Category: Australia

Photo: Arno Kohlem, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users is the official WA road rules book, and the source of the Computerised Theory Test questions. The current edition is dated 5 August 2026 and has seven parts plus an index. This study guide goes part by part, picking out the numbers and rules most worth memorising, so you can focus your reading before the theory test. It doesn’t replace the handbook: read the real thing as well.

Key facts

• Publisher: Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI), Driver and Vehicle Services.
• Revised edition date: 5 August 2026. Free PDF on the DTMI website.
• Based mainly on the Road Traffic Code 2000 and the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014. The handbook itself is not the law.
• Parts 1 to 3 hold most of the testable rules.

The seven parts at a glance

Part 1: Safe driving

• Alcohol: zero BAC for novice drivers (until you have held a licence for 2 years), plus some other groups. 0.05 for all other drivers. One standard drink has 10 grams of alcohol and raises an average person’s BAC by about 0.01.
• Supervisors: must meet the same alcohol and drug limits as if they were driving.
• Fatigue: a micro-sleep lasts 3 to 5 seconds. At 100 km/h you travel over 100 metres in that time. Going 17 to 18 hours without sleep affects your driving like a BAC of 0.05. Take a break at least every 2 hours.
• Anti-hoon laws: racing or burnouts can see your vehicle impounded for 48 hours on a first offence, up to 3 months for a second, and confiscated for a third.
• Phones: calls only if the phone is in a fixed mounting or can be used without touching it. No texting, emailing or video messaging.
• Pedestrians: give way when turning at intersections, at zebra and children’s crossings, and in slip lanes. At parallel walk crossings, turning drivers give way to pedestrians on the green walk signal.
• Ten Rules to Safe Driving: keep to a safe speed, never drink and drive, obey the road rules, concentrate and be ready, be patient and don’t go if in doubt, plan moves early, signal correctly, take extra care at intersections, know your car, and be courteous.
• Pre-driving checks: tyres need at least 1.5 mm of tread, with pressures set when cold. Also check brakes, steering, all lights, the horn (only for warning others), a clean windscreen and working wipers, and mirrors. Nothing may hang from the interior mirror, and you still need head checks for blind spots.

Part 2: Getting your WA licence

• Learner’s permit at 16, valid 3 years. Theory test, eyesight test, medical declaration.
• Learners: L plates front and rear, 100 km/h maximum, no Kings Park, 0.00 BAC. Supervisor licensed for at least 4 years.
• HPT after 6 calendar months on your permit and at age 16 years 6 months.
• At least 50 supervised hours, including 5 at night, before the PDA at 17 (under 25s).
• P plates for 2 years: red for 6 months (midnight to 5am curfew, one passenger), then green for 18 months.
• Offences that can cancel a provisional licence, such as a BAC of 0.02 or more, careless driving, or excessive tyre noise or smoke.
• Motorcycle and heavy vehicle licences have their own learner steps and experience rules (Appendix 1).
• Seniors: an annual medical assessment from age 80, and a yearly driving assessment from 85 to keep a heavy vehicle class.
• Bribery: offering any gift or payment to get a licence is a serious offence and will be prosecuted.
• Organ donation: from 16 you can register on the national Australian Organ Donor Register, which has replaced the driver’s licence record. Tell your family your wishes.
• Blood donation: donors are generally aged 18 to 76 and weigh over 50 kg. Lifeblood checks eligibility on 13 14 95.

Each step is covered in detail in WA learner rules and the 50 hour logbook and our other WA guides.

Part 3: Major road rules (the biggest section)

Part 3 also covers floodways, signs and markings, traffic lights and arrows, roundabouts, intersections (give way to the right at uncontrolled four-way intersections), turning, U-turns, overtaking and parking. For the rules every state shares, see the Australian Road Rules explained. For country driving, floodways and large vehicles, see country driving in WA.

Part 4: Emergencies and incidents

• 4.1 Motor injury insurance: compulsory and included when you license a vehicle, run by the Insurance Commission of WA. It covers personal injury and death caused to others. It does not cover damage to vehicles or property. Crashes causing injury or death must be reported online through crashreport.com.au.
• 4.2 Emergencies: breakdowns (triangle up to 50 m away in built-up areas, up to 200 m outside them), tyre blow-outs, a stuck accelerator, brake failure, possible head-on crashes, being forced onto gravel, stalling on a railway crossing, a bonnet flying up, a shattered windscreen, car fires and skids (ABC: accelerate, brake and corner gently).
• After a crash: stop, help, exchange details. Report to police if anyone is injured, if total damage exceeds $3,000, or if the owner of damaged property isn’t there.
• 4.3 First aid: the DRSABCD action plan and CPR at 30 compressions to 2 breaths.
• 4.4 Electrical infrastructure: stay in the car, call 000 and Western Power on 13 13 51, and keep everyone 8 m away.
• 4.5 Aggressive drivers: lock doors, keep your distance, drive to a police station or busy public place. Call 000 in an emergency, or 131 444 otherwise.

Part 5: The law and you

• Tell DTMI about a change of address within 21 days.
• Full licence holders: 12 demerit points in 3 years means disqualification (3 months for 12 to 15 points, 4 months for 16 to 19, 5 months for 20 or more). A 12-month good behaviour period is an option for full licence holders only.
• Novices: 4 points (Type 1) and 8 points (Type 2). See WA novice demerit points.
• 5.4 Your car: required equipment, and no more than the top 10 per cent of the windscreen tinted.
• 5.5 to 5.6 Motorcycles, trailers and caravans: one safety chain up to 2.5 tonnes ATM, two from 2.5 to 4.5 tonnes. Brakes are needed from 750 kg gross trailer mass. Nobody may ride in a towed trailer or caravan unless it is approved and licensed for passengers.
• 5.7 Towing another vehicle: gap under 4 m (2.5 m or less for a motorcycle). Flag a tow line longer than 2 m.
• 5.8 Horses and animals: don’t sound your horn or accelerate near horses. Slow down for livestock.

