasses or contact lenses. Some people do.
3. If you are just below 6/12, ask your eye specialist whether they would support a conditional licence. The national standard allows this for people slightly below the standard who are otherwise fit.
4. Talk to your licensing authority before applying, and declare your vision on the learner application.

Related guides

• Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
• Eyesight tests for your learner licence in each state
• Learning to drive with a disability in Australia

Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free Australia letter chart on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen, not an eye test.

Sources

• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive” (AP-G56-22), Vision and eye disorders chapter (austroads.gov.au)
• La Trobe University for the Department of Transport and Planning, “Driving with bioptic telescopes: human factors analysis and road safety evidence review, summary report”, September 2024 (transport.vic.gov.au)

Photo: Pavel Danilyuk, Pexels

In most of Australia you take a quick eyesight test at the counter when you apply for your learner licence. NSW, Victoria, WA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT all list an eyesight test as a learner step. South Australia relies on your health declaration and asks for an Eyesight Certificate only if you have a vision condition. If you need glasses or contact lenses to pass, a corrective lenses condition goes on your licence and you must wear them every time you drive. If you fail the counter test, you are usually asked for a report from an optometrist or eye doctor.

State-by-state: the eyesight check when you apply

State or territory	At learner application	If you need glasses or fail
NSW	You must pass an eyesight test when you apply.	Declare any medical condition at the same time. From age 75, drivers need a yearly medical and eyesight test.
Victoria	The learner permit test includes reading an eyesight chart. The probationary licence test includes an eyesight test too.	If you have poor vision, bring an eyesight certificate from a registered optometrist or ophthalmologist to the test.
Queensland	Confirm with TMR what eyesight assessment or report you need before you apply.	Ask TMR when you book your written road rules test.
WA	You take an eyesight test as part of the learner’s permit application.	If you need glasses or contacts to pass, your permit and licence are endorsed to say you must wear them.
SA	Declare any vision or eye condition on the application.	You may need an Eyesight Certificate from your doctor or an eyesight specialist. Corrective lenses show as condition S.
Tasmania	You take an eye test before your learner licence is issued.	Ask Service Tasmania what report is needed if you don’t pass.
ACT	Passing an eyesight test is a step to a learner licence.	Ask Access Canberra about the next step if you don’t pass.
NT	Passing an eyesight test is one of the requirements for a class C learner licence.	Talk to MVR on 1300 654 628.

What happens on the day

1. Bring the glasses or contact lenses you normally wear for distance.
2. Read letters from a chart as the staff member asks.
3. If you pass with glasses, a corrective lenses condition is added to your learner licence.
4. If you don’t pass, you are asked for an eye report. Your learner licence waits until it arrives.

The standard behind the screen is the national one: 6/12 for a car licence, with a horizontal field of at least 110 degrees. Details are in Australian driving eyesight standards explained.

If you fail the counter eyesight test

• Book an optometrist. Tell them it is for a driver licence and bring the state’s form if you were given one.
• New glasses may be all you need. If your optometrist corrects your vision to the standard, you return with the report.
• Some results need a specialist. If your vision is below the standard, or your field of vision is reduced, the authority may ask for an ophthalmologist’s report and could issue a conditional licence.

Removing a glasses condition later

If you have laser surgery or your eyesight improves, you can apply to remove the condition. In South Australia, your doctor or optometrist completes eyesight certificate MR204, which you take to a Service SA centre or post. Other states have their own process; ask your licensing authority.

Common questions

Do I need glasses on my driving test?

Yes, if your licence has a corrective lenses condition. Driving without them breaks a licence condition.

Is there an eyesight test when I get my P plates?

In Victoria, yes: the probationary licence test includes an eyesight test. Elsewhere, check with your licensing authority, and report any change in your eyesight. Renewal and age-based checks are covered in older drivers’ licence rules in each state.

Related guides

• Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
• Australian driving eyesight standards explained
• Learner licence rules in every Australian state compared
• Bioptic telescopes and driving in Australia

Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free Australia letter chart on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen, not an eye test.

