Category: South Australia

Photo: hypnotiseme, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yes. South Australia is one of the few places in Australia where health professionals have a legal duty to tell the licensing authority about an unsafe driver. Under section 148 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1959, a doctor, optometrist or physiotherapist must notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles if they have reasonable cause to believe a patient has a physical or mental illness, disability or deficiency that makes them likely to endanger the public if they drive. You also have your own duty to report a condition that could affect your driving, including as a learner.

This page explains the reporting rules, not medical advice. Your doctor will tell you whether your condition affects your driving.

Key facts

• The law: section 148 of the Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA), headed “Duty of health professionals”.
• Who must report: health professionals, defined to include medical practitioners, registered optometrists and registered physiotherapists.
• When: as soon as they have reasonable cause to believe you are likely to endanger the public if you drive.
• Your own duty: if a condition or medication could affect safe driving, you must report it to the Registrar.
• Elsewhere in Australia: only South Australia and the Northern Territory make health professional reporting mandatory. In other states it is the driver’s responsibility.

What triggers a report?

The test is not simply having a diagnosis. It is whether the health professional believes your condition makes you likely to endanger the public when you drive. Many people with epilepsy, diabetes, eyesight problems or heart conditions drive safely and are never reported, because they meet the national medical standards in Assessing Fitness to Drive.

Older guidance for prescribers from SA Health says that when a practitioner notifies the Registrar, they should also tell the patient. Expect your doctor to discuss it with you first.

What you must declare as a learner

Declare any condition that could affect your driving when you apply for your learner’s permit, and report any new condition later. If you declare one, or the Registrar receives a report, you may be asked for a medical certificate from your doctor, who assesses you against the national Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines. The Registrar can also require a practical driving assessment.

The other steps for getting your Ls are in Learning to drive in South Australia.

What happens after a report

1. The Registrar reviews the information.
2. You may be asked to provide medical evidence or undergo tests, such as a medical examination or a practical driving assessment.
3. The Registrar may keep your permit or licence as it is, add conditions, or refuse or suspend it if you do not provide the evidence or the Registrar is not satisfied you can drive safely.
4. The Motor Vehicles Regulations allow the health professional who reported to be told what action, if any, the Registrar took.

If you disagree with a decision, the letter from the Department will explain your review or appeal options. Check the current process with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

SA and NT compared with other states

The Northern Territory also has mandatory reporting; see Northern Territory mandatory medical reporting. Queensland’s rules on when learners need a medical certificate are in Queensland medical certificate for driving. A state-by-state summary of who reports what is in Medical conditions and driving in Australia.

Condition guides

• Epilepsy and getting your Ls in Australia
• Type 1 diabetes and your learner licence in Australia
• Australian driving eyesight standards explained
• Heart conditions, blackouts and sleep apnoea

Back to the hub: Driving with a medical condition or disability in Australia.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Motor Vehicles Act 1959, section 148 “Duty of health professionals” (legislation.sa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, Motor Vehicles Regulations 2010, regulation 8 (legislation.sa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook: Fitness to drive” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “Medical conditions and fitness to drive” (sa.gov.au)
• Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia, “Prescription drugs and driving: information for prescribers”, 2014 (wchn.sa.gov.au)

Photo: hypnotiseme, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Driver’s Handbook (MR200) is South Australia’s official guide to road safety, road rules, licensing and vehicle registration. The SA learner’s theory test is based directly on it. This study guide works through every section in handbook order, picks out the rules that get tested, and links to our detailed SA and national guides. The current edition is dated February 2026.

Key facts about the SA Driver’s Handbook

• Edition: MR200, February 2026. A PDF is available from mylicence.sa.gov.au, and the same content is online as web pages.
• The handbook says it is written in plain language, is not a precise statement of the law and may not reflect recent changes.
• Theory test questions come from the road safety and road rules sections. Every answer is in the handbook.
• Crash statistics in the handbook are averages for 2019 to 2023.

How the handbook is organised

Part	Pages	Priority for the theory test
Your Road Safety Responsibilities	5 to 41	High
Road Rules	42 to 106	Highest
Drivers and Licensing (including Fitness to Drive)	107 to 134	High (your own conditions)
Vehicles and Registration	135 to 139	Low
Glossary and Index	140 onwards	Reference

Part 1: Your Road Safety Responsibilities

Road safety and young drivers

The four big risks are speeding, alcohol and drugs, not wearing seatbelts, and distraction and fatigue. On average, 9 young drivers and 3 young passengers aged 16 to 24 die on SA roads each year. Passengers, late-night driving, risk taking and weak hazard perception all raise young drivers’ crash risk.

Types of crashes and how to avoid them

Rear-end crashes are the most common for all ages. Half of all crashes happen at intersections. If your left wheels leave the bitumen, ease off the accelerator, do not brake harshly, grip the wheel with both hands and ease back on. Head checks prevent lane-change crashes. See SA Hazard Perception Test.

Safer vehicles and your first car

Check a car’s safety rating before you buy. ANCAP star ratings cover new and near-new cars, and the Used Car Safety Ratings guide rates second-hand models from real crash data. The handbook’s advice is to buy the highest-rated car you can afford, use the My First Car checklist on mylicence.sa.gov.au, and drive the safest car in the family if you share one.

In case of a crash

Stop and help. If anyone is killed or injured, the driver must report to police at the scene or a police station within 90 minutes, for alcohol and drug testing. Other crashes must be reported within 24 hours, unless only your own property is damaged or the damage is under $3,000. Full steps: what to do after a crash in Australia.

Basic first aid while you wait for the ambulance: roll the injured person onto their side while supporting the head, clear the mouth, tilt the head back gently to open the airway, and press firmly on any bleeding wound with a clean cloth. Give CPR only if you know how. The handbook recommends a first aid course.

Speeding and stopping distances

• Default limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside them.
• Keep a minimum 3-second following distance, and more in the wet, the dark, on unsealed roads or with a load.
• Reaction distance is about 3/4 of a second, or 12 metres, at 60 km/h.

Alcohol, drugs and medicines

Learners, P drivers and probationary drivers must have zero BAC. Full licence holders, including supervising drivers, must be under 0.05. Cannabis, speed, ecstasy and cocaine can be detected by roadside saliva tests. See zero alcohol for learners and P platers.

Seatbelts

Drivers must make sure every passenger wears a seatbelt or restraint. Passengers aged 16 and over can be fined themselves. See seatbelts and child car seats in Australia.