Part 6: Cycle safe

• Pass cyclists with at least 1 m clearance where the limit is 60 km/h or less, and 1.5 m above 60 km/h.
• Cyclists can use the whole lane and ride two abreast. Riders of all ages can legally use footpaths.
• Check for bikes before opening your door. Don’t cut across a cyclist when turning left.

Part 1 still mentions a 1 m clearance for overtaking riders. The 1 m and 1.5 m rule in Part 6 is the more specific one.

Part 7: Appendices

• Appendix 1: licence classes from R-N (moped) and C or C-A (car, from 17) up to MC (multi-combination), with the experience each needs.
• Appendix 2: interstate visitors can drive on their home licence until they have lived in WA for more than 3 months. Overseas learner permits are not recognised in WA.
• Appendix 3: the proof of identity categories (A, B and C) for your first licence.

How to study Drive Safe in a week

1. Day 1: Part 1.
2. Day 2: Part 2 and Part 5.
3. Days 3 and 4: Part 3, with the signs and markings pages.
4. Day 5: Parts 4 and 6.
5. Days 6 and 7: DTMI’s 11 online road rules quizzes. Go back to the section behind every wrong answer.

Then sit the WA Computerised Theory Test.

Common questions

Where can I get the WA Drive Safe book?

It is a free PDF on the DTMI website, linked from the learner driver resources and theory test pages.

Is the WA theory test based only on Drive Safe?

DTMI says you can find everything you need to pass in the Drive Safe handbook.

Which edition is current?

The revised edition dated 5 August 2026, as of November 2026.

Is Drive Safe the law?

No. It simplifies the road law and doesn’t include every regulation. The full rules are in WA legislation, such as the Road Traffic Code 2000.

Do I need to know the heavy vehicle and motorcycle sections?

For a car permit, focus on the general rules. Read the sections on sharing the road with motorcycles and large vehicles, because those affect every driver.

For the full licence path, see learning to drive in Western Australia.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Road rules theory test quiz” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Learn the road rules” (transport.wa.gov.au)

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

Country driving in WA means long distances between towns, gravel edges, floodways, wildlife and stock, farm machinery, and road trains and oversize loads. The Drive Safe handbook gives specific advice for each, from walking a floodway before you cross it to staying 8 metres from a fallen powerline. This guide collects the WA-specific country driving rules and advice for learners and new P platers heading out of Perth. General outback skills are covered in our national outback and remote driving guide.

Key facts

• Default speed limit outside built-up areas: 110 km/h. Learners: 100 km/h maximum.
• Floodways: if the water is flowing and deeper than the bottom of your car’s chassis, don’t cross.
• Breakdown triangle: up to 200 metres back outside built-up areas or on high-speed roads.
• Oversize loads: pilot vehicle drivers are authorised traffic wardens, so you must obey their directions. Use UHF channel 40 to talk to them.
• Fallen powerline: stay in the car and call 000 and Western Power on 13 13 51.

Before you leave

• Plan your trip so you have enough fuel and water to reach the next town.
• Get plenty of sleep before a long drive, and plan a break at least every 2 hours.
• Check your tyres (at least 1.5 mm of tread, pressures set when cold), lights, wipers and brakes.
• Make sure any load is secure.

Drive Safe warns that you are at your worst between midnight and 6am, when your body clock turns your alertness down. Red P drivers can’t drive from midnight to 5am anyway, apart from the work and school exemptions.

Country road habits from Drive Safe

• Be patient and considerate with other road users.
• Watch for wildlife and livestock, especially around sunrise and after sunset.
• Watch for tractors towing farm machinery, especially at seeding and harvest time.
• Don’t stop on or near bridges, floodways or narrow sections of road.
• Park at the front end of roadside parking bays so others can get in and out.
• Don’t pull out when a vehicle is approaching. Wait until it has passed.
• Expect trains at country railway crossings at any time. They don’t always run to set schedules.

If you see livestock on the road, slow down and be ready to stop. Don’t sound your horn or accelerate near horses. More on animals is in kangaroos and wildlife on Australian roads.

Crossing water on WA roads

Drive Safe says inexperienced drivers should use another route if there is one. If there isn’t:

1. Stop before the water.
2. If it is safe, get out and walk the crossing to check the depth.
3. Still water: it should come no higher than the bottom of the car in a conventional 2WD, or the knee of an average standing adult in a higher 4WD.
4. Flowing water deeper than the bottom of the chassis: don’t cross.
5. Too deep or fast flowing: don’t cross at all.

Rain, fog and smoke are covered in driving in rain, fog, smoke and floods.

Road trains, trucks and oversize loads

Sharing the road with long vehicles

• Vehicles 7.5 metres or longer make wide turns and may cut corners. Don’t overtake once the driver has signalled a turn.
• They need more room to stop, so don’t overtake and then cut in front.
• They accelerate slowly. Be patient.
• If you can’t see the driver’s side mirrors, the driver can’t see you.

Overtaking a truck or road train

1. Stay back several car lengths without crossing the centre of the road.
2. When it is safe and legal, indicate, move out and overtake quickly and positively, within the speed limit.
3. Expect wind buffeting as you pass.
4. Indicate left before returning to your side, and keep your speed up afterwards. Don’t cut in and slow down.
5. Never overtake on a curve or hill where you can’t see, even if the truck is slow. Use overtaking lanes where they exist.

Drive Safe gives no fixed distance for overtaking a road train. Allow far more room than for a car, take extra care after dark, and use overtaking lanes. See sharing the road with trucks, buses and road trains.

Oversize loads and pilot vehicles

• Pilot vehicles have two rotating yellow lights and roof signs. They usually travel ahead of the load.
• Coming the other way: slow down and stay slow until the load passes. Stop if the pilot driver tells you to, and move over when signalled. The load may need the centre of the road. If you leave the bitumen, slow down and watch for guide posts marking deep culverts.
• From behind: the load’s driver may not see you. Wait for a safe chance. Oversize vehicles usually pull over now and then to let traffic pass. Follow directions from any rear escort.
• Pilot drivers are authorised traffic wardens, and you must obey their lawful directions. A CB radio on UHF channel 40 lets you ask whether it is safe to pass.

