Photo: Alan Levine, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To get a learner’s permit in South Australia you must pass a theory test, either through the online myLs course or as an in-office test at Service SA. This guide compares the two routes, explains how the test is set out and shows what to study. It is for anyone aged 15 years and 9 months or older who is getting ready for their Ls in SA.
Key facts
- myLs: start from 15 years and 9 months. One fee covers a 12-month subscription with unlimited test attempts.
- In-office test: book at a Service SA centre. You pay for each attempt.
- You cannot be issued a learner’s permit until you are 16.
- Every answer is in The Driver’s Handbook. The sample in-office test in the handbook has 8 give way diagrams (all 8 must be right) and 42 multiple-choice questions (32 must be right).
- The permit lasts two years. If you let it expire for more than 12 months, you must pass the theory test again.
myLs vs the in-office theory test
| myLs (online) | In-office theory test | |
|---|---|---|
| Earliest start | 15 years 9 months | The handbook gives no earlier start. The permit is issued from 16 |
| Where | Online, 24/7, at your own pace | Service SA centre, by booking |
| Cost model | Once-only fee, 12-month subscription | Pay for every attempt |
| Retakes | As many as you need within the subscription | Each retake is a new booking and fee |
| Learning content | Included in the course | Self-study from The Driver’s Handbook |
| Getting the permit | Pay and get it online through mySAGOV | At the centre after you pass |
For most learners, myLs is the easier choice: you can start three months early, fail without paying again, and the course teaches the material as you go. The in-office test suits people who already know the handbook well and want to finish in one visit.
How to enrol in myLs
- Go to a Service SA centre with full evidence of identity: three original documents showing your name, date of birth, signature and current SA address.
- Have your photograph taken.
- Set up a mySAGOV account.
- Pay the myLs fee and work through the course and test online.
- After you pass, and once you are 16, pay the learner’s permit fee through mySAGOV.
You receive The Driving Companion (the log book) free when you enrol in myLs.
How to sit the in-office theory test
- Book first. Service SA requires bookings for theory tests (phone 13 10 84).
- Bring proof of age, address and identity documents to the test.
- Pay for the attempt. If you fail, you book and pay again.
How many questions are on the SA theory test?
The Driver’s Handbook prints a sample of the in-office theory test answer sheet. It has two parts:
| Part | Questions | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| Part A: give way | 8 diagrams of give way situations | All 8 correct. You must pass Part A before you can attempt Part B |
| Part B: road rules and road safety | 42 multiple-choice questions (A, B or C) | 32 out of 42 |
The sample sheet is an older form reproduced in the handbook. Service SA does not publish the current question count and pass mark on a page we could read, and myLs is structured as a course, so check the format with Service SA (13 10 84) before your test. Whatever the format, the give way rules matter most: with a sample that needs 8 out of 8, one give way mistake means a fail.
What to study
The handbook says the theory test is based directly on its road safety and road rules sections. Focus on:
- Giving way: intersections, T-intersections, roundabouts, stop and give way signs, and turning. See giving way in Australia.
- Speed limits: the 50 km/h default in built-up areas, the 100 km/h default outside them, 25 km/h in school zones when children are present, and the 100 km/h maximum for learners and P drivers.
- Alcohol and drugs: zero BAC for L, P and probationary drivers. See zero alcohol for learners and P platers.
- Your own permit conditions. See SA learner permit conditions.
- Signs, signals, lights, crossings, parking and phones. Use the SA Driver’s Handbook study guide.
Practice questions in the style of the test
These questions are written from rules in The Driver’s Handbook. They are not official test questions.
- A learner driver is on a road signed 110 km/h. What is the fastest they may drive? A: 110 km/h. B: 100 km/h. C: 90 km/h. Answer: B. Learners must not exceed 100 km/h.
- What is the minimum following distance the handbook recommends in good conditions? A: 1 second. B: 2 seconds. C: 3 seconds. Answer: C.
- A child is on the footpath inside a school zone at 7pm. What is the limit? A: 25 km/h. B: 40 km/h. C: The normal limit, because school is over. Answer: A. The 25 km/h school zone limit applies whenever a child is present.
- Your qualified supervising driver must have held an unconditional licence for at least: A: 1 year. B: 2 years. C: 5 years. Answer: B.
Common questions
Can I do the SA learner theory test online?
Yes, through myLs. You still have to visit a Service SA centre once to prove your identity and have your photo taken before you can enrol.
What happens if I fail myLs?
You can try again as many times as you need during the 12-month subscription at no extra cost.
What happens if I fail the in-office test?
You book and pay for another attempt.
Is the SA theory test in other languages?
The handbook does not say. Ask Service SA on 13 10 84 when you book.
How much does the theory test cost?
The fee changes each financial year. Check the current myLs, theory test and learner’s permit fees on the sa.gov.au driver’s licence and permit fees page.
I passed myLs at 15. When can I drive?
Not until your learner’s permit is issued, which can only happen from your 16th birthday.
Back to the main guide: learning to drive in South Australia.
Sources
- Government of South Australia, Department for Infrastructure and Transport, “The Driver’s Handbook (MR200, February 2026)” (mylicence.sa.gov.au)