Distraction and fatigue

Going more than 17 hours without sleep affects driving like a BAC of 0.05, and 24 hours like 0.10. High-risk times are about 1am to 6am and 1pm to 5pm. See driver fatigue on Australian roads.

Share the road and hazardous situations

Give bicycle riders at least 1 metre when passing, or 1.5 metres above 60 km/h. This part also covers trucks, motor bikes, pedestrians, country driving and keeping your car safe. See sharing the road with trucks and buses and kangaroos and wildlife.

Part 2: Road Rules

Care, Courtesy, Common Sense

Drive with due care and reasonable consideration for others. Nobody has an absolute “right of way”: you must still avoid a collision.

Speed limits

• Some roads are signed 110 km/h, but learners and P drivers are capped at 100 km/h.
• 25 km/h applies in a school zone whenever a child is present, at a flashing koala crossing, when passing a stopped school bus, and when passing stopped emergency or breakdown vehicles with flashing lights.
• The February 2026 handbook adds a 40 km/h time-based school limit on roads of 50 km/h or more near schools: 8am to 9.30am and 2pm to 4pm on school days.

See school zones in every Australian state.

Driving on the road

Covers keeping left, lanes, overtaking and U-turns. On multi-lane roads over 80 km/h, or where a “Keep Left Unless Overtaking” sign is posted, stay out of the right lane except to overtake or turn right. See overtaking, merging and changing lanes and road markings and lane lines.

Signs, signals, traffic lights and crossings

See:

• Australian road signs explained
• traffic lights and arrows
• pedestrian, school and wombat crossings
• railway level crossings

Giving way and roundabouts

This is the most important part for the test: the sample theory test needs all 8 give way questions correct. See giving way in Australia and roundabout rules.

Freeways and expressways

Merging, lanes and breakdowns. The handbook notes that 75 per cent of freeway breakdowns are cars running out of fuel. See learners on freeways.

Obstruction

• Do not enter an intersection you cannot clear.
• Do not drive so slowly that you hold up traffic without reason, for example 20 km/h in an 80 km/h zone.
• Move out of the path of emergency vehicles with sirens or flashing lights. See emergency vehicles and slow down rules.

Towing and loads

Never exceed the towing capacity of the vehicle or towbar (whichever is lower), or the vehicle’s GVM. Remove anything that falls from your vehicle onto the road. See towing on L or P plates.

Night and poor visibility

Dip your headlights within 200 metres of an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle ahead. See headlights and high beam rules and driving in rain, fog, smoke and floods.

Motor bikes and bicycle riders

The rules riders follow, and what drivers must do around them. See motorcyclists and lane filtering and passing distance for cyclists.

Parking

Distances, signs and the general exemptions (for example, to avoid a collision or in a medical emergency). See parking rules in Australia.

Mobile phones while driving

• No hand-held phone while moving or stopped in traffic.
• For calls, use a commercial mounting or a no-touch Bluetooth setup.
• No texting, email or video calls, ever.
• Learners and P1 drivers may use no phone function at all.

Miscellaneous rules

Keep every part of your body inside the vehicle, carry no passengers in the back of a ute or panel van, and never drive with an animal or passenger on your lap. Radar detectors are illegal. If you damage a road, bridge or traffic control device, you must report it.

Trams

Pass a tram safety zone on the left, at a speed that does not endanger pedestrians. If a tram stops where there is no safety zone or island, stop while pedestrians are crossing. If none are crossing, you may pass at no more than 10 km/h.

Part 3: Drivers and Licensing

This part covers identity documents, medical fitness, the Graduated Licensing Scheme, learner conditions, supervising drivers, the log book, VORT and CBT&A, the HPT, P1 and P2 conditions, high-powered vehicles, losing your licence, probationary licences, the alcohol interlock scheme and fitness to drive. Our SA guides cover each part:

• Learning to drive in South Australia (overview, ID documents, licence classes)
• myLs or the in-office theory test
• SA learner permit conditions
• SA 75 hour logbook
• SA Hazard Perception Test
• VORT or CBT&A
• SA P1 rules and SA P2 licence rules
• High-powered vehicles and the U class licence
• Losing your licence in SA

Fitness to drive: you must declare any condition that could affect your driving, such as epilepsy, diabetes or a sleep disorder. You and your doctor must both report such conditions to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.

Part 4: Vehicles and Registration

• Every vehicle on SA roads must be registered. Registration includes Compulsory Third Party (Bodily) insurance, which covers injuries to other people but not damage to vehicles or property.
• You choose your CTP insurer from the government-approved list when you renew.
• Third party property insurance, and cover for damage to your own car, are separate private policies.
• Number plates must be visible and unaltered. A bicycle rack must not hide the rear plate.
• If you move to SA, transfer your vehicle registration within 90 days.

Buying and selling a car

• Seller: complete the Disposal Notice on the Registration Details Certificate and lodge it within 14 days.
• Buyer: before you buy, check the vehicle’s status by phoning 13 10 84 (registered, stolen, written off or defected) and check finance owing on the PPSR. Lodge the transfer within 14 days of purchase. Get a receipt, because registration does not prove ownership.

Glossary terms worth knowing

• Built-up area: an area with buildings next to the road, or street lighting.
• CBT&A: a course of 30 tasks you can complete instead of the VORT.
• Continuing road: the road the traffic route follows through a T-intersection. It is not always the top of the T.
• High-powered vehicle: for vehicles built from 2010, a power-to-weight ratio above 130 kW per tonne, or any engine performance modification.
• GVM: the maximum loaded mass the manufacturer specifies.

Common questions

Is the SA Driver’s Handbook free?

The content is free online at mylicence.sa.gov.au. The printed handbook carries a cover price.

Which edition should I study?

The February 2026 edition (MR200 02/2026), or the online pages, which carry the same content. The handbook warns that recent law changes may not be reflected.

Which sections matter most for the theory test?

Giving way, speed limits, your learner conditions, alcohol and drugs, signs and signals, and phones.

Is there a separate handbook for motor bikes?

Yes. The Rider’s Handbook covers the motor bike licence, and The Driving Companion covers the log book and CBT&A tasks.

Does the handbook cover the Hazard Perception Test?

Yes. It explains the test and the four crash types it is built on.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)

Photo: hypnotiseme, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In South Australia, a learner or P driver who breaches a licence condition or reaches 4 demerit points is disqualified, normally for six months. What happens next depends on which licence you held when you committed the offence. P drivers can often choose a Safer Driver Agreement instead of sitting out the disqualification. Learners cannot. This guide explains each situation and how you get back on the road.