Gravel edges and loose surfaces

If you are forced onto the gravel edge:

1. Keep a firm grip and drive in a straight line.
2. Don’t rush back onto the road.
3. Slow down, check traffic, then rejoin.

Avoid skids with the ABC rule: accelerate gently, brake gently, corner gently.

Breaking down in the country

• Move as far left as you can and turn on your hazard lights.
• Get passengers out when it is safe and keep them away from traffic.
• Place a warning triangle up to 200 metres back on high-speed roads or outside built-up areas (up to 50 metres in a built-up area). Hold it in front of you as you walk out.
• Wear a reflective vest if you have one.
• A CB radio road channel can warn approaching trucks. Emergency help may be reached on CB Channel 9 (HF) or Channel 5 (UHF). Try both simplex and duplex.

Crashes involving power poles or powerlines

1. Assume the line is live.
2. Stay in the car unless you have no choice, such as a fire.
3. Call 000 and Western Power on 13 13 51.
4. Tell everyone else to stay at least 8 metres from the car and the infrastructure.
5. If you must get out, jump clear with your feet together so you never touch the car and the ground at the same time. Then jump or shuffle at least 8 metres away.

Common questions

What is the speed limit on WA country roads?

110 km/h outside built-up areas where no sign shows a lower limit. Learners and vehicles towing caravans or trailers are capped at 100 km/h.

Can learners drive on country highways in WA?

Yes, with a supervisor and at no more than 100 km/h. Drive Safe recommends practice at 80 to 100 km/h on permitted roads.

How far back should I put my warning triangle on a highway?

Up to 200 metres outside built-up areas or on high-speed roads.

What UHF channel do pilot vehicles use in WA?

Drive Safe says to use UHF channel 40.

Should I drive through a flooded floodway if other cars are?

Not without checking it yourself. Use another route if there is one. If the water is flowing and deeper than the bottom of your chassis, don’t cross.

More WA guides: Drive Safe handbook study guide and learning to drive in Western Australia.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026, Parts 1, 3, 4 and 5 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Learn to drive and log your hours” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving on your P plates” (transport.wa.gov.au)

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

In Western Australia you move from red to green P plates after your first 6 months on a provisional licence. You keep them for the remaining 18 months, or until you turn 19 if that is later. On green Ps the curfew and one passenger limit no longer apply, but zero alcohol does, and so does a novice demerit limit. This guide explains how green Ps work, when and how you get your full licence, and the free renewal you earn by staying offence-free.

Key facts

• Provisional licence: 2 years or until age 19, whichever is longer.
• Red P plates for the first 6 months, green for the rest.
• Green P: 0.00 BAC. No curfew. No passenger limit.
• Demerit limit: 8 points in total by the end of your second year.
• No traffic offences on your Ps earns a free 1-year licence renewal. Another clean year can earn up to $100 off the next renewal.

Red versus green P plates in WA

Drive Safe says provisional drivers can drive up to 110 km/h where that is the limit, but should remember they are still gaining experience. Full details of the red P rules are in WA red P plate rules.

How long will I be on green Ps?

The provisional period is 2 years or until you turn 19, whichever is longer. Only time when your licence is current and valid counts. For a car licence, the earliest you can pass the PDA is 17, so 2 years usually takes you to 19 or later.

Worked examples

These are worked from DTMI’s 2-years-or-19 rule and assume the licence stays valid throughout. Check your own dates in DoTDirect, with DTMI’s Driver’s Licence Status Enquiry tool or on 13 11 56.

Displaying green P plates

• Show them in a visible spot on the front and back of the car (or motorcycle) whenever you drive.
• DTMI has printable red and green plates on its Driving on your P plates page.

Demerit points on green Ps

You stay a novice until you have held a licence for 2 years. In your second year the limit rises to 8 points, but that is a running total that includes points from your Ls and first year. Reaching it means at least 3 months’ disqualification and cancellation of your provisional licence. See WA novice demerit points.

Getting your full WA licence

1. Near the end of your provisional period, DTMI sends you a renewal notice.
2. Pay the renewal fee, or take the free reward option if you are eligible.
3. Your full licence takes effect once the provisional period ends. There is no extra test.

The Safe Driver Reward Scheme

Stage 1: free 1-year renewal

If you commit no traffic offences during your provisional licence, your first full licence renewal notice offers a 1-year renewal for $0. You still have to process it: online, through DoTDirect, by post, by phone on 13 11 56, or in person.

Stage 2: up to $100 off

Drive offence-free for a further year (3 years in a row in total) and you can get either:

• a one-off discount of up to $100 on a renewal longer than 1 year, or
• another 1-year free renewal.

Stage 2 applies only if your provisional period ended on or after 1 December 2024. The first rewards were paid from 1 December 2025.

One catch: if you renew for longer than 1 year the first time you leave your provisional period, you lose both the discount on that renewal and Stage 2.

Common questions

Can green P platers carry more than one passenger in WA?

Yes. The one passenger limit only applies on red Ps. Everyone must still be properly restrained.

Can I drive at night on green Ps?

Yes. The midnight to 5am restriction ends with your red plates.

Can I drink any alcohol on green Ps?

No. All novice drivers must have a BAC of 0.00. See zero alcohol for learners and P platers.

Do I have to sit another test to get my full licence?

No. You renew when the notice arrives, and the full licence starts when your provisional period ends.

Do I lose the safe driver reward for a parking fine?

DTMI’s wording is “any traffic offences”. Ask DTMI whether a particular fine counts before assuming you are still eligible.

I am moving to WA on green Ps from another state. Which rules apply?

Once you are on a WA licence, WA rules apply. See driving interstate on L or P plates.

