Category: Australia

Photo: Nick-D, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Every ACT learner whose licence was issued or renewed after 1 January 2020 must pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) before getting their Ps. You take it online, at home, any time after 3 months on your Ls, and your first attempt is free. This guide covers the format, what happens if you fail and how to prepare.

ACT Hazard Perception Test at a glance

Item	Detail
Where	Online at safeplatestesting.act.gov.au
When	After you have held your ACT learner licence for at least 3 months
Format	25 videos of about 15 seconds each
Time	About 20 to 30 minutes
Cost	First attempt free; $30.00 for each later attempt (from 1 July 2026)
After a first fail	24-hour lockout
After a second fail	3-day lockout
Expiry	A pass does not expire

What you need to take the test

• Your name and ACT learner licence number.
• A stable internet connection.
• 20 to 30 uninterrupted minutes. The test times out after 10 minutes of inactivity, and a time-out counts as a failed attempt.
• The biggest screen you can use. A phone works, but hazards are easier to spot on a larger screen. If you start and cannot see properly, you can switch to another device within 10 minutes and carry on.

How to prepare for the ACT HPT

1. Do the official practice test first. It uses examples like the real test and also checks the test runs on your device.
2. Practise spotting hazards on real drives. Ask your supervisor to call out hazards with you: a car edging out of a driveway, a cyclist ahead, a bus pulling out, pedestrians near shops.
3. Know what a hazard looks like on Canberra roads. Roundabouts, merging lanes and school zones all feature in everyday ACT driving. See driving in Canberra.
4. Pick a quiet time. No notifications, no one walking in, device charged.

What happens if you fail the HPT in the ACT?

• First fail: you are locked out for 24 hours and must pay for your next attempt.
• Second fail: you are locked out for three days and must pay again.

Safe Plates Testing suggests using the gap to redo the practice scenarios, do more supervised drives or book a professional lesson. The ACT Government notes research that drivers who failed the HPT at least twice were more likely to crash than those who passed first time, so treat a fail as a sign you need more practice, not just another try.

After you pass

You get a completion certificate you can print. Safe Plates Testing says you do not need to bring it when applying for your Ps. However, Access Canberra’s one-off assessment page lists the HPT certificate among the things to bring on assessment day, so print a copy and take it.

Then you still need to finish your time on Ls and your logbook hours, and pass either CBT&A or the one-off practical assessment. See ACT logbook hours and credits and CBT&A or the one-off driving assessment.

Common questions

When can I do the HPT in the ACT?

Any time after you have held your ACT learner licence for 3 months. You do not have to finish your hours first.

Is the ACT Hazard Perception Test free?

Your first attempt is free. Each further attempt costs $30.00 (the fee from 1 July 2026), paid before the test.

How many clips are in the test?

25 videos, each about 15 seconds long.

Does my HPT pass expire?

No. Once you pass, it does not expire.

Can I do the HPT on my phone?

Yes, but a bigger screen makes hazards easier to see. Run the practice test on your device first.

What if the test crashes partway through?

Call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 about technical problems. Inactivity for 10 minutes counts as a fail, so contact them straight away.

Do I need to do the HPT if I am over 25?

Yes. It applies to all ACT learners issued or renewed after 1 January 2020, whatever their age, and cannot be exempted.

Related: ACT pre-learner course and road rules test. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in the ACT.

Sources

• Safe Plates Testing, “Hazard Perception Test” (safeplatestesting.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “Get your provisional driver licence” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “One off practical driving assessment” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• City Services, “Safe plates frequently asked questions” (cityservices.act.gov.au)
• ACT Government, “Road Transport (General) (Driver Licence and Related Fees) Determination 2026 (No 1)”, DI2026-44, Schedule 1 item 18 (legislation.act.gov.au)

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

Before you can get your Ps in the ACT, your logbook must show 100 supervised driving hours, including 10 at night, if your learner licence was issued before you turned 25. If you were 25 or older, it is 50 hours including 5 at night. Instructor lessons and three optional courses can cut the real driving time a lot. Here is exactly how the credits work.

How many hours do you need for your ACT Ps?

Your age when your Ls were issued	Total hours	Of which at night
Under 25	100	10
25 or older	50	5

Access Canberra gives you a logbook with your learner licence. Record every drive in it. You bring the completed logbook to your assessment and to Access Canberra when you apply for your Ps.