What gets L and P drivers disqualified in SA?

• Breaching a condition of your learner’s permit or provisional licence: any alcohol, drugs, speeding by 10 km/h or more, or (for learners) driving without a qualified supervising driver
• Reaching 4 or more demerit points on your Ls or Ps
• Reaching 12 or more demerit points in any 3 years (applies to every licence holder)
• Breaching a Safer Driver Agreement
• Any drug driving offence, or drink driving over the limit
• Failing to pay outstanding fines
• Being convicted in court of a graffiti offence

Immediate loss of licence: you lose your licence on the spot for drink driving at 0.08 or higher, refusing or failing to take a breath, blood or drug test, or speeding by 45 km/h or more.

How long is the disqualification?

Situation	Disqualification
Breach of a provisional condition, or 4+ demerit points	6 months
The same, after a Safer Driver Agreement or a successful appeal	12 months
12 to 15 demerit points in 3 years	3 months (or the 12-month good behaviour option, if eligible)
16 to 19 points	4 months
20 or more points	5 months

A demerit-point disqualification is added on top of any condition-breach or court disqualification. It starts when the other one ends.

If the offence happened on your learner’s permit

• You must sit out the disqualification. There is no Safer Driver Agreement and no appeal.
• Afterwards, you must hold your learner’s permit continuously for 3 months, and for at least 12 months in total if you are under 25 (6 months if 25 or over). Time before the disqualification counts towards the total.
• You must complete the 75-hour log book. Hours logged before the disqualification still count.
• If you had already moved to P1 when you were disqualified for a learner offence, you must also pass another Hazard Perception Test and another practical driving test.

If the offence happened on your P1

You may be able to choose one of three options:

1. Sit out the disqualification. Then reapply for a provisional licence, issued for 3 years: 1 year P1 and 2 years P2.
2. Enter a Safer Driver Agreement. A new provisional licence is issued for 3 years (1 year P1, 2 years P2).
3. Appeal to the court. If successful, a new 3-year provisional licence is issued.

You must sit it out if, in the previous 5 years, you entered a Safer Driver Agreement, were disqualified for breaching one, or successfully appealed a disqualification.

If the offence happened on your P2

You have the same three options and the same 5-year limits. Sit it out and you are issued a P2 for 2 years. Choose a Safer Driver Agreement or win an appeal, and your P2 is cancelled and a new P2 is issued for 2 years.

If you have already reached a full licence

If you are disqualified for an offence committed while you were on your Ps, you may be able to appeal or enter a Safer Driver Agreement, subject to the same 5-year limits. Whichever route you take, you go back to a P2 licence for 2 years. With an agreement or appeal, your full licence is cancelled.

How a Safer Driver Agreement works

• It replaces the six-month disqualification for a breach of provisional conditions or 4+ demerit points. It is not available for a serious disqualification offence.
• Notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles within 28 days of the date on your notice, at an Australia Post (EPOS) outlet or a Service SA customer service centre.
• It lasts for the rest of your provisional licence.
• Breach your conditions or reach 4+ points again and you are disqualified for 12 months. You cannot appeal, and you cannot have another agreement for 5 years.

Serious disqualification offences

These rule out a Safer Driver Agreement. They include:

• an offence under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935, such as causing death by dangerous driving
• any offence that carries 4 or more demerit points
• a speeding offence of 3 or more points if you have a similar previous offence
• a red light offence and a speeding offence from the same incident
• any offence if you have been disqualified in SA before

For these, a provisional driver may appeal to the court on the grounds of “severe and unusual hardship”. The court considers your driving history.

The good behaviour option for demerit points

If you reach 12 or more points in 3 years and are eligible, you can choose 12 months of good behaviour instead of the disqualification. You must notify the Registrar within 28 days. Collect 2 or more points during those 12 months and you are disqualified for twice the original period. There is no appeal against demerit-point disqualifications.

Driving while disqualified or unlicensed

Driving while disqualified or suspended carries up to six months’ imprisonment for a first offence, and up to two years for a later offence.

Driving without the right licence is also an offence. The handbook lists a maximum fine of $1,250 for driving on an expired licence. If you have never held a licence, or not one for that class of vehicle, the maximum is $2,500 for a first offence. A second offence within three years can bring a $5,000 fine or a year in prison, plus at least three years’ disqualification.

Probationary licences

A probationary licence is not the same as a P plate licence. It is what some drivers are issued when they come back from certain disqualifications. Its conditions are zero alcohol and none of the four tested drugs, carrying the licence at all times, and fewer than 2 demerit points for the whole probationary period. Breach a condition and you are disqualified. You may appeal to the court, but only once in any five years.

The mandatory alcohol interlock scheme

After a serious drink driving offence, SA requires you to fit an alcohol interlock to a nominated vehicle once your disqualification ends. It stays for a period equal to the disqualification, or three years if that is shorter, and you pay all installation and servicing costs. Serious offences include a BAC of 0.15 or more, a BAC of 0.08 or more with an earlier drink driving offence (other than one under 0.08) in the last five years, driving under the influence, and refusing a breath or blood sample.

Common questions

How long do you lose your Ps for in SA?

Six months for a breach of conditions or 4+ demerit points. It is 12 months if it happens again after a Safer Driver Agreement or successful appeal.

Can I keep driving with a Safer Driver Agreement?

Yes. It replaces the disqualification, but your provisional period restarts and a second breach costs 12 months.

Can learners get a Safer Driver Agreement?

No. Learners must sit out the disqualification.

Do I lose my logbook hours if I am disqualified on my Ls?

No. Hours completed before the disqualification can be included.

Is cancellation the same as disqualification?

No. Cancellation is an extra penalty: when the disqualification ends you must apply for a new licence, and you get no refund for the unused part.

Can unpaid fines cost me my licence?

Yes. Your licence can be suspended for non-payment of outstanding fines.

Related: SA learner permit conditions, SA P1 rules, SA P2 licence rules, double demerit points in Australia. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)

Photo: Alan Levine, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

After 12 months on P1, South Australian drivers move automatically to a P2 provisional licence and hold it for 2 years. P2 drops the P plates, the total phone ban, the late-night limit and the passenger limit. Zero alcohol, the 100 km/h cap and the 4-point limit all stay. This guide sets out what changes, what does not and how you reach a full licence.