For the full licence path, see learning to drive in Western Australia.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving on your P plates” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Get your provisional licence” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Red plate. One mate | New rules for red P-platers” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)

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

Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers is DTMI’s free booklet for WA learner drivers. Its Part 4 lists the ten low-speed manoeuvres the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) exercises are built from. Each PDA includes two exercises, and each exercise combines two of those manoeuvres into an everyday task. This checklist sets out all ten, the two sample exercises and the booklet’s scoring method, so you and your supervisor can run a practice PDA at home.

Key facts

• Booklet: Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers: A Guide for Learner Drivers, revised 6 August 2026.
• The PDA has 5 sections: 3 follow-directions drives and 2 exercises.
• Each exercise combines 2 of the 10 manoeuvres below.
• A three point turn is used only if no other option is available.
• You are near PDA standard when you consistently score at least 5 of the 6 manoeuvre ticks.

The ten PDA manoeuvres

The right-hand column is practice advice drawn from the PDA items, not a booklet requirement. For roundabout signalling, see roundabout rules in Australia. For parallel parking steps, see parking rules in Australia.

The two sample exercises

Exercise A: “I left something behind”

You drive off from a friend’s house and realise you left something there. You go back, collect it and set off again. The two manoeuvres:

1. Turn around to go back: a driveway turn (manoeuvre 1, 2 or 3) or a U-turn (5 or 6).
2. Turn around and park outside the house again: the same choices.

Exercise B: “Stopping for shopping”

You have just passed the entrance to a shop’s car park on a busy street. You turn into the next side street on the left, turn around, come back and park next to another car. The two manoeuvres:

1. Turn around: a driveway turn (1, 2 or 3) or a U-turn (5 or 6).
2. Park next to another vehicle: forwards (8) or backwards (9).

The booklet suggests building your own combinations too, for example:

• manoeuvre 1 with manoeuvre 6
• manoeuvre 3 then manoeuvre 9 in a nearby car park
• manoeuvre 5 then manoeuvre 8, as when looking for a parking spot.

How to score a practice exercise

Your supervisor marks each manoeuvre on three items, then the whole task on four more:

Doing both manoeuvres well earns six ticks. When you can consistently score at least five, you are close to PDA standard.

Measurable checks from the PDA items

Part 3 of the booklet spells out what loses a mark. The ones you can measure in practice:

• Movement: rolling more than 30 cm the wrong way, or moving off in the wrong gear, loses the item. Exceeding the speed limit is an automatic fail.
• Signal: when leaving a parked position, indicate for 5 seconds before moving. Cancel within 3 flashes of finishing the manoeuvre. Still flashing after 4 is a fault.
• Look behind: check your mirrors 5 to 10 seconds before turning or diverging. Head check just before you move into a space a following vehicle could enter. A head check more than 2 seconds early doesn’t count.
• Path: stay central in marked lanes and keep to a legal path. Don’t reverse onto the wrong side of the road.
• Vehicle management: secure loose objects, check everyone is belted, adjust seat and mirrors, and use switches such as wipers when needed. Turning with the clutch in or steering from inside the wheel is a fault.
• Flow: a stall is fine if you restart straight away without breaking your rhythm.

The full list of instant fails is in our guide to the WA Practical Driving Assessment.

Run a full practice PDA

1. Drive a short route with your supervisor giving directions only (section 1).
2. Do a two-manoeuvre exercise, such as Exercise A (section 2).
3. Follow directions again, including a busier road (section 3).
4. Do a second exercise, such as Exercise B (section 4).
5. Follow directions back to your start (section 5).

Afterwards, ask yourself whether you managed without questions, without thinking hard, and while chatting to your supervisor. Ask your supervisor whether they stayed quiet and comfortable the whole time. If you can say yes to all of those, you are close to ready.

What else is in the booklet

• Part 1, Learning to drive: the graduated licensing steps, supervisor duties and a four-stage practice plan with skill checklists. See WA learner rules and the 50 hour logbook.
• Part 2, The PDA: how the test works and the vehicle suitability check.
• Part 3, The PDA items: diagrams and scoring for all seven items.
• Part 4, Are you ready?: the manoeuvres, exercises and practice forms.

Common questions

Is a three point turn in the WA driving test?

Only if no other option is available. The booklet lists it as manoeuvre 10 on that basis.

Do I have to reverse park in the WA PDA?

Not necessarily. Your two exercises use manoeuvres from the set of ten, and you often choose the method yourself, such as forward or reverse angle parking.

Can I choose how to do each exercise?

Yes. The assessor explains the task and you decide the best way to do it. Pick a method that is safe, legal and suits the location.

Where do I get the booklet?

It is a free PDF on the DTMI website, linked from the learner driver resources and PDA pages.

Do I need a car park to practise?

Yes, for manoeuvres 8 and 9. DTMI suggests practising both kinds of angle parking next to other cars in shopping centre car parks.

Start from learning to drive in Western Australia for the full licence path.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers: A Guide for Learner Drivers”, revised 6 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Pass the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA)” (transport.wa.gov.au)

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

WA novice drivers have lower demerit point limits than full licence holders. You are disqualified for at least 3 months if you reach 4 points from your learner’s permit to the end of your first licence year, or 8 points by the end of your second year. Full licence holders get 12. This guide is for Western Australian learners and P platers. It explains who counts as a novice, how the two limits work, what happens if you go over, and how to check your points.

Key facts

• Novice Driver Type 1 (learners and first year on Ps): 4 point limit.
• Novice Driver Type 2 (second year on Ps): 8 point limit, counting points from the start.
• Penalty for reaching the limit: disqualification for at least 3 months.
• P platers who reach the limit have their licence cancelled and must reapply. That may mean a new theory test and PDA.
• Novices cannot elect a good behaviour period or get an extraordinary licence for a demerit disqualification.

Who is a novice driver in WA?

You are a novice until you have held a driver’s licence for 2 years, or periods adding up to 2 years. Only periods when your licence was current and valid count. Novices include:

• first-time learner’s permit holders
• provisional licence holders
• interstate and overseas drivers who have held a licence for less than 2 years
• extraordinary licence holders.