Who can supervise you?

• Anyone with a valid full Australian driver licence: a parent, family member or friend, or an ACT Accredited Driving Instructor.
• They must sit in the front passenger seat.
• They must have zero alcohol and no drugs in their system.

How do the 3 for 1 instructor hours work in the ACT?

Each hour with an ACT Accredited Driving Instructor counts as 3 hours, for your first 10 instructor hours. That is 30 logbook hours from 10 lessons. After 10 hours, instructor time counts one for one. Hours with non-accredited instructors always count one for one.

Optional courses that earn credit

Course	Credit	Who can do it	Format
Safer Driver Course	20 hours	Learners under 25 when their Ls were issued, after at least 3 months on Ls	2.5-hour theory workshop plus a 1-hour practical drive with an accredited instructor, usually 2 learners per car
Vulnerable Road User Program	10 hours	All learners, after 3 months on Ls	Self-directed learning, then a 2-hour workshop on sharing the road with cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians
Learner Driver First Aid Program	5 hours	Learners who have held their Ls at least 3 months	One approved first aid course completed after 22 November 2023; some are free, formats vary

For the Safer Driver Course, you must already have done either 10 hours with an accredited instructor or 30 hours with a supervisor before the practical component.

For first aid credit, take a printed certificate or the original electronic copy to Access Canberra. Photographs of the certificate are not accepted.

Worked example: the fewest real hours for an under-25

Source	Real time	Logbook credit
10 lessons with an accredited instructor	10 hours	30 hours
Safer Driver Course	3.5 hours	20 hours
Vulnerable Road User Program	About 2 hours plus self-study	10 hours
Learner Driver First Aid	Course length varies	5 hours
Supervised driving with family or friends (include all 10 night hours)	35 hours	35 hours
Total		100 hours

Credits are a way to reach the minimum, not a target. The one-off assessment page notes that more than half of people fail their driving test, and most learners need 10 to 15 lessons for CBT&A. Real practice in rain, at night and on busy roads is what gets you through.

Bringing hours from another state

If you transfer an interstate learner licence to the ACT, City Services says your previous driving hours and education are recognised. Bring the logbook issued by the other state or territory when you apply for your Ps.

Exemptions from the hours requirement

In exceptional cases you can apply to Access Canberra for an exemption from the required hours, but only if all of these apply:

• you were under 25 when your Ls were issued
• you have held your Ls for at least 6 months
• you have done at least 50 supervised hours

Grounds are serious impairment to your career, education or family business, or other exceptional circumstances, and you must show you have no other suitable transport. You cannot be exempted from the Hazard Perception Test or the driving assessment. If granted, your licence may carry restrictions, for example no unsupervised night driving if you lack night hours.

Common questions

Do night hours with an instructor count 3 for 1?

The official pages say each hour supervised by an ACT Accredited Driving Instructor gets 3 hours credit up to 10 hours, without separating day and night. Ask Access Canberra how credited hours count towards the night minimum before relying on it.

Does the pre-learner course give logbook credit?

No. Only instructor hours and the three optional courses above are listed as credit.

Can I do the Safer Driver Course if I am 25 or older?

No. It is limited to learners who were under 25 when their learner licence was issued. Older learners need only 50 hours anyway.

Do I still need the hours if I choose CBT&A?

Yes. CBT&A replaces the government test, not the hours or the Hazard Perception Test. See CBT&A or the one-off driving assessment.

What counts as night driving?

The Access Canberra pages do not define it. Check the instructions printed in your ACT logbook.

Related: ACT Hazard Perception Test, ACT learner and P plate rules. Back to the main guide: learning to drive in the ACT.

Sources

• Access Canberra, “Get your provisional driver licence” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “One off practical driving assessment” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• City Services, “Learner and provisional driver safety” (cityservices.act.gov.au)
• City Services, “Safe plates frequently asked questions” (cityservices.act.gov.au)

Photo: Nick-D, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

To get your Ls in the ACT you must finish the Pre-Learner Licence Course and pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test. This guide covers what the 10-hour course involves, where to do it (including free options), how the test works and what to bring to Access Canberra afterwards.

Who needs the pre-learner course?

Every new ACT car learner. To get a learner licence you must:

• be at least 15 years and 9 months old
• complete the Pre-Learner Licence Course and pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test
• provide proof of identity and residency
• pass an eye test at an Access Canberra Service Centre and pay the fee

What is in the ACT Pre-Learner Licence Course?