What changes from P1 to P2 in SA

Rule	P1	P2
P plates	Required, front and rear	Not required
Mobile phone	No function at all, including hands-free and GPS	General rules for all drivers apply
Midnight to 5am (under 25)	Not allowed without a supervising driver or exemption	No restriction
Passengers aged 16 to 20 (under 25)	One at most, family excluded	No restriction
Alcohol and drugs	Zero	Zero
Speeding 10 km/h or more over	Condition breach	Condition breach
Demerit points	Fewer than 4	Fewer than 4
Maximum speed	100 km/h	100 km/h
High-powered vehicles (under 25)	Not allowed without exemption	Not allowed without exemption
Carry licence	Yes	Yes

P2 conditions in South Australia

Breaching any of these means losing your licence and being disqualified:

• no alcohol at all in your blood, and no THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine in your blood or saliva
• not exceeding any speed limit by 10 km/h or more
• not reaching 4 or more demerit points during the provisional period

Other P2 laws

• Never drive over 100 km/h, even on roads signed 110 km/h.
• If you are under 25, do not drive a high-powered vehicle unless you hold an exemption certificate. See high-powered vehicles and the U class licence.
• Drive only the class of vehicle on your licence, and carry your licence.

Phones on P2

The P1 total ban no longer applies. You follow the rules for all SA drivers:

• No hand-held phone while moving or stopped in traffic, including at traffic lights.
• To make or take an audio call by touching the phone, it must be in a commercially made mounting.
• Using Bluetooth or a headset without touching or holding the phone is allowed.
• GPS is allowed only with the phone in a commercial mounting, set before you leave, and not touched while driving.
• Never create, send or look at texts, video messages or emails, and never make video calls while driving, even with a mounted phone.

Getting your full licence

You become eligible for a full licence once you are at least 20 and have held P2 for 2 years. Once you have it:

• the blood alcohol limit becomes under 0.05
• the 100 km/h cap goes, and you can drive at a signed 110 km/h
• the high-powered vehicle restriction no longer applies, even if you are under 25
• the general demerit limit applies: 12 or more points in 3 years leads to disqualification

Even on a full licence, an offence you committed while on your Ps can catch up with you. If you are disqualified for it, your full licence can be cancelled and replaced with a new P2 for 2 years.

What resets your P2 time?

• Disqualified for a P2 offence and you sit it out: you are issued a P2 licence for 2 years.
• Safer Driver Agreement or a successful court appeal: your P2 is cancelled and a new P2 is issued for 2 years.

Either way, the 2-year clock starts again. See losing your licence in SA.

Common questions

Do P2 drivers in SA have to display P plates?

No. The plate requirement is for P1 only.

Can P2 drivers drive after midnight in SA?

Yes. The midnight to 5am restriction applies only to P1 drivers under 25.

Can I carry more than one friend on my P2?

Yes. The peer passenger limit is a P1 rule. You still need a seatbelt or restraint for every passenger.

Can I use hands-free on my P2s?

Yes, under the general rules: Bluetooth or a headset without touching the phone, or a phone in a commercial mounting. Texting is never allowed.

Can a P2 driver have one drink?

No. P2 drivers must have zero alcohol.

Can I drive at 110 km/h on my P2?

No. The 100 km/h cap applies until you hold a full licence.

Related: SA P1 rules, zero alcohol for learners and P platers, P plate rules in every Australian state. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)

Photo: Blnguyen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A P1 provisional licence is your first solo licence in South Australia, and it comes with the strictest provisional rules. If you are under 25, you cannot drive between midnight and 5am, and you can carry only one passenger aged 16 to 20 unless a qualified supervising driver is beside you. This guide covers every P1 condition and law, the high-powered vehicle ban and how you move to P2.

SA P1 rules at a glance

Rule	Who it applies to	Type
Zero alcohol, no THC, methylamphetamine, MDMA or cocaine	All P1 and P2	Condition
Not 10 km/h or more over any limit	All P1 and P2	Condition
Fewer than 4 demerit points	All P1 and P2	Condition
Maximum 100 km/h	All P1 and P2	Law
No high-powered vehicles (unless exempt)	P1 and P2 under 25	Law
Carry your licence	All P1 and P2	Law
Display P plates front and rear	P1 only	Law
No mobile phone function at all	P1 only	Law
No driving midnight to 5am	P1 under 25	Law (exemptions apply)
No more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 (excluding immediate family)	P1 under 25	Law (exemptions apply)

Breaching a condition means losing your licence and a disqualification. Breaking a law brings fines, demerit points or loss of licence.

The midnight to 5am rule for P1 drivers under 25

If you are under 25 on your P1, you must not drive between midnight and 5am unless a qualified supervising driver is seated next to you or you meet the exemption criteria. The handbook explains why: many crashes that kill young drivers happen late at night, especially on weekends and with more than one passenger, and P1 drivers are over-represented in late-night crashes. Exemption details are on mylicence.sa.gov.au.

What the exemptions cover

Official SA information sheets describe the two exemptions differently. The night exemption covers driving between home and work or in the course of your job; travel to, from or during school, university, TAFE, an apprenticeship or other formal training you are enrolled in; formal volunteer work; and organised sports, artistic, charitable, religious or scientific activities run by an organisation, association or club. You must take the shortest practicable route. On-duty police and emergency service members, paid or volunteer, are also covered. The passenger exemption is narrower: apart from on-duty police and emergency service members, it applies only when your job requires you to carry more than one passenger aged 16 to 20. Education, training, volunteering and organised activities do not count for the passenger limit. You do not apply for either exemption in advance, but you must be able to satisfy police that you meet the criteria every time you drive. The optional P1 driver exemption form, filled in by your employer or activity organiser, can help. Breaking these rules can mean an expiation and 3 demerit points.

The peer passenger rule

If you are a P1 driver under 25, you must not carry more than one passenger aged 16 to 20, unless a qualified supervising driver is beside you or an exemption applies. Immediate family members do not count towards the limit. The handbook says carrying two or three similar-aged passengers under 21 who are not family members makes a young driver four to five times more likely to crash than driving alone.

Scenarios

• Two friends aged 17 and 19: not allowed, because that is two passengers aged 16 to 20.
• One friend aged 18 plus your 16-year-old brother: allowed. Your brother is immediate family, so he does not count.
• Three friends aged 21 or older: the peer passenger rule does not cover them, because it only counts passengers aged 16 to 20.
• Two friends aged 18 with your mum (who qualifies as a supervising driver) in the front seat: allowed.

Phones on P1

P1 drivers of any age must not use any mobile phone function while driving. That includes hands-free, Bluetooth, loudspeaker, GPS and text messaging. You may use the phone while stopped in a road-related area to pay for goods and services, to show a digital licence, or where it is needed to enter or leave that area. P2 drivers follow the general phone rules instead.