The 4 and 8 point limits

The limits are totals, not fresh allowances. Points you got as a learner still count in your first year on Ps, and the 8 point limit in year 2 includes everything you collected before.

Worked example

You get 3 points on your Ls and pass your PDA. One more point in your first year on Ps takes you to 4, and you are disqualified. If you instead get through year 1 on 3 points, you can collect up to 4 more in year 2 before reaching 8.

How many points do WA offences carry?

Each offence carries between 1 and 7 points, depending on the offence. Speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while driving are common examples. In the first 6 months on red Ps, breaking the passenger limit or the curfew costs 2 points and a $200 fine.

During double demerit long weekends and holiday periods, many offences carry twice the points, so a single offence can put a novice over the limit. See double demerit points in Australia.

What happens if you go over the limit

1. DTMI serves you an Excessive Demerit Points Notice (EDPN).
2. You are disqualified from holding or getting a licence for at least 3 months.
3. On a learner’s permit: the permit isn’t cancelled, but you can’t drive for the 3 months.
4. On a provisional licence: your licence is cancelled. After the disqualification you reapply for a new licence, which may include another Computerised Theory Test and PDA.

A novice disqualification has no workaround. You cannot get an extraordinary licence and you cannot elect a good behaviour period. You cannot drive at all, even if you need to for work or study.

Offences that can cost a P plater their licence without points

A provisional licence holder can be disqualified and have their licence cancelled if convicted of offences including:

• driving or attempting to drive with a BAC of 0.02 or more
• driving with a prescribed illicit drug in oral fluid or blood
• dangerous driving, or careless driving (including by infringement)
• failing to stop after a crash, or failing to report one
• failing to stop for police, or failing to give police your correct name and address
• causing excessive noise or smoke from your tyres
• stealing a vehicle, using false plates, or forging licence documents.

The legal limit for every novice is still 0.00. The 0.02 figure is the point at which this extra penalty applies. See zero alcohol for learners and P platers.

How long points last and how to check them

• Points expire 3 years from the date of the offence, unless an EDPN is issued first.
• Points are recorded against the offence date, usually within 48 hours of the fine being paid or registered as unpaid.
• Points from offences in other Australian states are not recorded on your WA licence, but you still have to pay the fine.
• Check your points with DTMI’s online demerit point tool, through DoTDirect, or on the Demerit Point Hotline, 1300 720 111.

Demerits and getting your P plates

DTMI’s provisional licence page lists not having accrued more than 4 demerit points as a condition of getting your Ps. If you are close to 4 points as a learner, check your record before your PDA.

Common questions

How many demerit points do P platers get in WA?

4 points in your first year, and 8 in total by the end of your second year.

Do learner drivers get demerit points in WA?

Yes. Learners are Type 1 novices with a 4 point limit.

Can I do the good behaviour period on my Ps?

No. Provisional licence holders can’t elect one.

Do my points reset when I move from red to green Ps?

No. The limit goes from 4 to 8 at the start of your second licence year, but earlier points still count.

Will I need to resit my tests after a demerit disqualification on Ps?

Your provisional licence is cancelled, and you may need to sit the theory test and PDA again when you reapply.

Related: WA red P plate rules, WA green P plates and getting your full licence and learning to drive in Western Australia.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026, Parts 2 and 5 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Demerit points” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving on your P plates” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Red plate. One mate | New rules for red P-platers” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Learn to drive and log your hours” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Get your provisional licence” (transport.wa.gov.au)

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

Since 1 December 2024, WA red P plate drivers can carry only one passenger at all times, in a car or on a motorbike. There are three exemptions: an extra passenger who has held a full car licence for at least 4 years, immediate family, and passengers carried for work with an employer’s letter. Red P drivers also cannot drive between midnight and 5am unless travelling for work or school. This guide explains each rule, the exemptions and the proof police can ask for.

Key facts

• Red P plates: the first 6 months of your provisional licence.
• Passenger limit: 1 passenger, at all times (Tom’s Law, in force from 1 December 2024).
• Curfew: no driving from midnight to 5am, except to, from or for work, or to or from school.
• Penalty for breaking the passenger limit: a $200 fine and 2 demerit points, the same as for the curfew.
• Blood alcohol: 0.00. Demerit limit: 4 points in your first year.

The one passenger rule (Tom’s Law)

The WA Government announced the change on 27 October 2024, and it applied from 1 December 2024 to all current and future red P drivers. It is called Tom’s Law after Tom Saffioti, a 15-year-old passenger in a 2021 crash. The driver was on their Ps and the car was overloaded with young people.

The limit is one passenger in the car, whatever their age, unless an exemption applies. It lasts only while you are on red P plates.

The three exemptions

You can carry more than one passenger if:

1. An experienced driver is on board. One of the extra passengers has held a full C class (car) licence for at least 4 years.
2. The others are immediate family. That means your spouse, de facto partner, child, step-child, grandchild, step-grandchild, sibling, half-sibling, step-sibling, parent, step-parent, grandparent or step-grandparent.
3. It is for your job. The extra passengers are there because your paid or unpaid work requires it, and you carry a letter from your employer.

You don’t apply for any exemption, but WA Police can ask you to prove that you and your passengers meet it.

Does the 4-year licence holder need to be sober?

No. DTMI says a full licence passenger riding with a red P driver is not subject to an alcohol or drug limit, unlike a learner’s supervisor.

What the employer letter must include

Your employer can use DTMI’s Passenger Restriction Exemption Provisional Licence form (Form E190), or write their own letter. Their letter needs:

• your full name and driver’s licence details
• the company or employer name and contact details
• the ABN or ACN, if there is one
• why you need to carry more passengers
• who the extra passengers are, if known.

Passengers already covered by another exemption, such as family, don’t need to be listed.

Quick scenarios

The aunt and family examples apply DTMI’s exemption wording to everyday situations. If you are unsure about your own case, check with DTMI.

The midnight to 5am curfew

For the first 6 months on your P plates, you must not drive between midnight and 5am unless you are travelling:

• to or from work, or in the course of your work (by the shortest practical route), or
• to or from school (by the shortest practical route).