It is a 10-hour program in four modules:

Module	Length	What it covers
1. Drive to arrive	4 hours	How risky decisions lead to crashes, speeding, alcohol and drugs, how your choices affect passengers and others
2. Prepare to drive	1.5 hours	Checking the car and yourself before a trip, tiredness and time pressure, emergencies, choosing a safe car
3. Drive time	2.5 hours	Keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe, spotting hazards early, phone distraction, seatbelts and airbags
4. Drive rules and tools	1 hour	The steps to Ls and Ps, common ACT road rules, building supervised hours

To pass, you must attend every module, pass a 35-question multiple-choice course assessment and pass the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test.

Where can I do the pre-learner course in Canberra?

Most high school and college students do it at school, and some ACT schools offer it free to Year 10 students as part of the curriculum. Otherwise, book with an approved provider. City Services lists them:

• No fee: Belconnen Youth Centre, MARSS Australia, Multicultural Hub Canberra, Northside Community Service, Youth Engagement Team (Woden Community Service), YWCA Canberra.
• Fee charged: ACT Driving Solutions, Canberra Institute of Technology, Fifth Gear Motoring, L2PP Driving Coaching School, Licence Factory, Lotus Driving School Canberra, Online Driving Courses, Pinnacle Driving School, Road Ready Centre.

City Services notes some providers offer the course free or subsidised for eligible participants. The list can change, so check the current one on the City Services “Learner and provisional driver safety” page before booking.

How does the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test work?

You sit it with your course provider (or at school). The ACT Road Rules Handbook (2019 edition) describes the knowledge test as 35 multiple-choice questions. Some are mandatory questions you must answer correctly, and on the rest you can get four wrong. Confirm the current format with your provider, because the handbook predates the current course.

The handbook also warns that many questions need common-sense answers, so read each one carefully rather than rushing.

How to prepare

• Read the ACT Road Rules Handbook. City Services says this is what you should study for the test. Our ACT Road Rules Handbook study guide breaks it down part by part.
• Practise on the Licence Knowledge Trainer at safeplatestesting.act.gov.au. It has 377 questions across car general, alcohol and drugs, intersections, seat belts, driving general and vulnerable road users.
• Focus on give way rules, roundabouts and crossings. Intersections are one of the Knowledge Trainer categories, and give way rules are also a competency in your driving assessment. See giving way in Australia.

After you pass: applying for your Ls

Take these to an Access Canberra Service Centre:

• the certificate showing you passed the ACT Road Rules Test (and course certificate)
• proof of identity and residency documents
• payment: the learner licence fee is $65.50 (as at 1 July 2026)

You will do an eye test on the day. If you are under 18 and have no documents showing your address, a parent or legal guardian can come with you and sign a declaration that you live with them. You leave with a temporary licence, a logbook and L plates; the card is posted within about 21 business days.

How long is the test result valid?

Item	Valid for
ACT Road Rules Test result	2 years
Learner licence	5 years

If you need to renew your learner licence, you must pass a new ACT Road Rules Test first.

Common questions

Is the pre-learner course free in the ACT?

It can be. Some schools run it free for Year 10 students, and several community providers on the City Services list charge no fee. Private driving schools set their own prices.

Can I do the course before I turn 15 years and 9 months?

The minimum age applies to the learner licence itself. Ask your provider about their own age entry rules, and remember the test result lasts 2 years, so timing it close to 15 years 9 months makes sense.

Can I do the ACT pre-learner course online?

One approved provider is called Online Driving Courses. Check each provider’s delivery format when you book, as the City Services list does not state it.

What happens if I fail the knowledge test?

Your provider handles resits. Contact them about their resit arrangements and any cost.

Does the pre-learner course count towards my logbook hours?

No. Access Canberra lists only instructor hours, the Safer Driver Course, the Vulnerable Road User Program and the Learner Driver First Aid Program as credit. See ACT logbook hours and credits.

Can I drive straight after passing the test?

Not until Access Canberra issues your learner licence. Once it does, you must display L plates and have a full Australian licence holder beside you. See ACT learner and P plate rules.

Back to the main guide: learning to drive in the ACT.

