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Provisional motor vehicle licence

Description

An applicant for a provisional licence must:

  • be the holder of a current learner licence for a motor vehicle.
  • if their car learner licence was issued on and after 1 March 2002, they will need to provide the car learner driver logbook to show they have completed 50 hours supervised on road driving experience at their practical driving test.
  • have held their car learner licence for a continuous 6 month period, immediately before taking a driving test.
  • pass a practical driving test.

Bookings are required for driving tests.

Age
Age requirements for a provisional licence:

  • 16 years and 11 months - customers may undertake the practical test
  • 17 years - to hold a provisional driver licence.

Manual and automatic vehicles
Customers tested in an automatic vehicle will have this condition on their licence for a period of 3 years (not including any periods of licence suspension or cancellation). During this 3 year period, customers are not permitted to drive manual vehicles. To remove an automatic only condition during the 3 year period, customers are required to undertake another driving test in a manual vehicle.

Requirements for provisional licences
Customers must comply with these requirements during the first continuous year:

  • not exceed 80 km per hour
  • always display 'P' plates on the front and rear of the vehicle or the rear of a motorcycle.

Customers must comply with the following requirements for the full provisional period:

  • no alcohol present in the body while driving
  • not to teach a learner to drive.

Demerit points
Customers need to be aware of the Demerit points provisions.

Length of provisional period
The length of a provisional period depends on the age of the customer at the time the licence is issued:

  • less than 22 years - 3 years
  • between 22 and 24 years - until the person turns 25
  • 24 years and over when licence is issued - 1 year.

If the licence is suspended during the first year, the provisional period must be started again.  After the first year the provisional period is extended by the length of the suspension.

About the test
If an applicant for a provisional licence fails the practical test or they cancel their test without giving at least 2 business days notice or providing a medical certificate, they must wait at least 28 days before re-sitting the test.  They will be required to pay the test fee again even if they have not undertaken the driving test.

Customer provides

Customers need to undertake the following in person at Service Tasmania Shops or designated Police Stations.

To arrange a test

  • provide current Tasmanian licence or Full Evidence of Identity
  • customers can only make one test booking at a time
  • a customer with a car learner licence who failed their driving test OR their driving test was cancelled and they did not give at least 2 business days notice or they did not produce a medical certificate supporting that they were unwell, must wait 28 days before they can take a driving test.

Where to do a test

Testing locations are all Service Tasmania Shops (excluding Bridgewater) or designated Police Stations. You must do your driving test at:

  • 445 Macquarie Street, South Hobart
  • Glenorchy
  • Rosny  
  • Launceston
  • Burnie
  • Devonport

 

  • special rules apply to all other locations      

To do the test

  • bring a registered, suitable car
  • complete an application form
  • provide their current Tasmanian licence or  Full Evidence of Identity
  • provide their car learner driver logbook which has 50 hours supervised driving experience recorded and signed (if complete then continue)
  • undertake a driving test which will take approximately 40 minutes
  • have their photo taken and provide their signature
  • provide current entitlement to a pensioner rebate if applicable.

On passing the test

  • Surrender the current learner licence

What is a suitable car for use in the test?

All vehicles presented for use in a provisional driving test must:

  • be registered
  • have a current registration label and number plates affixed
  • have a handbrake that is accessible to the Testing Officer (ie. on floor between front seats)
  • be appropriate for the class of licence
  • be clean and tidy
  • have a clean windscreen that is not obscured, obstructed, tinted with film or seriously cracked
  • have front doors that operate with handles inside and out
  • have front and rear indicators that work
  • have brake lights that work
  • have headlights and tail lights that work, if test conducted in dim light
  • have a speed display on the dashboard
  • have windscreen wipers and demister that work
  • have tyres with sufficient tread all over (1.5mm), with sufficient air pressure
  • have seatbelts that meet the Australian standards and are in good condition
  • have front seats that are securely affixed
  • have rear view and side view mirrors that are not broken
  • have brakes in good working order
  • have a horn that is in working order.

Customer receives

Following the test the customer receives:

  • receipted temporary licence
  • Attachment X (licence conditions) if applicable
  • a provisional photo licence through the mail

Payment

The customer needs to pay:

  • the fee.