Drive Safe describes the exemption as covering paid or voluntary work, training and education. Start your trip as soon as possible after work or school finishes. If police stop you, you must be able to show evidence, such as a letter from your employer or school. Penalties can apply if you can’t.

Other rules on red P plates

• Display red P plates front and rear at all times.
• 0.00 blood alcohol.
• No handheld phone use. Calls only with the phone in a fixed cradle or voice activated. No texting, social media or video.
• 4 demerit point limit from your learner’s permit until the end of your first year on Ps.
• Some offences, such as careless driving or a BAC of 0.02 or more, can lead to disqualification and cancellation of your provisional licence on their own.

Points and disqualification are covered in WA novice demerit points.

When do my red Ps end?

After 6 months you switch to green plates. To check your exact date:

• log in to DoTDirect
• use DTMI’s Driver’s Licence Status Enquiry tool
• call 13 11 56, or
• visit a service centre or regional agent with primary and secondary ID.

What changes next is in WA green P plates and getting your full licence.

Common questions

Can a red P plater drive their family around in WA?

Yes. Immediate family members don’t count towards the one passenger limit.

Does the passenger limit apply on a motorbike?

Yes. It covers one passenger in a car or on a motorbike.

Does the limit apply to my girlfriend or boyfriend?

Only spouses and de facto partners are listed as immediate family. Any other partner counts as your one passenger.

How long does the passenger rule last?

Only for the first 6 months of your provisional licence, while you are on red P plates.

Do I need to carry my E190 form every time?

Yes, whenever you rely on the employment exemption. It must be with you to show WA Police if asked.

Can I drive home from a late shift at 2am on red Ps?

Yes, if you go straight home from work by the shortest practical route and can show proof, such as an employer letter.

For how WA’s red P rules compare with other states, see P plate rules in every Australian state compared. For the full path to your licence, see learning to drive in Western Australia.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving on your P plates” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Red plate. One mate | New rules for red P-platers” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Get your provisional licence” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)

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

On a WA learner’s permit you must display L plates, drive with a qualified supervisor, keep a 0.00 blood alcohol level, stay at or under 100 km/h and keep out of Kings Park. If you are under 25 you must also log at least 50 supervised hours, including 5 at night, before your driving test. This guide is for Western Australian learners and the parents who supervise them. It covers every learner condition, who can supervise, and how to log hours in Learn&Log or the paper logbook.

WA learner rules checklist

• Display L plates on the front and rear of the car.
• Always have a supervising driver with you, including when parking.
• Blood alcohol concentration of 0.00.
• Never exceed the posted limit, and never exceed 100 km/h, even on 110 km/h roads.
• Don’t drive in Kings Park or anywhere signs ban learner drivers.
• Drive within any conditions printed on your permit.
• Demerit limit: 4 points. Reach it and you are disqualified for at least 3 months. See WA novice demerit points.

The general mobile phone rules apply to you too. A driver may only make or take a call if the phone is in a fixed mounting or can be used without touching it. Texting, emailing and video messaging while driving are illegal.

Who can supervise a learner driver in WA?

Your supervisor can be a licensed driving instructor, a family member or a friend. For a car, they must:

• have held a driver’s licence for the type of car for at least 4 years (2 years for mopeds)
• hold a licence for the transmission you are using. A supervisor with an automatic-only licence cannot supervise you in a manual
• follow the same alcohol and drug limits that would apply if they were driving
• make sure the car shows L plates and is licensed and roadworthy
• sign off your logbook after each session.

A professional instructor must hold a current DTMI driving instructor’s licence and drive a dual-control car. When teaching someone under 18, they need a current WA Working with Children Check.

The 50 hour rule

You can log hours before and after the HPT. Only sessions properly recorded in an approved logbook count. The approved logbooks are the paper Learner Log Book and Learn&Log.

Fifty hours is a minimum. Drive Safe says young drivers who get 100 to 120 supervised hours are better prepared and less likely to be in serious crashes. It recommends including freeways, highways or major roads, night driving, and speeds of 80 to 100 km/h on roads where that’s allowed.

Paper logbook or Learn&Log?

You can use both. Hours from a paper book can be added to Learn&Log at any time, but if you have any paper hours you must still bring the book to your PDA.

The logbook is a legal document. False or misleading entries can lead to prosecution of everyone who signed.

How to set up Learn&Log

1. Hold a current WA C class (car) or R-E class learner’s permit, and no C or R-E licence.
2. Set up a DoTDirect account with two-factor authentication.
3. Create a myID digital identity of at least Standard strength (two ID documents, such as a passport and your learner’s permit).
4. Install the ServiceWA app and link Learn&Log from the Discovery tab.
5. Add your supervisors (name and licence number, or instructor number) and your vehicles.

Use your own account. You cannot log in through a parent’s ServiceWA app, and DTMI recommends one Learn&Log user per phone.

Logging a trip, step by step

1. While parked, tap “Log a new trip” and then “Start recording”. Then put the phone away.
2. At the end, tap the red stop button and “Finish trip”.
3. Set the night hours: All, None or in 15-minute steps.
4. Tap “Sign & submit” and have your supervisor sign the screen.
5. Check the trip shows as Logged (green). Only Logged trips count.

Forgot to start the timer? Use “Enter a past trip”. Forgot to stop it? Stop it and edit the time down before you submit. You can record trips offline, but they only count once you reconnect and they are validated. A trip goes Invalid (red) if the vehicle registration or supervisor’s details don’t check out, or if it overlaps another trip.

Declaring your 50 hours

1. On the Progress screen, tap “Declare my hours”.
2. Sign the Declaration of Completion and save.
3. Tap “Submit declaration”. Do this at least 24 hours before your PDA.

A simple four-stage practice plan

DTMI’s Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers booklet splits learning into four stages:

1. Basic control: car parks, empty streets and quiet sealed country roads.
2. Quiet roads and hazards: residential streets, starting with left-turn-only loops, then roundabouts and right turns, plus rain and night practice.
3. Complex areas: heavy traffic, freeways, highways and country roads, day and night. Start practising PDA exercises here.
4. Rehearsing to be solo: all conditions, planning your own routes, until you and your supervisor agree you are ready.