Sources

• Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook”, Medical conditions and disability (nsw.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook (transport.vic.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Get a learner’s permit” and “Drive Safe” handbook (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook” (MR200, 2026) and “Remove an eyesight condition from your licence” (sa.gov.au)
• Service Tasmania, “Apply for or renew a learner driver licence” (service.tas.gov.au)
• ACT Government, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Northern Territory Government, “Road Users’ Handbook” (nt.gov.au)
• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive” (AP-G56-22) (austroads.gov.au)

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Every Australian state and territory offers some help with the learner knowledge test if you have a disability, a learning difficulty, difficulty reading, or are Deaf or hard of hearing. What is on offer varies: NSW can book an assistant reader, WA offers an oral (spoken) test, the NT offers a verbal test, Victoria provides free Auslan interpreters, and most states book interpreters through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS). In almost every case you must arrange it before you book, and online booking is often not available for assisted tests.

Support by state and territory

Where	Test	Support you can ask for	How to arrange
NSW	Driver Knowledge Test (DKT)	Assistant reader for the in-person DKT. Free interpreter for the DKT and Hazard Perception Test. The Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP) helps people facing extra barriers.	Call 13 22 13
Victoria	Learner permit test	Free interpreter, including an Auslan or sign language interpreter if you are hearing impaired.	Tell VicRoads when you book
Queensland	Written road rules test	No published list of written-test supports found. TMR offers interpreters for practical driving tests, and availability varies by centre.	Ask TMR on 13 23 80 before booking; for an interpreter, call TIS on 13 14 50 and ask them to contact TMR
WA	Computerised Theory Test (CTT)	Oral (spoken) test if you have difficulty reading or using computers. Can be run in another language with a NAATI interpreter. Paper versions with simpler wording are used in some services.	Ask when applying for your learner’s permit; not every centre or agent offers it
SA	Learner’s theory test	No published list of supports found.	Call Service SA on 13 10 84 before booking
Tasmania	Learner knowledge test	Free interpreter at Burnie, Devonport, Glenorchy, Hobart, Launceston and Rosny service centres. Online booking is not available if you need an interpreter.	Book in person or through TIS on 131 450, well in advance
ACT	Road rules knowledge test	Interpreters through TIS.	TIS on 13 14 50; ask Access Canberra about disability support
NT	Driver Knowledge Test (DKT)	Verbal (spoken) test, with or without an interpreter, at urban MVR offices. If you have a physical or mental impairment, MVR can make arrangements.	Talk to MVR on 1300 654 628 before booking

Oral and verbal tests: how they work

• WA: the questions are read to you and you answer out loud. The pass mark stays the same (24 out of 30 for a car). You still need enough English to follow the testing officer, unless an interpreter is used. You can only attempt the spoken test once a day.
• NT: available at any urban MVR office. Interpreting is by the Interpreting and Translating Service NT; non-residents may have to pay that service directly.
• NSW: the assistant reader reads questions for the in-person DKT. For the Hazard Perception Test, NSW staff can read and explain questions if arranged before booking.

Deaf and hard of hearing learners

If you want instructions or explanations in sign language, ask for an Auslan interpreter when you book. Victoria states that Auslan interpreters are free; elsewhere, ask the licensing authority whether it books and pays for the interpreter.

Extra time and other adjustments

Ask the licensing authority about extra time or other adjustments; what is offered depends on the test and on your needs. If you have a condition such as dyslexia, ADHD or a physical disability that affects using the screen or keyboard, contact the authority before booking and explain what you need. Have a letter from your doctor, school or psychologist ready in case they ask for evidence.

Before you book: a checklist

1. Decide what support you need (reader, oral test, interpreter, Auslan, physical access).
2. Phone the licensing authority rather than booking online.
3. Ask whether your nearest centre offers that support; some only do at certain locations.
4. Ask whether you need evidence, and bring it on the day.
5. Declare any condition that may affect your driving on the learner application. That is a separate question from test support.

