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If you passed your Victorian drive test in an automatic, your P licence has an automatic-only (A) condition for your whole probationary period. To drive manuals sooner, you must pass another drive test in a manual car. Otherwise the condition drops off when you move to a full licence. This guide covers the steps, the plates you need while practising, and the fees.
Key facts
- Automatic drive test = A condition on your P1 and P2 licence.
- Removing it early: pass an eyesight test and a drive test in a manual, then pay the licence variation fee.
- While practising in a manual on your Ps: P plates plus a yellow “Driver under instruction” plate, and a fully licensed supervisor beside you.
- Off your Ps and on a full licence: the A condition is removed automatically.
Do you need to upgrade at all?
| Your situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| On P1 or P2 with the A condition, and want to drive manuals now | Pass a manual drive test |
| Happy to drive automatics until your Ps end | Do nothing. The A condition is removed when you get your full licence |
| A condition for a medical reason | Not covered by this process. Ask VicRoads |
Driving a manual while your licence says automatic only breaks your licence conditions. The VicRoads Rules for P drivers brochure lists a fine and demerit points for it. See Victorian demerit points and penalties.
How to upgrade from auto to manual in Victoria: step by step
- Find a supervisor. They must sit beside you and hold a full licence for the type of vehicle you are learning in.
- Use a car P drivers can drive. It must not be a probationary prohibited vehicle unless you have an exemption. See Victorian P1 and P2 rules.
- Put the plates on. Keep your red or green P plates on. Add a yellow plate, about 150 mm by 150 mm, with “Driver under instruction” in black letters.
- Practise. Clutch control, hill starts, gear changes on approach to intersections and roundabouts, and stalling recovery. A lesson or two with a driving instructor in a manual dual-control car can speed this up.
- Book the test online, by phone or at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre. The appointment includes an eyesight test and a drive test in a manual.
- On the day: arrive at least 15 minutes early. Late arrival means rebooking and paying again. Bring a roadworthy manual car that meets the drive test rules, your licence, glasses or contacts if you need them, and payment.
- Pass and pay the licence variation fee. The A condition is removed and you can drive both automatics and manuals.
The manual test car
The same vehicle rules apply as for the first drive test. The car must:
- be registered and roadworthy, with a normal manual gearbox
- have a speed display the testing officer can see, and seatbelts for everyone
- have a handbrake the testing officer can reach, if no instructor is with you. Electronic and foot-operated park brakes cannot be used for solo tests.
Full checklist: which cars you can use for the VicRoads drive test.
What the test assesses
It is the standard VicRoads drive test format, in a manual. You need safe observation, gap selection, speed and positioning, plus smooth control of the clutch and gears. Stalling is listed among critical errors, so practise until moving off is automatic. Read the VicRoads drive test explained and VicRoads drive test fails.
Fees
- Drive test: $53.20 plus a $22.10 appointment fee as of November 2026. Confirm the fee for a manual retest when you book.
- Licence variation fee: payable after you pass. Check the current amount on the VicRoads “Ls and Ps fees” page.
Full list: VicRoads Ls and Ps fees 2026.
Common questions
Can I drive a manual on my Ps if I passed in an automatic?
Not on your own. You can only drive one while learning, with a fully licensed supervisor beside you and the “Driver under instruction” plate shown, until you pass a manual test.
Do I need to sit the hazard perception test again?
No. The VicRoads upgrade appointment is an eyesight test plus a manual drive test.
Does the upgrade change my P1 or P2 dates?
No. It only removes the automatic condition.
Will I automatically be allowed to drive manuals after my Ps?
Yes. When you move to a full licence, the A condition is removed automatically, unless a medical condition requires it.
Can my supervisor be on a full automatic-only licence?
No. They need a full licence for the type of vehicle you are learning in, so a manual car needs a supervisor licensed to drive manuals.
Is it worth upgrading?
If you may need to drive a manual for work, or the only car available is manual, yes. Otherwise you can wait out the A condition on your Ps.
Related guides
Sources
- VicRoads, “Upgrade your probationary licence to drive a manual vehicle” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- Transport Victoria, “Drive test for a Victorian driver’s licence” (transport.vic.gov.au)
- VicRoads, “Ls and Ps fees” (vicroads.vic.gov.au)
- Department of Transport and Planning, “Road to Solo Driving” handbook, Drive Test and P licence rules (edge.sitecorecloud.io)
- Department of Transport and Planning, “Rules for P drivers” (March 2023) (edge.sitecorecloud.io)