Photo: Chris.sherlock2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
From 1 July 2026, the NSW Driving Test costs $72 per attempt, the Driver Knowledge Test and Hazard Perception Test cost $58 each, and the learner licence is $32. Add the P1 ($74) and P2 ($115) licences and a learner under 25 who passes every test first time pays $409 in official fees. This page lists every licence and test fee Transport for NSW publishes, what a retake costs, how to avoid losing a booking fee, and the concessions and free programs available.
Key facts
- All fees below took effect on 1 July 2026 and are current as of November 2026.
- The DKT online is $58 for unlimited attempts. In person it is $58 per attempt.
- The HPT ($58) and Driving Test ($72) are charged for every attempt.
- Change or cancel a Driving Test at least 48 hours ahead, or the fee may not be refunded or transferred.
- Eligible pensioners get licences and driving tests free.
- The Safer Drivers Course costs $140 and earns 20 bonus log book hours, with 1,000 free places a year for eligible learners.
NSW licence and test fees from 1 July 2026
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Knowledge Test, online | $58 | Unlimited attempts |
| Driver Knowledge Test, in person | $58 | Per attempt |
| Learner licence | $32 | Valid 5 years |
| Replacement learner licence | $28 | |
| Hazard Perception Test | $58 | Per attempt |
| Driving Test | $72 (inc GST) | Per attempt |
| Provisional P1 licence | $74 | Held at least 12 months |
| Provisional P2 licence | $115 | Held at least 24 months |
| Unrestricted (gold) licence | $74 (1 year), $172 (3 years), $234 (5 years), $434 (10 years) | 10 years only for car or rider licences, aged 21 to 44 |
| Replacement P1, P2 or full licence | $34 | |
| Interstate licence transfer | $34 | Learner, P1, P2 or unrestricted |
| Replacement Learner Driver Log Book | $22 | The first log book is given to you; a log book app can be used instead |
| Printed handbook | $16 | Free to download |
| Provisional licence exemption letter | $41 | Peer passenger, one passenger or prohibited vehicle condition |
What does it cost to get your Ps in NSW?
Under 25, passing everything first time
| Step | Fee |
|---|---|
| DKT (online or in person, one attempt) | $58 |
| Learner licence | $32 |
| HPT | $58 |
| Driving Test | $72 |
| P1 licence | $74 |
| P2 licence (about 12 months later) | $115 |
| Total official fees | $409 |
Most of this is spread over 3 years or more. You pay $90 to get your Ls, $204 around test time (HPT, Driving Test and P1) and $115 when you move to P2. Learners aged 25 or older pay the same fees but have no log book or minimum learner period, so they can reach the test sooner. A full licence later costs from $74.
The cost of retakes
| Scenario | Extra cost |
|---|---|
| Fail the DKT online, pass on the second try | $0 (unlimited attempts; retake after 12 hours) |
| Fail the DKT in person once | $58 |
| Fail the HPT once | $58 |
| Fail the Driving Test once | $72 (and wait at least 7 days) |
| HPT pass expires (older than 15 months) before you pass the Driving Test | $58 to resit it |
Example: a learner who passes the DKT online, needs two HPT attempts and two Driving Tests pays $409 + $58 + $72 = $539.
DKT online or in person: which is cheaper?
- Online ($58, unlimited attempts): a 4 to 6 hour course and test you can start from 15 years 11 months. Retake after 12 hours if you fail. Service NSW says you pay once you pass.
- In person ($58 per attempt): from 16, at a service centre. Each fail costs another $58.
Unless you are confident of a first-time pass, online is cheaper. More: the NSW Driver Knowledge Test.
Rebooking and cancellation: how not to lose $72
- Change or cancel your Driving Test at least 48 hours before it. Later than that, the fee may not be refunded or transferred.
- Submit log book app hours at least 48 hours before the test. Without them, the test cannot go ahead.
- Bring a car that passes the officer’s check. If the car is unregistered or unsafe, has a dashcam recording, or has an active dual accelerator, the test is ended and the fee is not refunded.
- Keep your HPT pass current. It is valid for 15 months.
Test day checklist: what to bring and car rules. Book through Service NSW online, on 13 22 13 or at a service centre.
Concessions and free programs
Pensioner concessions
Holders of a current Pensioner Concession Card from Services Australia or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, with a NSW address, get these free:
- licences and driving tests
- replacement learner log books
- Photo Cards.
Some DVA Gold Card holders (TPI, EDA or War Widow) also qualify. Eligibility is checked electronically. Interstate pensioner cards do not count. Seniors Card holders and carers get a free Photo Card only.
Safer Drivers Course
The course costs $140 and adds 20 bonus hours to your log book (once only). There are 1,000 free places a year. To qualify for one, you must be under 25, hold a learner licence, have logged at least 50 hours and meet one of the criteria: a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card in your own name, current or past DLAP participation, or being in or having left out-of-home care. See the NSW learner log book.
Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP)
DLAP is a free program for people who face extra barriers to getting a licence: Aboriginal communities, refugee and resettlement communities, people with limited transport options, vulnerable young people and others facing hardship. Providers help with identity documents, test preparation, supervised driving and managing fines and debts. Transport for NSW does not say on its DLAP page whether DLAP covers licence fees, so ask your local provider. Find one through the DLAP Service Provider Finder, or call the Transport for NSW Aboriginal Engagement team on 131 782 (option 2).
Cutting the bill in other ways
- Use 3 for 1 lessons: each hour with a licensed instructor logs as 3 hours, up to 10 lesson hours.
- Photograph your paper log book pages or use the approved log book app, so a lost book does not mean buying a $22 replacement and re-entering hours.
- Book the Driving Test only when you can drive safely without help. Every fail costs $72.
Compare the other states: the cost of getting a licence in Australia.
Common questions
How much is the NSW driving test in 2026?
$72 including GST, for each attempt, from 1 July 2026.
Do I pay for the DKT again if I fail?
Not online: $58 covers unlimited attempts. In person, yes: $58 each time.
Is the HPT free if I fail?
No. Each attempt is $58, and there is no limit on attempts. See the NSW Hazard Perception Test.
What does it cost to renew my learner licence?
Your Ls last 5 years. To renew, you pass the DKT again and pay the test and licence fees ($58 + $32 at current rates).
Why do I pay for P1 and P2 separately?
They are separate licences. P1 lasts at least 12 months, then you apply for P2. See from P1 to P2 to a full licence.
Do the fees go up every year?
The current figures took effect on 1 July 2026. Check the Transport for NSW fees page for later changes before you pay.
Back to the main guide: learning to drive in NSW. Also see the NSW Driving Test.
Sources
- NSW Government, “Driver and rider licence fees”, effective 1 July 2026 (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Concessions and discounts for licence-related fees” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Driver Licensing Access Program (DLAP)” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Learner driver licence”, “Driver Knowledge Test” and “Hazard Perception Test” (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Government, “Safer Drivers Course” and “Using your Learner Driver Log Book” (nsw.gov.au)
- Transport for NSW, “A Guide to the Driving Test” (nsw.gov.au)
- Service NSW, “Driver Knowledge Test online” (service.nsw.gov.au)