Related guides

• Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
• Learner knowledge tests in every state compared
• Learner tests in other languages
• Learning to drive with a disability in Australia

Sources

• Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook”, Licences: Extra support for the DKT (nsw.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook, Step 3 (transport.vic.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Practical driving tests” and interpreter information (qld.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Road rules theory test quiz”, “Take the Computerised Theory Test” and “Remote and mobile services” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “Report a medical condition” (sa.gov.au)
• Service Tasmania, “Help for non-English speaking customers” and “Apply for or renew a learner driver licence” (service.tas.gov.au)
• ACT Government, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Northern Territory Government, “Road Users’ Handbook”, Driver Knowledge Test (nt.gov.au)

Photo: Maggas, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Australia, a heart condition, a blackout or sleep apnoea does not automatically stop you getting your Ls or P plates. You must declare it, and the licensing authority applies the national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards. For car drivers, most heart-related events come with an advised non-driving period (for example, 4 weeks after a blackout with a cardiovascular cause), after which your doctor reassesses you. Sleep disorders are judged on whether they cause excessive daytime sleepiness, and the authority can place conditions on your licence.

This page covers licensing rules only. Your cardiologist, sleep physician or GP is the person to ask about your own condition.

Advised non-driving periods for car drivers

The national standard gives these advisory periods for private (car) drivers. Commercial drivers have longer ones.

Event	Private driver	Commercial driver
Blackout (syncope) due to a cardiovascular cause	4 weeks	3 months
ICD shock with symptoms such as feeling faint	4 weeks	Stricter rules apply
ICD fitted after a cardiac arrest	6 months	Stricter rules apply
ICD generator (battery) change	2 weeks	Stricter rules apply

For private drivers these periods are advice from the standard. After the period ends, your doctor checks whether you are fit to drive again. Recurrent arrhythmias that cause blackouts usually make a person unfit to drive until they are controlled.

Blackouts and fainting

• The cause matters. A blackout from a heart rhythm problem is treated differently from a simple faint with a clear trigger, or from a seizure.
• If the cause is unknown, your doctor may advise you not to drive while it is investigated.
• If the blackout turns out to be a seizure, the epilepsy rules apply. See epilepsy and getting your Ls.

South Australia’s list of conditions to report includes blackouts, heart disease and cardiovascular conditions. NSW says some conditions, including cardiovascular conditions, need regular medical assessments to keep your licence.

Sleep apnoea and excessive daytime sleepiness

Sleep disorders are on the list of conditions to report in states such as South Australia. Under the national standard, the question is whether the condition causes excessive daytime sleepiness that could affect driving, and whether treatment controls it. The authority may place conditions on your licence, such as review dates. Austroads made no change to the licensing criteria for sleep disorders in the 2022 edition, but added more guidance for doctors on assessing them.

If you are a learner who often feels drowsy, tell your doctor. Fatigue is a road safety risk whether or not you have a diagnosis: see driver fatigue on Australian roads.

Other heart conditions in young people

Congenital heart conditions, cardiomyopathy and inherited rhythm disorders are all assessed under the same cardiovascular chapter. Declare the condition and ask your cardiologist to complete the medical form if the authority asks for one.

What to do: a checklist

• Declare the condition on your learner licence application.
• Ask your specialist whether any non-driving period applies to you now.
• Take your state’s fitness-to-drive form to your appointment if the authority asks for one.
• Tell the authority about new events, such as a blackout, an ICD shock or a new device.
• Keep to any review dates on your licence.

Related guides

• Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
• Medical conditions and fitness to drive: reporting in each state
• Type 1 diabetes and your learner licence

Sources

• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive” (AP-G56-22), Cardiovascular conditions chapter and general assessment guidelines (austroads.gov.au)
• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive: Summary of changes” (austroads.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “Report a medical condition” (sa.gov.au)
• Transport for NSW, “Road User Handbook”, Medical conditions and disability (nsw.gov.au)

Photo: Antoni Shkraba, Pexels

To hold an unconditional car licence in Australia, you need visual acuity of at least 6/12 with both eyes open, or in your better eye, without glasses. If you only reach 6/12 with glasses or contact lenses, you get a licence with a condition that you wear them when driving. If the better eye is worse than 6/24, a car licence is refused. Your visual field must also meet the standard: a horizontal field of at least 110 degrees. There is no colour vision standard for drivers.

