Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Every Australian state and territory makes you pass a road rules knowledge test before you get your Ls, but the format, pass mark and fee change at each border. This checklist compares all eight learner tests side by side, as of November 2026, so you know what to expect wherever you live. Where a state does not publish its question count or pass mark, the table says so rather than guessing.
Key facts
- Published formats: Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory all use 30 questions. Pass marks are 27 (QLD PrepL and TAS), 24 (WA) and 26 (NT).
- For NSW and Victoria, check the question count and pass mark with Service NSW or VicRoads.
- Most states now run the test online as part of a learning course: NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and TAS. WA and NT test in person. The ACT tests through approved course providers.
- In NSW, Queensland and Tasmania you can enrol from 15 years 11 months, and in SA (myLs) and the ACT from 15 years 9 months. Your Ls are still issued at 16 everywhere except the ACT, where the minimum age is 15 years 9 months.
- Victoria’s first online attempt and Tasmania’s course and test are free.
Learner tests in every state at a glance
| State | Test | Questions | Pass mark | Fee (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Driver Knowledge Test (DKT), online course or in person | Check with Service NSW | Check with Service NSW | $58 online (unlimited attempts) or $58 per in-person attempt |
| VIC | Learner Permit Test, online course or in person | Check with VicRoads | Check with VicRoads | First online attempt free; in person $28.70 plus $22.10 appointment fee |
| QLD | PrepL online course and assessment (written test in limited cases) | 30 | PrepL 27 of 30. Written test: 9 of 10 giving way and 18 of 20 road rules | $29.70 |
| WA | Computerised Theory Test (CTT) | 30 | 24 of 30 | $22.40; resit $19.20 |
| SA | myLs online course or in-office theory test | Handbook sample: 8 give way diagrams plus 42 questions | Sample: all 8 give way, then 32 of 42 | $44 (myLs is a once-only fee) |
| TAS | Plates Plus course and online test, or standalone test at Service Tasmania | 30 | 27 of 30 | Free (you pay only the $40.68 learner licence fee) |
| ACT | Pre-Learner Licence Course plus ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test | 2019 handbook: 35 | 2019 handbook: mandatory questions, plus up to 4 wrong on the rest | Set by the course provider; some providers are free |
| NT | Driver knowledge test (theory test) | 30, from a pool of 300+ | 26 of 30 | $20 per attempt; free with DriveSafe NT |
Fees change, usually on 1 July. Check the current figure with your transport department before you pay.
State by state: what each test involves
NSW Driver Knowledge Test
- Online: a 4 to 6 hour course with the test built in. Enrol from 15 years 11 months. If you fail, review the modules and retake after 12 hours.
- In person: from 16 at a service centre, with interpreter, Auslan and assistant reader options.
- Questions come from the official Class C question bank (General Knowledge, Road Safety, Traffic Signs), which Transport for NSW publishes as a free PDF.
- The question count and pass mark are not on the official DKT page. Figures on unofficial sites are unconfirmed; check with Service NSW on 13 22 13.
More: NSW Driver Knowledge Test.
Victorian Learner Permit Test
- Online: an interactive 4 to 6 hour course from age 16, English only, 12 months to finish.
- In person: only if you need another language or have no computer or internet. Thirteen other languages are offered, plus free interpreters.
- Questions are based on the Road to Solo Driving handbook. VicRoads does not publish the count or pass mark.
More: VicRoads Learner Permit Test.
Queensland PrepL
- An online course and assessment with 30 multiple-choice questions. You need 27 correct.
- Enrol from 15 years 11 months. After a fail you wait 24 hours, with no extra fee during your 12 months of access.
- The older written test at a TMR centre has 10 giving way and 20 road rules questions. Ask TMR (13 23 80) whether it is open to you.
More: PrepL and the Queensland road rules test.
WA Computerised Theory Test
- 30 questions; 24 correct to pass. Sit it at a service centre or regional agent, usually when you apply for your permit.
- Metro centres need no appointment, but the test must start before 3.45pm, Monday to Friday.
- Completed Keys4Life at school in the last 2 years? You skip the test.
- Oral tests and tests with a translator are available.
More: WA Computerised Theory Test.
SA theory test
- myLs: start from 15 years 9 months. One fee buys a 12-month subscription with unlimited attempts.
- In-office test at Service SA: book ahead and pay for each attempt.
- The Driver’s Handbook prints a sample answer sheet with two parts. Part A is 8 give way diagrams, and all 8 must be right. Part B is 42 questions, and you need 32. It is an older form, so confirm the current format with Service SA (13 10 84).
More: myLs or the in-office theory test.
