Photo: Philip Mallis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Learning to drive in Victoria takes you from a learner permit at 16 to a probationary licence at 18 at the earliest, then through red P1 and green P2 plates to a full licence. If you are under 21 when you go for your Ps, you need at least 12 months on your Ls, 120 logged hours and four years on Ps. This guide sets out the 10 official steps, the minimum times and what each stage costs as of November 2026, with a link to a detailed guide for every step.
Key facts
- Learner permit: from age 16, valid for 10 years.
- Probationary licence: from age 18.
- Under 21 at your licence test: 120 hours of supervised driving, including 20 at night.
- P1 (red): at least 1 year. P2 (green): at least 3 years. If you are 21 or older when you get your Ps, you go straight to P2.
- Zero alcohol for learners, P1 and P2 drivers, and no touching phones or devices while driving.
- Issuing your learner permit, P1 and P2 licence is free under the Motorist Package and Safe Driver Discount. Test and appointment fees still apply.
The 10 steps to a Victorian driver licence
These are the steps in the Road to Solo Driving handbook, the official Victorian learner handbook.
- Read and understand the Road to Solo Driving handbook. The learner permit test questions are based on it. See the Road to Solo Driving study guide.
- Book your learner permit test (age 16 or older).
- Pass the learner permit test: an eyesight check plus a computer test on road law and road safety. Details: VicRoads Learner Permit Test guide.
- Get your learner permit. You can drive on the paper receipt until the card arrives by post.
- Get as much supervised experience as possible, using the four stages in the Learner Kit or the myLearners app. See the Victoria 120 hour logbook guide.
- Book your probationary licence test.
- Pass the probationary licence test: eyesight check, the Hazard Perception Test, then the drive test.
- Get your probationary licence.
- Follow the P plate rules and keep a good driving record.
- Receive your full driver licence.
Minimum ages and times in Victoria
| Stage | Under 21 when you apply for Ps | 21 to under 25 | 25 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learner permit | Age 16 | Age 16 | Age 16 |
| Minimum continuous time on Ls | 12 months | 6 months | 3 months |
| Logged hours | 120, including 20 at night | Not required (log book encouraged) | Not required |
| Hazard Perception Test | From 17 years 11 months | Must pass before the drive test | Must pass before the drive test |
| Probationary licence | Age 18, starts on P1 for at least 1 year, then P2 for at least 3 years | Starts on P2 for at least 3 years | Starts on P2 for at least 3 years |
| Full licence | Earliest at 22 | After at least 3 years on P2 | After at least 3 years on P2 |
“Continuous” means your permit must not have been broken by a suspension, cancellation or letting it expire.
Before your learner permit test: proving who you are
You must prove your identity and that you live in Victoria with original documents (no photocopies, certified or not). The names must match and be in the same order on each one.
- One category A document, for example a passport (current or expired up to two years) or an Australian birth certificate (not a birth extract or commemorative certificate).
- One category B document, for example a Medicare card, student ID card, bank card, or a phone, gas or electricity bill no more than a year old.
- Proof of Victorian residence if your address is not on those documents.
If you have poor vision, bring an eyesight certificate from an optometrist or ophthalmologist. If you have a condition that may affect your driving, bring a medical report from your doctor.
Driving on your Ls
As a learner you must carry your permit, display L plates front and rear (visible from 20 metres), have a supervising driver with a full licence beside you, keep a zero BAC, not touch your phone or other devices, not tow and only drive a car. Full detail: Victorian learner permit rules and phone and device rules for L and P platers.
Without a learner permit you cannot practise on public roads or in car parks. Doing so can lead to an unlicensed driving charge.
Getting your Ps: the Hazard Perception Test and drive test
To get your probationary licence you must be at least 18, have held your permit for the minimum continuous time, not be disqualified anywhere, and pass the Hazard Perception Test and then the drive test. If you are under 21 you must also show 120 hours (20 at night) in the myLearners app or the Learner Log Book.