P plates

A red P on a white background, at least the minimum size, clearly visible from the front and rear (rear only on a motor bike). P plates are required on P1 only.

High-powered vehicles

Provisional drivers under 25 must not drive a high-powered vehicle unless they hold an exemption certificate. For vehicles built in 2010 or later, that means a power-to-weight ratio above 130 kW per tonne, or any engine performance modification. For older vehicles, it includes 8 or more cylinders, turbocharged or supercharged petrol engines, performance modifications and nominated high-performance models. Check a car before you buy it: see high-powered vehicles and the U class licence.

Getting your P1 licence

You need to:

• be at least 17
• pass the Hazard Perception Test
• have held your learner’s permit for 12 full calendar months (6 if 25 or over)
• have logged 75 hours, including 15 at night
• pass a VORT or complete CBT&A

See VORT or CBT&A. The provisional licence is issued for 3 years: 1 year on P1 and 2 years on P2.

Moving to P2

You move to P2 automatically after holding your P1 for 12 months. The plates, the total phone ban, the curfew and the passenger limit then drop away. See SA P2 licence rules.

Common questions

What time is the P1 curfew in SA?

Midnight to 5am, for P1 drivers under 25, unless a qualified supervising driver is beside you or an exemption applies.

Does the curfew apply if I am 25 or older?

No. The night and passenger restrictions apply only to P1 drivers under 25. Every other P1 rule still applies.

Can I use Apple CarPlay or Bluetooth on my P1s?

No. The P1 ban covers every phone function while driving, including hands-free, Bluetooth and GPS.

Can I drive at 110 km/h on my Ps?

No. P1 and P2 drivers must not exceed 100 km/h.

How many demerit points can P1 drivers have in SA?

Fewer than 4. Reaching 4 or more breaches your conditions and normally means a six-month disqualification. See losing your licence in SA.

Do I need to do anything to move from P1 to P2?

No. It happens automatically after 12 months on P1.

Compare other states: P plate rules in every Australian state. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “My Licence: GLS exemptions”, night driving and passenger restriction exemption criteria, read 6 November 2026 (mylicence.sa.gov.au, GLS, Exemptions)
• Government of South Australia, “Applying for a provisional licence”, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, last updated 5 November 2026 (sa.gov.au)

Photo: Foraminifera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A South Australian learner’s permit comes with two sets of rules. Breaking a condition costs you the permit and gets you disqualified. Breaking one of the other laws brings fines, demerit points or worse. This guide lists both, explains the 10 km/h rule and the phone ban, and shows what a breach costs.

SA learner’s permit conditions

If you breach any of these, you lose your learner’s permit and are disqualified from driving, on top of any other penalty:

1. Zero alcohol and no drugs. No alcohol at all in your blood, and no THC (cannabis), methylamphetamine (speed, ice), MDMA (ecstasy) or cocaine in your blood or saliva.
2. The 10 km/h rule. Speeding by 10 km/h or more over the limit is a breach of your conditions, not just a fine.
3. A supervisor beside you. A qualified supervising driver must sit in the seat next to you.
4. Fewer than 4 demerit points. Reaching 4 or more points during the permit period is a breach.

Other laws for SA learners

• Drive only the class of vehicle on your permit.
• Display correct-size L plates (a black L on yellow), clearly visible from the front and rear of the car.
• Carry your learner’s permit every time you drive.
• Do not drive over 100 km/h, even where the limit is 110 km/h.
• Do not use any mobile phone function while driving. That includes hands-free, Bluetooth, loudspeaker and the phone’s GPS or maps.

The 10 km/h breach rule explained

How far over the limit	Result for a learner
Less than 10 km/h	Expiation fee (fine) and demerit points
10 km/h or more	Fine, demerit points and disqualification for breaching your conditions
45 km/h or more	Fine, demerit points and immediate loss of licence

Example: on a 60 km/h road, 69 km/h is a fine and points. 70 km/h breaches your conditions. On a 110 km/h road, anything over 100 km/h breaks the learner speed law, so treat 100 km/h as a hard ceiling. The 10 km/h rule is not a speeding allowance: any speed over the limit is still an offence, and the posted limit is a maximum, not a target.

The handbook adds that a learner or P1 driver caught 11 km/h over without L or P plates faces fines totalling over a thousand dollars.

Phones: what SA learners can and cannot do

SA learners and P1 drivers have a total mobile phone ban while driving: no calls (including hands-free or Bluetooth), no loudspeaker, no phone GPS or maps and no texting. There are two exceptions:

• using the phone while stopped in a road-related area (such as a drive-through or car park) to pay for goods and services, or to show ID such as a digital licence
• using the phone where it is needed to enter or leave a road-related area

A navigation device that is not a phone is allowed if it is either:

• built into the car as part of its original design, or
• a standalone GPS unit held in a mounting commercially designed for a GPS and fixed to the car as the mount maker’s instructions say.

A phone in a holder does not count as a standalone GPS. Set the route before you move off, and let your supervisor handle any phone.

L plates

• Black letter L on a yellow background, at least the minimum size shown in the handbook.
• Clearly visible from the front and rear (rear only on a motor bike).
• Take them off when a fully licensed driver uses the car. The only exception is a licensed driving instructor driving to or from a lesson.

What cars can SA learners drive?

Because you are always supervised, SA learners can learn in a high-powered vehicle. You cannot learn in an ultra high-powered vehicle, even with a supervising driver. See high-powered vehicles and the U class licence.

What happens if you breach a condition?

You are disqualified and must sit out the disqualification. You cannot use a Safer Driver Agreement or appeal while you are on your Ls. When you come back, you must hold your learner’s permit continuously for 3 months, and you still need 12 months in total (6 months if 25 or over). Hours logged before the disqualification still count. Full details: losing your licence in SA.

Common questions

Can a learner drive at 110 km/h in SA?

No. Learners must not exceed 100 km/h, even on roads signed 110 km/h.

Can I use Google Maps on my phone as a learner in SA?

No. The learner phone ban covers the phone’s maps and GPS, even if the phone is mounted. A built-in system or a properly mounted standalone GPS unit is allowed.

How many demerit points can a learner get in SA?

Fewer than 4. Reaching 4 or more during the permit period breaches your conditions and leads to disqualification.

Can I drive alone on my Ls if I am over 25?

No. Every car learner must have a qualified supervising driver beside them, whatever their age.

Can my supervisor have had a drink?

Their BAC must be below 0.05. You must be at zero.