Sources

• Access Canberra, “Get your learner driver licence” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “Driver licence fees” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• City Services, “Learner and provisional driver safety” (cityservices.act.gov.au)
• Safe Plates Testing, “Licence Knowledge Questions” (safeplatestesting.act.gov.au)

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

This guide is for anyone learning to drive a car in the Australian Capital Territory, and for parents helping them. In the ACT you can get your Ls at 15 years and 9 months, your Ps at 17, and a full licence after 3 years on Ps. Below is every step in order, with the current fees and links to a detailed guide for each stage.

Key facts

• Learner licence (Ls): from 15 years 9 months, after a Pre-Learner Licence Course and the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test.
• Time on Ls: at least 12 months, or 6 months if you were 25 or older when your learner licence was issued.
• Hazard Perception Test: online, after 3 months on your Ls. First attempt free.
• Logbook: 100 supervised hours including 10 at night if your Ls were issued before you turned 25; 50 hours including 5 at night if 25 or older.
• Assessment: Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) with an ACT Accredited Driving Instructor, or a one-off practical driving assessment with a Government Licence Examiner.
• Provisional licence (Ps): from 17, held for 3 years. Under 25: 12 months on red P1 plates, then 2 years on green P2 plates. 25 or older: green P2 for all 3 years.
• Full licence: on renewal at the end of the 3-year provisional period.

The ACT licence path step by step

1. Do the Pre-Learner Licence Course and pass the Road Rules Knowledge Test. The course is a 10-hour program run in many high schools and colleges or by an approved provider. Some providers charge nothing. See the ACT pre-learner course and road rules test.
2. Apply for your Ls at an Access Canberra Service Centre. Bring proof of identity and residency and your test certificate, do an eye test and pay the fee. You get a temporary licence, a logbook and L plates. The card is posted and can take up to 21 business days.
3. Drive with a supervisor and log your hours. Your supervisor must hold a full Australian licence and sit in the front passenger seat. Instructor hours count 3 for 1 for the first 10 hours, and three optional courses add credit. See ACT logbook hours and credits.
4. Pass the online Hazard Perception Test any time after 3 months on your Ls. See the ACT Hazard Perception Test.
5. Get assessed. Choose CBT&A (assessed on 23 competencies over at least 7 lessons) or a one-off assessment in your own car. See CBT&A or the one-off driving assessment.
6. Collect your Ps. Under 25s are mailed a P1 licence; 25 and over get P2. You must be at least 17.
7. Move to P2 automatically after 12 months on P1. Access Canberra sends a letter telling you to switch to green plates.
8. Get your full licence when you renew at the end of the 3-year provisional period. You can apply online.

How long does it take to get a full licence in the ACT?

For an under-25 learner, the minimum timeline looks like this:

Stage	Earliest point	Minimum time in stage
Learner licence	15 years 9 months	12 months
Hazard Perception Test	3 months after your Ls	One sitting
P1 (red plates)	17 years	12 months
P2 (green plates)	After 12 months on P1	2 years
Full licence	3 years after your Ps were issued	Renew for up to 10 years

So the earliest you can hold a full ACT licence is about age 20. Suspension periods do not count towards the provisional period, so demerit points can push that date back.

ACT licence fees (as at 1 July 2026)

Item	Fee
Issue or renewal of a learner driver licence	$65.50
Provisional licence (3 years)	$165.90
Practical driving assessment booking	$133.90
Hazard Perception Test, second and later attempts	$30.00 from 1 July 2026 (first attempt free)
Full licence, 5 years / 10 years	$270.70 / $503.80

Fees are subject to change without notice. Check Access Canberra’s driver licence fees page before you pay. The Pre-Learner Licence Course fee is set by each provider, not Access Canberra.

Discounts for a clean record

• No demerit points, traffic infringement notices or court-imposed traffic penalties during P1: you get back 50% of the P2 part of your provisional licence fee.
• Clean on both P1 and P2: a further 30% off your full licence fee.

Rules on your Ls and Ps

The short version, with the detail in ACT learner and P plate rules:

Rule	Learner	P1	P2
Plates front and rear	L	Red P	Green P
Alcohol	Zero	Zero	Zero
Mobile phone, including hands-free	Banned	Banned	Banned
Speed	Posted limit	Posted limit	Posted limit
Trailer over 750 kg GVM	Not allowed	Not allowed	Allowed
Peer passengers 11pm to 5am	Supervisor always required	Max one aged 16 to 22	No limit
Demerit limit (3 years)	Fewer than 4	Fewer than 4	Fewer than 4

Unlike most states, the ACT has no special speed cap for learners or P platers. If you drive interstate, that state’s learner and provisional rules apply. See driving interstate on L or P plates.