These are the national Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022) standards for private (car) drivers. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist can tell you how your own eyes measure up. This page only explains the rules.

Visual acuity: the 6/12 rule

Acuity is measured on a standard letter chart at 6 metres. 6/12 means reading the 6/12 line (the standard uses five letters on that line).

Your best acuity (both eyes or better eye)	Car licence outcome
6/12 or better without glasses	Unconditional licence (for vision)
6/12 or better only with glasses or contacts	Conditional licence: you must wear them when driving
Slightly worse than 6/12	A conditional licence may be considered on an optometrist’s or ophthalmologist’s recommendation, if you are otherwise fit
Worse than 6/24 in the better eye	Licence refused

Visual field: 110 degrees

• The standard is a binocular (both eyes) horizontal field of at least 110 degrees.
• There should be no significant defect in the binocular field within 20 degrees of fixation above or below the horizontal midline.
• If the horizontal field is under 110 but at least 90 degrees, an optometrist or ophthalmologist may support a conditional licence.
• The reference test is the binocular Esterman field test. Your eye specialist decides which test you need.

If you have a condition that affects your field of vision, expect the licensing authority to ask for a field test result from your eye specialist.

Driving with vision in one eye

People with sight in one eye can drive a car in Australia. Under the national standard, a conditional licence may be considered if:

• the horizontal visual field is at least 110 degrees, and
• visual acuity in the better eye meets the standard.

The better eye must be reviewed at least every two years.

Colour blindness

There is no colour vision standard for car or commercial drivers in Australia. Clinicians are expected to talk to drivers with a significant colour deficiency about how it may affect their response to signal lights.

Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye conditions

There is no separate rule for each eye disease. What matters is whether you still meet the acuity and field standards. South Australia lists “vision and eye disorders” among the conditions to report, and its handbook says you may need an Eyesight Certificate completed by your doctor or an eyesight specialist. Progressive conditions usually mean regular reviews.

Licence conditions for glasses or contacts

State	How it shows
South Australia	Condition S (corrective lenses) on the card. To remove it, your doctor or optometrist completes eyesight certificate MR204.
Western Australia	If you need glasses or contacts to pass the eyesight test, your permit and licence are endorsed to say you must wear them.
Other states and territories	A corrective lenses condition is printed on the licence. Check the code with your licensing authority.

If your licence has this condition, you must wear your glasses or contacts every time you drive, including on your driving test.

Common questions

Is the learner eyesight test the same as the standard?

The counter test is a quick screen. If you don’t pass, you are usually asked for an optometrist’s report. What each state does is in eyesight tests for your learner licence in each state.

Can I drive at night with glasses?

Yes, if your licence has no night restriction. A night or daylight-only condition is only added if your eye specialist or the authority decides it is needed.

Can bioptic telescopes help me meet the standard?

Not under the national standard, which says there is not enough evidence to set one. See bioptic telescopes and driving in Australia.

Related guides

• Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
• Eyesight tests for your learner licence in each state
• Older drivers’ licence rules in each state

Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free Australia letter chart on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen, not an eye test.

Sources

• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive” (AP-G56-22), Vision and eye disorders chapter (austroads.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “Report a medical condition”, “Remove an eyesight condition from your licence” and “Licence conditions” (sa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook” (MR200, 2026), Medical fitness to drive (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe” handbook (transport.wa.gov.au)

Photo: Arunangshu Banerjee, Pexels

Yes, you can get your learner licence in Australia with type 1 diabetes. You must declare insulin-treated diabetes on your application. Under the national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards, a private (car) driver on insulin is usually given a conditional licence reviewed at least every two years. The main safety rule is about severe hypoglycaemia: after a severe hypo, you should not drive until a doctor has cleared you.

This page explains the licensing rules. Your diabetes team is the right source of advice on managing your glucose for driving.