Do SA L plate rules apply when I drive interstate?

Other states apply their own rules to visiting learners. See driving interstate on L or P plates.

Related: SA 75 hour logbook, zero alcohol for learners and P platers. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “My car licence: Learner’s stage (L)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)

Photo: RegionVisitor90, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Before you can get a P1 licence in South Australia, you need at least 75 hours of supervised driving, including 15 hours at night, recorded in the log book section of The Driving Companion. This guide covers how to fill in the log book, who can supervise you, and what happens if you lose it. It is written for SA learners and the parents or friends who supervise them.

Key facts

• Minimum 75 hours of supervised driving, including at least 15 hours at night. This applies whether you choose a VORT or CBT&A.
• Your qualified supervising driver must sign off every session, or it does not count.
• The Driving Companion is free when you enrol in myLs or when your learner’s permit is issued. Extra copies cost a fee.
• You hand in the completed log book at a Service SA customer service centre when you apply for P1.
• Electronic logbook apps are accepted if they produce a printout with the same information as the paper version.

What goes in each log book entry

For every practice session, record:

• the date and time
• how long you drove
• the location and the road
• weather and traffic conditions
• the qualified supervising driver’s name, licence number and signature

You record your sessions at the back of the log book, and your supervising driver signs each one. Supervising drivers do not get their own log book. They write in yours.

Who can supervise a learner driver in SA?

A qualified supervising driver (QSD) must:

• sit in the front seat, immediately next to you
• have held an unconditional (full) licence for the class of vehicle for the preceding two years. A learner’s permit, provisional or probationary licence does not count
• not have been disqualified in the previous two years
• not hold a licence with a good behaviour condition
• have a blood alcohol concentration below 0.05 and no prescribed drug in their blood or saliva

Overseas licence holders can supervise if their licence is from a recognised country and they meet the same criteria. Parents, friends and driving instructors can all supervise if they qualify. A person who charges to teach you must hold a driving instructor’s licence.

How to plan your 75 hours

Under 25s must hold the permit for at least 12 months, so 75 hours works out to roughly 1.5 hours a week. The handbook points out that learners with around 120 hours of supervised practice have substantially fewer crashes. More practice is worth it.

Stage	Focus
First weeks	Car controls, moving off and stopping, quiet streets and car parks
Building up	Intersections, roundabouts, right turns across traffic, lane changes with head checks
Night hours (15 minimum)	Dipping headlights within 200 metres of oncoming or leading vehicles, judging distance in the dark
Variety	Wet roads, busy arterial roads, higher-speed rural roads up to 100 km/h, parking
Final stage	Practise the VORT manoeuvres or your CBT&A tasks, and drive as if you were on your own

See VORT or CBT&A for the tasks and manoeuvres to practise.

Tips for supervising drivers

• Stay sober. Your own limit is under 0.05 while supervising, even though the learner must be at zero.
• Check the L plates are on, front and rear, and that the learner has their permit.
• Talk through hazards aloud. It builds the scanning skills tested in the SA Hazard Perception Test.
• Sign each session straight away. Hours you cannot prove do not count.
• Know the learner’s conditions: 100 km/h maximum and no phone use. See SA learner permit conditions.

Lost log books, interstate hours and apps

If you lose your log book

You pay a fee for a replacement. To keep your earlier hours, your supervising driver or drivers must re-enter and sign every completed session and task in the new book. Otherwise you start again from zero. Photograph each completed page as a backup.

Hours from an interstate learner permit

If you can show you held an interstate learner licence or permit, a supervising driver can record that experience in your SA log book. You can also present an interstate log book as evidence towards the 75 hours.

Electronic log books

You can use an app instead of the paper log book, as long as it gives a printout with the same information as the paper version. Check before you start, not at the end.

Common questions

Do I need 75 hours if I am over 25?

Yes. The 75 hours apply to all car learners. Over 25s only need to hold the permit for 6 months instead of 12.

Do driving lessons count towards the 75 hours?

Yes, if the instructor meets the supervising driver rules and signs the session. Licensed driving instructors can supervise.

Do I lose my hours if I am disqualified on my Ls?

No. You must still complete the 75 hours, but hours logged before the disqualification count.

Can my P-plater sibling supervise me?

No. A supervisor needs two years on an unconditional licence. Provisional and probationary licences do not count.

Where do I get The Driving Companion?

You get it free when you enrol in myLs or when your permit is issued. It is also available online at mylicence.sa.gov.au and from Service SA customer service centres.

Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia. Comparing states? See learner rules in every Australian state.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)

Photo: Foraminifera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

South Australia gives learner drivers two ways to qualify for a P1 licence: the Vehicle On Road Test (VORT), a single practical driving test, or Competency Based Training & Assessment (CBT&A), where an instructor signs off tasks as you learn. Both cover the same skills and end with a Certificate of Competency. This guide compares them so you can choose.

Key facts

• Both methods need 75 hours of logged supervised driving (15 at night) and a Hazard Perception Test pass.
• VORT: one test with a VORT instructor you have not had lessons with. If you fail, you wait at least 13 clear days before another practical test.
• CBT&A: 30 tasks in The Driving Companion, each assessed and signed off by an accredited instructor.
• You can switch from CBT&A to a VORT at any point.

VORT vs CBT&A at a glance

	VORT	CBT&A
Format	One pass or fail practical test	Ongoing assessment of 30 tasks
Who assesses	A VORT motor driving instructor who has not taught you	Your own accredited CBT&A instructor
Lessons needed	Optional	Training with an accredited instructor is part of the method
Pressure	Everything rides on one drive	Spread over many lessons
If it goes wrong	Wait at least 13 clear days, then retest	Keep practising the task until it is signed off
Cost	Test fee paid to the instructor	Instructor lesson fees across the course
Best for	Confident learners with plenty of practice	Learners who want structured lessons or get test nerves

How the SA VORT works

Booking

• Book with a VORT instructor at least three days before your test date. My Licence says the examiner must lodge the booking at least two full days before the test, so a same-week request may not work. Your regular instructor can put you in touch with one.
• You cannot be tested by an instructor who has contributed to your training in the last six months.
• Tests run between 7am and 7pm, or sunset if earlier. There are no tests on Christmas Day or Good Friday, or before 10am on a Sunday or public holiday.
• Pay the test fee to the instructor before the test.
• Bring your current learner’s permit.

On the day

• The test runs on an officially approved test route.
• An Accreditation Auditor may come along to observe the instructor. They do not assess you.