Licence classes in the ACT

A C class (car) licence covers vehicles other than motorbikes up to 4.5 tonnes GVM seating up to 12 adults including the driver, tractors and implements, and any of these towing a single trailer up to 9 tonnes GVM. R class is a motorcycle licence and has its own pathway. Heavy vehicle classes run LR, MR, HR, HC and MC, and each needs a car licence held for a set time first.

If you pass your assessment in an automatic, your licence carries an A condition (automatic only). You can drive a manual only with a full licence holder in the seat beside you and L plates displayed front and rear (or on the roof). You can retake the assessment in a manual, ask for the condition to be removed after 12 months on your Ps, or it is removed automatically when you move to a full licence.

Safe System and Vision Zero

The ACT Road Rules Handbook explains that the ACT has adopted Vision Zero: the view that no one should be killed or seriously injured on the roads, and that the system should allow for human mistakes. The Safe System approach rests on safe speeds, safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles and safe people. For you as a learner, that means three practical things: keep to safe speeds (the handbook notes a pedestrian or cyclist hit at over 30 km/h will be seriously injured and may die), learn to share the road with vulnerable road users, and drive the safest car you can afford.

Study materials

• ACT Road Rules Handbook (Access Canberra, 2019 edition): the road rules and road craft for the knowledge test. Some licensing details in it predate the 1 January 2020 reforms, so use the Access Canberra web pages for current licensing rules. See the ACT Road Rules Handbook study guide.
• Road ready: towards your Ps in the ACT: the learner driver guide setting out the 23 driving competencies.
• Safe Plates Testing (safeplatestesting.act.gov.au): the Licence Knowledge Trainer practice questions, practice hazard clips and the real Hazard Perception Test.
• Local tips: driving in Canberra.

Common questions

How old do you have to be to get your Ls in the ACT?

15 years and 9 months. You also need to have completed the Pre-Learner Licence Course and passed the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test.

Can I get my Ps at 16 in the ACT?

No. You must be at least 17 to get your Ps and to sit the one-off practical assessment, and you must have held your Ls for 12 months (6 months if 25 or older).

How long is a learner licence valid?

5 years. Your Road Rules Knowledge Test result is valid for 2 years, so if you need to renew your Ls you must pass a new test.

Do ACT P platers have a curfew?

Not a full curfew. P1 drivers may carry only one peer-aged passenger (16 to 22, not family) between 11pm and 5am, with exemptions for work and education.

Do I have to do 100 hours if I am over 25?

No. If you were 25 or older when your learner licence was issued, you need 50 hours including 5 at night.

I have an interstate learner licence. Do my hours count?

Yes. City Services says previous driving hours and education are recognised. Bring your interstate logbook when you apply for your Ps. Extra requirements apply to interstate and overseas licence holders, so check with Access Canberra.

Can I drive a manual if I passed in an automatic?

Not on your own. With an A condition you may drive an automatic solo, but a manual needs a supervisor who holds a full licence for that car sitting beside you, and L plates on the car, until the condition is removed. This comes from section 10A of the ACT Driver Licensing Regulation. Removal after 12 months on your Ps only happens when you ask for it, so check your licence record before driving a manual alone. Being allowed to drive a manual is also not the same as being ready: get some lessons in one first.

Can I practise with a driving instructor instead of a parent?

Yes. Your supervisor can be a family member, a friend or an ACT Accredited Driving Instructor, as long as they hold a full Australian licence.

Compare the ACT with other states: learner licence rules in every Australian state and P plate rules in every Australian state.

Sources

• Access Canberra, “Get your learner driver licence” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “Get your provisional driver licence” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “Licence classes and conditions” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “Driver licence fees” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “Demerit points and suspensions” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• Access Canberra, “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
• City Services, “Learner and provisional driver safety” (cityservices.act.gov.au)
• City Services, “Safe plates frequently asked questions” (cityservices.act.gov.au)
• Safe Plates Testing, “Hazard Perception Test” (safeplatestesting.act.gov.au)
• ACT Government, “Road Transport (General) (Driver Licence and Related Fees) Determination 2026 (No 1)”, DI2026-44, Schedule 1 item 18 (legislation.act.gov.au)