Photo: Cuddy Wifter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
On a Northern Territory learner licence you must keep to 80 km/h, have zero alcohol, show L plates and have a full licence holder beside you every time you drive. There are no compulsory logbook hours, but the NT Government recommends about 100 hours of practice. This guide lists every learner condition, the rules for your supervisor, and what can get your Ls suspended. It is part of the guide to learning to drive in the Northern Territory.
NT learner licence conditions at a glance
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Speed | 80 km/h maximum, even on 110 or 130 km/h roads. Obey lower limits where signed. |
| Alcohol | Zero blood or breath alcohol. No alcoholic drinks or food containing alcohol before driving. |
| Supervisor | A full Australian licence holder in the front passenger seat at all times |
| L plates | Front and rear of the car, plus the back of any trailer |
| Mobile phone | No use of any function, including hands-free, loudspeaker and maps |
| Screens | No TV or visual display unit operating where you or other drivers can see it (mounted navigation and reversing screens excepted) |
| Seatbelts | You must make sure everyone in the car is wearing a seatbelt or approved restraint |
| Licence | Carry your learner licence every time you drive |
| Vehicle | Only the class your licence allows. No construction or agricultural vehicles on a C class learner licence. |
| Towing | Allowed, with an L plate on the back of the trailer |
The 80 km/h learner limit
The handbook and the NT Government licence page set 80 km/h as the most you can drive on Ls, whatever the signs say. The NT Government speed limits page adds that the limit applies “unless accompanied by a licensed driving instructor”. That exception does not appear in the handbook, so if you plan to go faster than 80 km/h with an instructor, confirm it with the MVR first. Going over the learner limit on your driving test is a fail item. More on limits: NT speed limits explained.
L plate rules
- A black letter L on a yellow background, at least 150 mm by 150 mm.
- Clearly visible at the front and rear (rear only on a motorcycle). The handbook recommends mounting them upright, not flat on the bonnet or boot.
- A roof-mounted L sign does not replace the front and rear plates.
- If a plate is in a window, make sure tint, louvres, spoilers or a load in a ute tray do not hide it.
- Take the plates off when a fully licensed driver is driving.
Who can supervise a learner in the NT?
Your supervisor can be an adult relative, a friend or a driving instructor. They must:
- hold a current full Australian driver licence (not a learner, provisional or overseas licence)
- sit in the front passenger seat, right next to you, the whole time (including parking practice)
- carry their full licence
- have a blood alcohol concentration under 0.05 (paid driving instructors must be at zero)
- not be affected by drugs
The supervisor takes responsibility for your driving and is treated as the driver for most legal purposes. A P plater cannot supervise you.
How many hours of practice do you need?
There is no minimum. You only need to hold your learner licence continuously for 6 months before the practical test. The NT Government recommends about:
- 20 or more hours to learn how to operate the car’s controls
- another 80 hours to learn to be a low-risk driver
Practise in different conditions: day, night and rain. The NT Learner Drivers’ Guide includes a free logbook with short codes for road type (MR major road, M minor road, U unsealed), weather and traffic. Log every drive, even a five-minute trip to the shops. Professional lessons help, but paying for every hour is not required. Ask a fully licensed parent, relative or friend to practise each new skill with you between lessons.
Choosing a driving instructor
All paid driving instructors in the NT must be registered and follow a code of practice. The handbook suggests checking that your instructor holds professional indemnity and public liability insurance. You can change instructors at any time. DriveSafe NT participants get subsidised lesson vouchers: see DriveSafe NT.
Demerit points on your Ls
Your learner licence is suspended if you get 5 or more demerit points in any 12 months, or 12 or more in any 3 years. You are suspended for 3 months at 5 to 8 points, 4 months at 9 to 12, and 5 months at 13 or more. A suspension also breaks your 6 continuous months: a practical test taken while your licence is suspended, cancelled or expired is not valid. After the licence is reactivated, you need another 6 continuous months before you can test.
Keeping your 6 months unbroken
- A learner licence lasts 2 years.
- You can renew it in the six weeks before it expires by passing the theory test again and paying the fee.
- If it expires first, you must hold the reissued licence for 6 months before you can sit the practical test.
Common questions
Do NT learners need a logbook?
No. The logbook in the Learner Drivers’ Guide is optional. DriveSafe NT participants use their own Participant Handbook and Driving Log.
Can I drive on the highway on my Ls?
Yes, but never above 80 km/h. On high-speed highways, keep left and let faster traffic, including road trains, pass. See sharing the road with trucks and road trains.
Can my older brother on his Ps supervise me?
No. Your supervisor must hold a full licence. Provisional drivers are banned from supervising learners.
Can I use Google Maps on my phone as a learner?
No. Learners cannot use any mobile phone function while driving, including navigation, hands-free calls or loudspeaker.
Can I tow a trailer on my Ls?
Yes. You must put an L plate on the back of the trailer as well. For towing rules, see towing on L or P plates.
Do NT learner rules apply if I drive interstate?
Interstate rules can differ. Check driving interstate on L or P plates before you travel.
Sources
- Northern Territory Government, “Get your driver licence” (nt.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Road Users’ Handbook”, Fifth Edition, August 2020 (nt.gov.au)
- Motor Vehicle Registry, “Learner Drivers’ Guide”, Second Edition, January 2020 (nt.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Speed limits” (nt.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Demerit points” (nt.gov.au)
- Northern Territory Government, “Driver licence classes and conditions” (nt.gov.au)