How the VORT is scored

My Licence explains the scoring:

• You demonstrate 5 slow-speed manoeuvres: parallel parking, angle parking, moving off, a U-turn and a 3-point turn.
• Each correct manoeuvre scores 2 marks, so the manoeuvres are worth 10 per cent in total.
• Your general driving can score up to 90 per cent.
• To pass, your combined score must be 90 per cent or more and you must not breach any road law.
• Any breach of a road law is an immediate fail, and the test ends.
• Pass or fail, the examiner must give you a copy of the VORT recording sheet. It has separate sections for road law breaches, manoeuvres, general driving comments and the overall assessment, so go through it with your instructor.

Worked example: a learner gets 4 of the 5 manoeuvres right (8 per cent) and scores 83 per cent for general driving. The total is 91 per cent, a pass. If the same learner rolls through a stop sign, that is a road law breach and an immediate fail, whatever the score.

Older sa.gov.au pages list “move off on a hill” among the manoeuvres and describe the test as about 45 minutes. Confirm the current list and timing with your VORT instructor.

If you fail

The handbook says you must wait at least 13 clear days before another practical test, and My Licence puts the same rule as at least 14 days. Both mean the same thing: if you fail on a Monday, the earliest retest is the Monday two weeks later. Use the recording sheet to target practice on what went wrong. You can also switch to CBT&A instead.

How CBT&A works in SA

• Find an accredited CBT&A instructor at a driving school.
• The instructor uses your copy of The Driving Companion, which sets out the requirements for each of the 30 tasks.
• You are assessed as you learn. When you show competence in a task, the instructor signs it off in the CBT&A section.
• Between lessons, practise the tasks your instructor names with your qualified supervising driver.
• The same tasks are assessed in a VORT, so nothing is easier or harder on either route.

The Certificate of Competency

Pass the VORT or finish every CBT&A task and the instructor issues a Certificate of Competency. Then:

1. You may be selected for a second driving test with a Government auditor. It is free, and you are told the details if you are chosen.
2. Take the certificate, your completed log book and the declaration to a Service SA customer service centre with the fee.
3. If you have also passed the HPT and met the age and time-on-permit rules, you receive your P1 licence.

The certificate does not let you drive without a supervisor. If you lose it or it is damaged, go to the examiner who issued it for a replacement.

Common questions

Is CBT&A easier than the VORT?

The skills are the same. The difference is that CBT&A spreads the assessment over many lessons instead of one drive.

Can my driving instructor do my VORT?

Not if you have had lessons with them. They can refer you to a VORT instructor.

Do I still need 75 hours with CBT&A?

Yes. Whichever method you use, you must record 75 hours of supervised driving, including 15 at night. See the SA 75 hour logbook.

What counts as a road law breach in the VORT?

Any breach of the road rules, such as speeding, failing to give way or not stopping at a stop sign. It ends the test immediately.

How much does a VORT cost?

VORT instructors charge their own fee, which you pay to them before the test. Compare prices between driving schools.

Can I change from CBT&A to a VORT halfway?

Yes. You can choose a VORT at any point during CBT&A training.

Related: SA Hazard Perception Test, SA P1 rules, parking rules in Australia. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• My Licence, “The Driving Companion: Option 1: Vehicle On Road Test (VORT)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• My Licence, “The Driving Companion: Choosing the VORT” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• SA.GOV.AU, “Practical driving test” (sa.gov.au)

Photo: RegionVisitor90, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

In South Australia you must pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) to move from your learner’s permit to a P1 licence. You can sit it online through your mySAGOV account or in person at a Service SA centre. This guide explains how the test works, which crashes it is built around and the skills that help you pass.

Key facts

• It is a computer-based test using video of real traffic. It measures how well you recognise potentially dangerous situations and respond to them.
• Online: a 12-month subscription gives repeated attempts with no additional cost.
• In centre: book through Service SA (13 10 84). You pay for each attempt.
• You need a current learner’s permit to sit it, and a pass before you can apply for P1.

Online or in centre: which should you choose?

	Online (mySAGOV)	In centre (Service SA)
Booking	No booking. Sit it when you are ready	Booking required
Cost	One subscription covers 12 months	Fee for every attempt
Retakes	Repeated attempts at no extra cost	New booking and fee each time
Bring	Your mySAGOV login	Your current learner’s permit

The online option is cheaper if there is any chance you need a second go. Check current fees on the sa.gov.au driver’s licence and permit fees page.

What the SA Hazard Perception Test is based on

The HPT is built around the driving situations behind the four most common crash types for South Australian provisional drivers:

1. colliding with the rear of another vehicle
2. colliding at right angles, usually at intersections
3. collisions where at least one vehicle is turning right
4. running off the road and hitting an object such as a tree, pole or parked car

The handbook explains that research links poor hazard perception skills with more crashes, and that screen-based tests can identify drivers with a higher crash risk.

How the test works

You watch traffic scenes filmed from the driver’s seat and respond when you judge it safe or unsafe to act, for example when to turn, pull out or slow down. The My Licence site explains the format and has a free practice version. My Licence also notes that you cannot change an answer once you have given it, and that you get no feedback between questions. SA does not publish the number of clips or the pass mark on a page we could read, so do not rely on figures from other states.

Skills that help you pass

Safe gaps when turning right

Right-turn crashes are one of the four target crash types. Wait for a gap big enough that oncoming traffic will not need to brake, even if the driver behind you is impatient. The handbook says it is much better to wait for larger gaps.

Safe gaps when crossing or entering a road

Half of all crashes happen at intersections. Young drivers most often misjudge gaps in moving traffic. Check both directions, judge speed as well as distance, and let a marginal gap go.

Following distance

Rear-end crashes are the most common crash for drivers of all ages. Keep at least a three-second gap: as the car ahead passes a fixed point, count “1001, 1002, 1003”. If you reach the point before you finish, you are too close. Leave more in the wet, in the dark, on unsealed roads or with a heavy load.

Safe gaps when overtaking

On country roads, choose a bigger gap in oncoming traffic, wait for an overtaking lane, or do not overtake at all.

Scanning

Look well ahead, check your mirrors and side roads, and keep your eyes moving. The handbook notes that scanning to spot problems early shortens your reaction distance. Covering the brake when a driver ahead behaves erratically shortens it further.

Expect the unexpected

Watch for doors opening on parked cars, pedestrians stepping out (especially near trams and buses), cyclists, and cars edging out of driveways. Ask yourself what could happen next, not just what is happening now.