What the national standard says

• Insulin and non-insulin diabetes have separate standards. The standard identifies insulin treatment as the main road safety risk, because of severe hypoglycaemia.
• Conditional licence with review. For private drivers treated with insulin, a conditional licence may be issued, with review by your doctor at least every two years. (Austroads corrected an earlier version of the standard from annual to two-yearly for private drivers.)
• Severe hypo means stop. If you have a severe hypoglycaemic event, while driving or at any other time, you should not drive until cleared by a medical practitioner, and you will need an urgent assessment.
• No fixed stand-down for car drivers. For private drivers, how long you stay off the road after a severe hypo depends on your circumstances, including the cause and your specialist’s opinion. Commercial drivers have a fixed minimum period.
• Hypo awareness matters. The standard notes that people who have lost awareness of hypos have a much higher rate of severe hypoglycaemia. Reduced awareness is something your doctor will assess.

Steps to your Ls with type 1 diabetes

1. Declare diabetes in the health section of the learner application. South Australia, for example, lists “diabetes controlled by insulin or tablet” as a condition to report.
2. See your doctor with the state form if the licensing authority asks for one.
3. Receive your licence, usually with a review date.
4. Diary your reviews. Your doctor completes a new medical form before each review date. Keep copies.
5. Report changes, such as a severe hypo or a new complication affecting your eyes, feet or nerves.

Learner practicalities

Situation	What to think about
Before each lesson or supervised drive	Ask your diabetes team what reading you should have before driving. Diabetes Australia promotes an “Above 5 to drive” message; it is health guidance, not a licensing rule.
Long supervised drives for your logbook	Plan breaks and keep fast-acting glucose within reach of the driver’s seat.
Driving test day	Nerves and a late start can change your levels. Tell the testing officer if you need to stop and treat a hypo.
Your supervisor	Make sure they know the signs of a hypo and where your supplies are.

What if I don’t declare it?

Every state requires you to report a condition likely to affect safe driving. Not reporting can be an offence: WA says it can lead to a fine, and Queensland says it can lead to a court fine and cancellation. Penalties for each state are in medical conditions and fitness to drive in Australia.

Common questions

Do I need a review every year?

The national standard for private drivers on insulin sets review at least every two years. Your doctor or the licensing authority can set a shorter interval if your circumstances call for it.

I have type 2 diabetes managed with tablets. Is it the same?

Not quite. Non-insulin diabetes has its own standard in Assessing Fitness to Drive. South Australia still lists diabetes controlled by tablets as a condition to report, so declare it and let the authority decide.

Can I use a glucose sensor instead of finger pricks?

Ask your diabetes team. The licensing standards focus on avoiding severe hypos, not on which device you use.

Related guides

• Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
• Epilepsy and getting your Ls
• Queensland medical certificate for driving
• Driver fatigue on Australian roads

Sources

• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive” (AP-G56-22), Diabetes mellitus chapter (austroads.gov.au)
• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive 2020-21 review” final report (austroads.com.au)
• Government of South Australia, “Report a medical condition” (sa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Report a medical condition” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Queensland Government, “Medical fitness to drive” (qld.gov.au)

Photo: Mark Thomas, Pexels

Under Australia’s national standards, a private (car) driver who has had a seizure can usually be considered for a conditional licence after 12 months without a seizure, with at least yearly review by their treating doctor. After a first seizure, the usual period is 6 months seizure-free. Some situations allow a shorter wait and some need a longer one, and your state or territory licensing authority makes the final decision. You can still apply for your Ls: declare epilepsy on the application and the authority tells you what it needs.

This is a guide to the licensing rules, not medical advice. Your neurologist or GP is the person to ask about your own seizures and how they apply to you.

What the national standard says for car drivers

All states and territories use Austroads’ Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022 edition). For private vehicle drivers it sets these default non-driving periods:

Situation	Usual seizure-free period before a conditional licence is considered
Epilepsy (default)	At least 12 months, with at least annual review by the treating doctor
First seizure of any type	At least 6 months with no further seizures, with or without medication
A seizure that caused a crash	The default 12 months applies, even where a shorter period might otherwise be allowed
Seizures only during sleep	Allowed as a variation for private drivers, but a longer established pattern of sleep-only seizures is needed; your specialist applies the exact period

Two or more seizures within 24 hours count as a single seizure for these rules.