Tasmanian driver knowledge test
- The free Plates Plus course takes about 4 to 6 hours. You unlock the test by earning three keys.
- 30 questions; 27 to pass. Some questions have more than one correct answer. You must finish in one sitting.
- Fail online and you can retry after 12 hours. There is no practice version of the car test.
More: Tasmanian driver knowledge test and Plates Plus.
ACT pre-learner course and road rules test
- A 10-hour course in four modules, then a 35-question course assessment and the ACT Road Rules Knowledge Test. Both are run by approved providers, and many schools offer them.
- The test result is valid for 2 years.
- Practise on the official Licence Knowledge Trainer (377 questions).
More: ACT pre-learner course and road rules test.
NT driver knowledge test
- 30 questions picked at random from a pool of more than 300. You need 26 correct.
- Sit it at any MVR office from age 16. Verbal tests and interpreters are available at some offices.
- A pass is valid for 12 months. The Learner Drivers’ Guide says you cannot sit more than once a day.
More: NT driver knowledge test.
Retakes compared
| State | If you fail |
|---|---|
| NSW | Online: retake after 12 hours, no extra fee. In person: pay again; same-day resit if a slot is free |
| VIC | Further online attempts are charged. Check the current fee on the VicRoads Ls and Ps fees page |
| QLD | PrepL: wait 24 hours, no extra fee within 12 months. Written test: pay each attempt |
| WA | Resit on another day for $19.20 |
| SA | myLs: unlimited attempts within the subscription. In office: book and pay again |
| TAS | Online: retry after 12 hours. Standalone: next business day, or switch to online |
| ACT | Arranged through your course provider |
| NT | Pay $20 again; no more than once a day |
How to prepare, whatever your state
- Read your state handbook in full. Every test draws on it.
- Use the official practice material. NSW and the NT publish their full question banks. WA has 11 free quizzes, Queensland has a practice road rules test, and the ACT has the Licence Knowledge Trainer.
- Give giving way the most time. It is a set block in Queensland and SA, and SA’s sample needs 8 out of 8. See giving way in Australia.
- Learn the learner rules you will drive under the next day: speed caps, zero alcohol and phone bans. See learner licence rules in every state compared.
- Revise Australian road signs and roundabout rules.
Common questions
Which state has the hardest learner test?
No state publishes pass rates, so there is no official answer. By pass mark, Queensland PrepL and Tasmania are the strictest of those published (27 of 30). SA’s sample sheet allows no give way errors at all.
Can I sit the learner test before I turn 16?
In NSW, Queensland and Tasmania you can enrol in the online course from 15 years 11 months, and in SA’s myLs from 15 years 9 months. The permit is issued from 16. In the ACT you can get your learner licence from 15 years 9 months.
Does a learner test pass from one state count in another?
The test itself does not transfer. If you move with a current learner licence, ask the new state about converting it. See driving interstate on L or P plates.
Can I take the test in another language?
Mostly yes, but how varies. NSW offers set languages online and in person. VIC offers 13 languages in person, WA offers translators and oral tests, the NT offers interpreters, and Tasmania offers free professional interpreters for the standalone test. Ask your department when you book.
How long is a test pass valid?
It is 2 years in the ACT, 12 months in the NT and 5 years in WA. In Queensland a PrepL pass lasts 5 years. In Tasmania you have 12 months from passing online to collect your Ls.
Are there official practice tests?
NSW, Queensland, WA and the ACT offer official practice. NSW and the NT also publish their question banks. Tasmania has no practice version of the car test; its course works as practice.
Sources
- NSW Government, “Driver Knowledge Test (DKT)” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Licence and test fees” (nsw.gov.au)
- Transport for NSW, “Driver Knowledge Test Questions Class C (Car) Licence” (nsw.gov.au)
- VicRoads, “Learner Permit Test” and “Ls and Ps fees” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- Queensland Government, “Driver tests: written and online” and “Licence fees” (qld.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Main Roads, “Enrol in PrepL” (service.transport.qld.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure WA, “Take the Computerised Theory Test (CTT)” and “Drive Safe” handbook (transport.wa.gov.au)
- Government of South Australia, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)
- SA.GOV.AU, “Complete the myLs course online” (sa.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth, “Getting your learner licence” (platesplus.tas.gov.au)
- Transport Services Tasmania, “Licensing and assessment fees” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Access Canberra, “Get your learner driver licence” and “ACT Road Rules Handbook” (accesscanberra.act.gov.au)
- City Services, “Learner and provisional driver safety” (cityservices.act.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Get your driver licence” and “Driver and rider licence fees” (nt.gov.au)
- Motor Vehicle Registry, “Learner Drivers’ Guide” (nt.gov.au)