How to prepare

• Do the free practice HPT on My Licence until you are consistent.
• During your logbook drives, call out hazards aloud and ask your supervisor to do the same. See the SA 75 hour logbook.
• Practise right turns across traffic and pulling out at busy intersections with your supervising driver.
• Read the hazardous driving situations and crash types sections of the handbook. See the SA Driver’s Handbook study guide.

What comes after the HPT

A pass, together with your Certificate of Competency from a VORT or CBT&A and your 75-hour log book, lets you apply for your P1. See VORT or CBT&A and SA P1 rules.

Common questions

When can I sit the HPT in SA?

The handbook only says you must hold a current learner’s permit and pass the HPT before applying for P1. It does not set a minimum time on your Ls. Check with Service SA if you want to sit it early.

Do I have to do the HPT before or after the VORT?

Either order works. Service SA lists the practical test before the HPT in its steps, and says the HPT can also be done before the practical. You need both, plus 75 hours and the minimum time on your permit, before the P1 licence can be issued.

Can I retake the HPT if I fail?

Yes. Online, you can retake it at no extra cost during your 12-month subscription. In centre, you book and pay again.

Do I need the HPT again if I am disqualified?

If you are disqualified for an offence committed on your learner’s permit after you have reached P1, you must hold your permit for three months, pass another HPT and pass another practical test. See losing your licence in SA.

Do overseas licence holders sit the SA HPT?

Yes, if their licence is from a country not recognised as having similar licensing practices. They also sit the theory and practical tests.

Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• My Licence, “The Hazard Perception Test” and “The Hazard Perception Test: How it works” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
• Government of South Australia, “Applying for a provisional licence” (sa.gov.au)

Photo: Alan Levine, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To get a learner’s permit in South Australia you must pass a theory test, either through the online myLs course or as an in-office test at Service SA. This guide compares the two routes, explains how the test is set out and shows what to study. It is for anyone aged 15 years and 9 months or older who is getting ready for their Ls in SA.

Key facts

• myLs: start from 15 years and 9 months. One fee covers a 12-month subscription with unlimited test attempts.
• In-office test: book at a Service SA centre. You pay for each attempt.
• You cannot be issued a learner’s permit until you are 16.
• Every answer is in The Driver’s Handbook. The sample in-office test in the handbook has 8 give way diagrams (all 8 must be right) and 42 multiple-choice questions (32 must be right).
• The permit lasts two years. If you let it expire for more than 12 months, you must pass the theory test again.

myLs vs the in-office theory test

	myLs (online)	In-office theory test
Earliest start	15 years 9 months	The handbook gives no earlier start. The permit is issued from 16
Where	Online, 24/7, at your own pace	Service SA centre, by booking
Cost model	Once-only fee, 12-month subscription	Pay for every attempt
Retakes	As many as you need within the subscription	Each retake is a new booking and fee
Learning content	Included in the course	Self-study from The Driver’s Handbook
Getting the permit	Pay and get it online through mySAGOV	At the centre after you pass

For most learners, myLs is the easier choice: you can start three months early, fail without paying again, and the course teaches the material as you go. The in-office test suits people who already know the handbook well and want to finish in one visit.

How to enrol in myLs

1. Go to a Service SA centre with full evidence of identity: three original documents showing your name, date of birth, signature and current SA address.
2. Have your photograph taken.
3. Set up a mySAGOV account.
4. Pay the myLs fee and work through the course and test online.
5. After you pass, and once you are 16, pay the learner’s permit fee through mySAGOV.

You receive The Driving Companion (the log book) free when you enrol in myLs.

How to sit the in-office theory test

• Book first. Service SA requires bookings for theory tests (phone 13 10 84).
• Bring proof of age, address and identity documents to the test.
• Pay for the attempt. If you fail, you book and pay again.

How many questions are on the SA theory test?

The Driver’s Handbook prints a sample of the in-office theory test answer sheet. It has two parts:

Part	Questions	To pass
Part A: give way	8 diagrams of give way situations	All 8 correct. You must pass Part A before you can attempt Part B
Part B: road rules and road safety	42 multiple-choice questions (A, B or C)	32 out of 42

The sample sheet is an older form reproduced in the handbook. Service SA does not publish the current question count and pass mark on a page we could read, and myLs is structured as a course, so check the format with Service SA (13 10 84) before your test. Whatever the format, the give way rules matter most: with a sample that needs 8 out of 8, one give way mistake means a fail.

What to study

The handbook says the theory test is based directly on its road safety and road rules sections. Focus on:

• Giving way: intersections, T-intersections, roundabouts, stop and give way signs, and turning. See giving way in Australia.
• Speed limits: the 50 km/h default in built-up areas, the 100 km/h default outside them, 25 km/h in school zones when children are present, and the 100 km/h maximum for learners and P drivers.
• Alcohol and drugs: zero BAC for L, P and probationary drivers. See zero alcohol for learners and P platers.
• Your own permit conditions. See SA learner permit conditions.
• Signs, signals, lights, crossings, parking and phones. Use the SA Driver’s Handbook study guide.

Practice questions in the style of the test

These questions are written from rules in The Driver’s Handbook. They are not official test questions.

1. A learner driver is on a road signed 110 km/h. What is the fastest they may drive? A: 110 km/h. B: 100 km/h. C: 90 km/h. Answer: B. Learners must not exceed 100 km/h.
2. What is the minimum following distance the handbook recommends in good conditions? A: 1 second. B: 2 seconds. C: 3 seconds. Answer: C.
3. A child is on the footpath inside a school zone at 7pm. What is the limit? A: 25 km/h. B: 40 km/h. C: The normal limit, because school is over. Answer: A. The 25 km/h school zone limit applies whenever a child is present.
4. Your qualified supervising driver must have held an unconditional licence for at least: A: 1 year. B: 2 years. C: 5 years. Answer: B.

Common questions

Can I do the SA learner theory test online?

Yes, through myLs. You still have to visit a Service SA centre once to prove your identity and have your photo taken before you can enrol.

What happens if I fail myLs?

You can try again as many times as you need during the 12-month subscription at no extra cost.

What happens if I fail the in-office test?

You book and pay for another attempt.

Is the SA theory test in other languages?

The handbook does not say. Ask Service SA on 13 10 84 when you book.

How much does the theory test cost?

The fee changes each financial year. Check the current myLs, theory test and learner’s permit fees on the sa.gov.au driver’s licence and permit fees page.

I passed myLs at 15. When can I drive?

Not until your learner’s permit is issued, which can only happen from your 16th birthday.

Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.

Sources

• Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)