When the wait can be shorter

The standard allows a specialist to support a shorter non-driving period in some cases, for example:

• a single seizure after a long seizure-free period, where epilepsy had been well controlled
• a seizure with a clear provoking cause that can reliably be avoided
• seizures that only happen at a particular time of day, where a licence limited to certain hours may be acceptable
• seizure types described in the standard as “safe” because they don’t affect awareness or control

The 2022 edition made one change that matters to teenagers: sleep deprivation is not treated as an avoidable provoking factor, because it can’t be reliably avoided. A seizure after a late night therefore doesn’t count as “provoked” for this purpose.

The 2022 edition also added criteria for moving back to an unconditional licence after a first seizure or acute symptomatic seizures.

Getting your Ls with epilepsy: step by step

1. Declare it on your learner licence application. Every state’s form asks about conditions that could affect driving.
2. Get the medical form completed. The authority will usually ask your doctor or specialist to complete its fitness-to-drive form. In South Australia that is the MR712 certificate of fitness for light vehicles.
3. Wait for the decision. If you meet the seizure-free period, expect a conditional licence with review dates.
4. Keep your reviews up to date. Missing a review can lead to suspension until the paperwork is in.
5. Report any new seizure. Stop driving and tell your doctor and the licensing authority.

What a conditional licence means for a learner

• You can do your supervised hours and tests like any other learner.
• Your licence may have a review date, often yearly, when your doctor confirms you still meet the standard.
• Your P plate period follows the same conditions.

Commercial vehicle standards (trucks, buses, some work driving) are much stricter. If you are thinking about a driving career, ask your specialist early.

Common questions

I had one seizure two months ago. Can I start learning?

You can apply and declare it, but you are unlikely to be cleared to drive until the first-seizure period has passed. Your doctor and the licensing authority decide based on your circumstances.

My medication is being changed. Can I keep driving?

Ask your specialist before changing or stopping medication, and ask whether you should stop driving while the change happens. If a seizure follows, the seizure-free periods above apply.

Does my doctor have to tell the authority?

Only in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Elsewhere, reporting is up to you. See South Australia health professional reporting and Northern Territory mandatory medical reporting.

Related guides

• Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia (series overview)
• Medical conditions and fitness to drive: reporting in each state
• Heart conditions, blackouts and sleep apnoea
• Drug driving and medicinal cannabis

Sources

• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive” (AP-G56-22), Seizures and epilepsy chapter (austroads.gov.au)
• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive: Summary of changes” (austroads.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “Report a medical condition” (sa.gov.au)

Photo: Arunangshu Banerjee, Pexels

In Australia, a medical condition or disability rarely stops you getting your Ls. You must declare any condition that could affect your driving when you apply for a learner licence, and tell your state or territory licensing authority if a condition starts or gets worse later. The authority then decides, using the national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards, whether you can drive with no conditions, drive with conditions (such as glasses, an automatic car or regular reviews), or need to wait. This guide explains how that works and links to every post in our Australian medical and disability series.

This page explains licensing rules only. For advice about your own health, ask your doctor, specialist or optometrist.

Key facts

• One national standard, eight decision-makers. Austroads publishes Assessing Fitness to Drive (2022 edition). Each state and territory licensing authority applies it and makes the licensing decision.
• You declare, your doctor advises. In most of Australia, telling the authority is your legal responsibility. Only South Australia and the Northern Territory also place a reporting duty on health professionals.
• Conditional licences are common. The NT handbook says very few conditions prevent a licence being issued.
• Private and commercial standards differ. Car (private) standards are less strict than those for truck, bus and commercial drivers.