- An incomplete or incorrect log book is not accepted: you lose your fees and cannot sit the test for at least six weeks.
- You supply the test car. Check it first: which cars you can use for the VicRoads drive test.
- Know what ends a test early: VicRoads drive test fails.
- Pass in an automatic and you can only drive automatics during your P period, unless you pass another test in a manual. See upgrading from an automatic to a manual licence.
P1 and P2 in Victoria
| Rule | P1 (red) | P2 (green) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum time | 1 year | 3 years |
| Alcohol | Zero BAC | Zero BAC |
| Phones and devices | No touching or voice control | No touching or voice control |
| Peer passengers | No more than one aged 16 to under 22 (exemptions apply) | No limit |
| Probationary prohibited vehicles | Banned | Banned |
| Towing | Not allowed (work and supervised exemptions) | No P2 towing ban listed |
| Demerit points | Fewer than 5 in 12 months | Fewer than 5 in 12 months |
A bad record extends your P1 or P2 time. Full rules: Victorian P1 and P2 rules and Victoria demerit points and penalties.
Finish your P1 and P2 periods with a good record while under 25 and you may be eligible for a free three year licence under the Free Licence Scheme.
What it costs to get your licence in Victoria (as of November 2026)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Learner permit, P1 and P2 licence issue | Free (Motorist Package and Safe Driver Discount) |
| Learner Permit Test online, first attempt | Free |
| Learner Permit Test in person | $28.70 plus $22.10 appointment fee ($50.80) |
| Hazard Perception Test online, first attempt | Free (further attempts charged) |
| Drive test | $53.20 plus $22.10 appointment fee ($75.30) |
Fees change, so check the VicRoads Ls and Ps fees page before booking. Breakdown: VicRoads Ls and Ps fees 2026.
Why the rules are strict: the challenges of driving
Chapter 1 of the handbook explains why Victoria has a long learner period and a four year P period for most new drivers.
- New drivers are three times more likely to be in a casualty crash than experienced drivers.
- Learners have few crashes. Crash numbers jump as soon as people start driving solo on Ps, then fall slowly over the next few years.
- New solo drivers often crash by losing control on straight roads, turning right in front of oncoming traffic, being hit by a right turning car, or running into the back of the car in front.
- The cause is rarely poor car control. It is misjudging gaps, driving too fast or too close, being distracted, not looking far enough ahead and being slow to spot hazards.
- New solo drivers with about 120 hours of learner experience have a crash risk 30 per cent lower than those with about 50 hours.
More on reducing your risk: managing risk as a new Victorian driver.
Victorian road skills to practise
- How to do a hook turn in Melbourne
- Driving with trams in Victoria
- School zone times in each Australian state
- Roundabout rules in Australia
Common questions
How old do you have to be to drive in Victoria?
You can get a learner permit at 16 and a probationary licence at 18. You can sit the Hazard Perception Test from 17 years and 11 months.
Is a learner permit free in Victoria?
The learner permit issue fee is free under the Motorist Package, and so is your first online Learner Permit Test attempt. You pay for further attempts, in person tests and appointments.
Do I need 120 hours if I am over 21?
No. The 120 hour requirement applies if you are under 21 when you go for your licence test. Over 21 you are encouraged to use the Learner Kit but do not have to present a log book.
How long does it take to get a full licence in Victoria?
Under 21: at least 12 months on Ls plus 4 years on Ps, so 22 at the earliest. Aged 21 or over: at least 6 months (or 3 months if 25 or over) on Ls plus 3 years on P2.
Can I drive in another state on my Victorian Ls or Ps?
Rules differ between states and you may need to follow theirs. See driving interstate on L or P plates.
How do Victoria’s rules compare with other states?
See learner licence rules compared and P plate rules compared.
Sources
- Department of Transport and Planning, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook (edge.sitecorecloud.io, transport.vic.gov.au)
- VicRoads, “Rules for P drivers” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- VicRoads, “Ls and Ps fees” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- VicRoads, “How to get your Ls” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- VicRoads, “How to get your Ps” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)