The exercises are covered in Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers explained.

Common questions

Is WA changing the 50 hour rule to 80 hours?

Not yet. In April 2026 the WA Government announced a reform package that would raise supervised driving to 80 hours (10 at night), lengthen the minimum learner period and bring in a three-year provisional period. As of November 2026 no start date or transition rules have been published, and the official log book page still requires 50 hours including 5 at night. Log to the current rule, and check Transport WA for any transition notice before you book your assessment.

What counts as night driving in WA?

Driving between sunset and sunrise.

Can a learner drive on the freeway in WA?

Yes, with a supervisor, as long as you stay at or under 100 km/h. Drive Safe recommends freeway practice. See learners on motorways and freeways in Australia.

Can my supervisor have a drink?

Your supervisor must meet the same alcohol and drug limits that would apply if they were driving. For most full licence holders that is the 0.05 limit. You must be at 0.00.

Do lessons with a driving instructor count towards the 50 hours?

Yes, if they are recorded in your logbook. A licensed instructor is one of the people who can supervise you.

Can I drive in Kings Park on my Ls?

No. Learners are not allowed within the boundaries of Kings Park.

What happens to my Learn&Log hours if my permit expires?

They are kept. You can reach them again after you renew your permit.

For the whole licence path, see learning to drive in Western Australia. To compare with other states, see learner licence rules in every Australian state.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Learn to drive and log your hours” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Teach someone to drive” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Digital learner log book – Learn&Log” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Learn&Log FAQs” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Apply for your learner’s permit” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Pass the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA)” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers: A Guide for Learner Drivers”, revised 6 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Government of Western Australia, “Landmark overhaul of WA licensing system to deliver safer roads”, media statement, 26 April 2026 (wa.gov.au)

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

The WA Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) is a 35 to 50 minute on-road test with five sections: three where you follow the assessor’s directions and two set exercises made up of low-speed manoeuvres. You are scored on seven assessment items, and some errors, such as speeding or disobeying a stop sign, are an automatic fail. This guide is for Western Australian learners booking their first PDA. It covers eligibility, booking, the vehicle check, scoring, the fail items and what happens next.

Key facts

• Minimum age 17, at least 6 months on your learner’s permit, HPT passed.
• Under 25s: at least 50 logged supervised hours, including 5 at night.
• Book online through DoTDirect up to 6 months ahead. Give at least 48 hours’ notice to change or cancel.
• Your first PDA is included in your learner’s permit fee. Each resit costs $120.50 (as of November 2026).
• If you fail, wait at least 7 days before you book again.

Are you eligible for the WA PDA?

• You are 17 or older.
• You have held your learner’s permit for at least 6 months.
• You have passed the Hazard Perception Test.
• If you are under 25, you have logged at least 50 supervised hours, including 5 at night between sunset and sunrise. See the WA 50 hour logbook.

Drivers 25 and over don’t need a logbook for a car licence.

Booking, changing and cancelling

• Online: DoTDirect covers all metro service centres and most regional agents. An account is free and there are no online booking fees.
• In person: only at regional service centres and agents. Metro centres don’t take in-person bookings.
• How far ahead: up to 6 months for your first licence.
• Changes: reschedule or cancel as often as you like through DoTDirect or on 13 11 56, but give at least 48 hours’ notice or you pay for a new PDA.

What to bring on the day

1. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. If you are late, your PDA is cancelled and you pay to rebook.
2. Bring your completed paper log book, signed by you and your supervisor. If you logged all 50 hours in Learn&Log, submit the declaration of completion at least 24 hours before the test and bring the device you use.
3. Bring your learner’s permit (preferred) or a Category B identity document.
4. Bring a licensed, roadworthy car with the L plates removed.

The vehicle check

Before you drive, the assessor briefly inspects your car. If it fails, the PDA is cancelled and you pay for another one. The car must have:

• a centrally mounted park brake that holds the car on a slope (driving school cars with dual controls are exempt)
• working demister, door handles, horn, speedometer, windows, wipers and washers
• working, correctly focused lights, with no cracked or faded lenses
• headrests fitted, mirrors inside and out, and seatbelts that aren’t frayed or damaged
• tyres with at least 1.5 mm of tread across the full width, correctly rated and not mismatched
• no windscreen crack over 15 cm, and no chip or crack in the driver’s line of sight
• a secure exhaust, non-slip pedal covers, a reasonably clean interior with loose objects secured
• no red or amber warning lights on the dash, including the low fuel light.

You cannot use a car that is under a recall or fitted with Takata airbags. If you pass in an automatic, your licence is restricted to automatics.

How the WA driving test is structured

In the exercises the assessor explains the task, such as parking in a car park, and you decide the best way to do it. The manoeuvres come from a set of ten, including driveway turnarounds, U-turns, reverse parallel parking and angle parking. Practise them with our guide to the Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers exercises.

Assessors give clear directions and will not try to trick you. An auditor, trainer or trainee may sit in the back for quality checks.

The seven PDA assessment items

The assessor marks YES or NO against these items as you drive. If they write something, it doesn’t necessarily mean you made a mistake.

Automatic fail items in the WA PDA

You fail straight away if you:

• need the assessor to step in or help to avoid a potentially dangerous situation
• disobey a regulatory sign, such as a stop sign
• speed
• break any traffic rule in a way that threatens safety, now or potentially
• drive without your seatbelt on
• fail to respond to a crisis, or potential crisis, that an experienced driver would expect
• cause a crisis or potential crisis
• start the car when you are not in full control of it
• refuse, or are unable, to do any part of an exercise
• refuse to follow a reasonable direction from the assessor.

The assessor will also stop or not start the PDA if you seem unfit to drive, the car breaks down or isn’t suitable, or you offer a bribe.