How fitness to drive works in Australia

1. Declare. Answer the health questions on your learner licence application honestly. In WA, for example, you declare conditions and medicines on the application form and the customer service officer tells you whether you need a medical assessment first.
2. Medical assessment, if asked. Your doctor completes your state’s form, using the national standards. Some conditions need a specialist letter.
3. Possibly a driving assessment. Some conditions need an on-road assessment, often with an occupational therapist (OT).
4. Decision. The authority issues an unconditional licence, a conditional licence, or asks you to wait or reapply later.
5. Keep it current. Report new or worsening conditions while you hold your learner licence, P plates or full licence.

State-by-state reporting duties, contacts and penalties are set out in medical conditions and fitness to drive in Australia.

Does my doctor have to report me?

Where	Health professional duty
South Australia	Service SA says you or your medical practitioner must report a condition that could affect your ability to drive. See South Australia health professional reporting.
Northern Territory	Under section 11 of the NT Motor Vehicles Act, doctors, occupational therapists, optometrists and physiotherapists must notify the Registrar if they reasonably believe a licensed patient is unsafe to drive. See Northern Territory mandatory medical reporting.
Everywhere else	Reporting is the driver’s responsibility. Don’t rely on your doctor to do it for you.

Common conditions and where to read more

Topic	What the standard looks at	Guide
Epilepsy and seizures	Seizure-free periods and reviews	Epilepsy and getting your Ls
Type 1 diabetes	Severe hypos and regular reviews	Type 1 diabetes and your learner licence
Heart conditions, blackouts, sleep apnoea	Risk of sudden loss of control or sleepiness	Heart conditions, blackouts and sleep apnoea
Eyesight	Acuity, visual field, one eye	Australian driving eyesight standards and eyesight tests for your learner licence
Low vision and bioptic telescopes	Rules vary by state; check with your licensing authority	Bioptic telescopes and driving in Australia
Physical disability and car modifications	OT assessment and modified vehicles	Learning to drive with a disability
Medicines and medicinal cannabis	Drug driving laws, zero limits for L and P platers	Drug driving and medicinal cannabis

Help with the learner knowledge test

Every state offers some support, such as an assistant reader in NSW, an oral test in WA, a verbal test in the NT and free interpreters (including Auslan in Victoria). The full list is in learner knowledge test support in every Australian state. For other languages, see learner tests in other languages.

Hearing loss and deafness

South Australia lists hearing loss among the conditions that can affect safe driving, so it is worth declaring if you are unsure. Check your state’s medical and test-support requirements rather than assuming the learner eyesight check covers every health question. If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, the main practical questions are test support (such as an Auslan interpreter) and how instructions are given on the driving test. Ask your licensing authority when you book.

Pregnancy

If a pregnancy-related condition affects your ability to drive safely, ask your doctor whether you need to tell your licensing authority. Seatbelt law still applies: WA’s handbook says pregnant women must wear a seatbelt unless they have a current medical certificate exempting them.

State-specific guides

• Queensland medical certificate for driving
• South Australia health professional reporting
• Northern Territory mandatory medical reporting

Parking permits

The Australian Disability Parking Scheme gives eligible people one permit that is recognised in every state and territory. How to apply and what it lets you do: disability parking permits in Australia.

Common questions

Will declaring a condition delay my learner licence?

It can, if the authority asks for a medical report before issuing it. Getting the form to your doctor early is the quickest route. Many applicants with declared conditions get their Ls with no delay at all.

Does a conditional licence show my diagnosis?

WA says the licence card shows only the condition, such as wearing glasses, not the diagnosis.

What about older relatives I supervise with?

Supervisors must hold a valid licence, which may include age-based medical checks in some states. See older drivers’ licence rules in each state.

Want to practise the eyesight check? Our sister site Driving Eyesight Test has a free Australia letter chart on drivingeyesighttest.com. It is a practice screen, not an eye test.

Sources

• Austroads, “Assessing Fitness to Drive” (AP-G56-22) and “Summary of changes” (austroads.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “Report a medical condition” (sa.gov.au)
• Northern Territory Government, Motor Vehicles Act 1949, section 11 (legislation.nt.gov.au)
• Northern Territory Government, “Road Users’ Handbook” (nt.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Get a learner’s permit”, “Report a medical condition” and “Drive Safe” handbook (transport.wa.gov.au)