After the PDA

If you pass

You have your photo taken and pay the licence fee, then you are issued a provisional licence and can drive solo. The assessor will still tell you which areas fell short of the standard. Read the WA red P plate rules before you drive with friends.

If you fail

The assessor explains where you fell short. You must wait at least 7 days before booking another PDA, and each resit costs $120.50 (November 2026). You can keep logging trips in Learn&Log until you get your licence.

Common questions

How long is the WA driving test?

Around 35 to 50 minutes in total, according to DTMI’s PDA page.

Can I use my own car for the PDA?

Yes. You must supply a licensed, roadworthy car that meets the vehicle standard, including a centrally mounted park brake.

Can I do the PDA in a car with an electronic park brake?

The rule is that the park brake must be centrally mounted and hold the car on a slope. If you are unsure whether a car qualifies, ask DTMI before booking.

What are the most common automatic fails?

DTMI doesn’t publish fail statistics. The handbook singles out speeding, disobeying a regulatory sign and not wearing a seatbelt.

Can my driving instructor book the test for me?

Yes, DTMI says you or your driving instructor can book.

Do I need to do the HPT again if I fail?

No. An HPT pass lasts 5 years.

For the full sequence, see learning to drive in Western Australia.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Pass the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA)” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Book and pass your Practical Driving Assessment (PDA)” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Book a PDA securely” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Practical Driving Assessment (PDA) vehicle standard” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Digital learner log book – Learn&Log” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers: A Guide for Learner Drivers”, revised 6 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)

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

You can sit the WA Hazard Perception Test (HPT) once you are at least 16 years and 6 months old and have held your learner’s permit for at least 6 months. You need both. It is a computer test where you click when it is safe to start a manoeuvre or when you need to act to avoid a crash, and you must pass it before you can book your driving test. This guide covers eligibility, how responses are judged, the free practice clips and the fees as of November 2026.

Key facts

• Eligibility: age 16 years 6 months AND 6 months on your learner’s permit.
• No appointment needed at metro DTMI service centres. Tests must start before 3.45pm, Monday to Friday.
• Fee: $29.90. Each resit: $24.10 (as of November 2026).
• A pass is valid for 5 years.
• You must pass the HPT before you can book the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA).

Who can sit the HPT: age AND time on your permit

DTMI’s February 2026 news article on the seven steps says you can sit the HPT once you reach 16 years and 6 months or have held your permit for 6 months. The official HPT pages and the Drive Safe handbook all list the requirements together:

• be at least 16 years and 6 months old, and
• have held your learner’s permit for at least 6 months.

Plan on meeting both. Drive Safe says the 6 months are counted as calendar months from the issue date of your permit.

Worked example

You get your permit on your 16th birthday. You reach both requirements on the day you turn 16 years 6 months. If you get your permit at 16 years 3 months, you wait until 16 years 9 months, when you have held it for 6 months.

How the WA HPT works

You watch a series of moving traffic scenes on a computer. In each one you respond by clicking the mouse when:

• it is safe to start a manoeuvre, such as turning right across traffic or overtaking, or
• you need to act to reduce the risk of a crash, such as slowing down.

The computer records when you respond, or whether you respond at all, and compares that with the recommended response time (or no response) for that scene. There are separate tests for cars and for motorcycles and mopeds.

What the official practice test teaches you

DTMI’s free online practice test for cars has four scenes:

1. Stopped at an intersection, waiting to turn right.
2. Approaching an intersection where you may need to slow down.
3. Driving on a country road where you may overtake if it is safe and legal.
4. Driving straight ahead where you may need to slow down.

The feedback shows how answers are marked wrong:

Lessons from the practice feedback:

• Look further ahead so you spot hazards before they become a problem.
• Turn right only when you are positive no oncoming traffic is coming. Keep your wheels straight while you wait.
• Never overtake across a continuous white line, and never exceed the speed limit to overtake.

DTMI recommends doing the practice test on a computer rather than a phone.

Where and when to sit it

• Any DTMI service centre or regional agent.
• No appointment at metro centres. You may need to call regional centres and agents first.
• Tests must start before 3.45pm, Monday to Friday. Joondalup Driver Assessment Centre allows starts from 7.15am until 4.45pm, Monday to Saturday.
• Bring your learner’s permit, or primary and secondary identification.

Fees (as of November 2026)

If you don’t pass

You resit on another day and pay the resit fee. Use the time to drive more with your supervisor, especially at intersections and on busier roads. The HPT tests the judgement you build through real driving experience.

Help with English and remote exemptions

• If you have difficulty reading English, you can listen to the instructions through headphones.
• An interpreter can translate for you, but only during the introduction and practice session, not the test itself.
• If you live more than 100 km from a centre or agent with HPT facilities, you can apply for an exemption using the Application for Exemption from Hazard Perception Test (Form E19).

After the HPT

Keep driving and logging hours. Under 25s need at least 50 supervised hours, including 5 at night, before the PDA. See WA learner rules and the 50 hour logbook. You can sit the WA Practical Driving Assessment from age 17. For the full sequence, see learning to drive in Western Australia.

Common questions

Can I sit the WA HPT at 16 and a half if I got my Ls at 16 and 2 months?

No. You also need 6 months on your permit, so you wait until 16 years and 8 months.

How many clips are in the WA HPT?

DTMI doesn’t publish the number of scenes in the real test. The practice test has four for cars.

Can I do the HPT online at home?

Only the practice test. The real HPT is taken at a DTMI service centre or regional agent.

Can I do the HPT and the driving test on the same day?

You need an HPT pass before you can book the PDA, so pass the HPT first and then book.

Do I need to sit the HPT again if I fail the driving test?

No. An HPT pass is valid for 5 years.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Hazard Perception Test (HPT)” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Sit a Hazard Perception Test (HPT)” (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Drive Safe: A handbook for Western Australian road users”, revised 5 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Driving Techniques for Safer Drivers: A Guide for Learner Drivers”, revised 6 August 2026 (transport.wa.gov.au)
• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “No more roadblocks: 7 steps to getting your first licence in WA” (transport.wa.gov.au)