Driving is generally taught by family in Australia, but using a driving school is a requirement now.
Australia 2006ish: take the theory exam after you turn 16 years old and 6 months. if you pass the test you get your Learners permit. After 6 months you may take your practical driving exam. If you pass you have a Provisional license for 3 years which has some restrictions like 0% alcohol or no more than 1 person in the car that is not a relative. After 3 years of holding a P plate you get your Open license.
Australia now; according to my nephew: at the age of 16 you are permitted to take the theory exam. once passed, you get your Learners permit. in order to qualify for the practical driving exam you need to fulfil the following requirements.
Have 100 hours driving logged. 30 of those hours must be done at night or during wet weather
30 hours logged with a driving instructor. Driving lesson with a driving instructor the time with the instructor is worth 3 regular hours and
hold your learners license for 1 year.
If you pass the exam you have your Provisional license for 3 years. after 3 years you get your open license.
I wonder if kids ever lie about the hours getting logged. Also, is it pretty challenging for kids in low income to get a license with the paying for a driving instructor requirement?
In Tasmania you do a free short course and theory test (can be done online) to get your learner license (small fee, <AU$50) and L plates.
L-platers then need 80 hours of logbook driving including 15 at night. A driving school isn’t required but some participating schools can get you double hours (1 hour lesson = 2 hours in logbook, up to 10 hours).
After this you do your P1 test and a hazard perception test and go from your L plates to P1 plates on passing.
You hold the P1 for 12 months then it’s upgraded to P2.
Under 23s have to hold the P2 for two years before it’s upgraded to the full license. If you’re 23-25 you hold it for 12 months or until you’re 25. Older than 25 = 12 months.
The path was changed in 2020 from L1 -> L2 -> P1 -> P2 -> full by merging L1 and L2 to L and changing logbook requirements (I think from 100 hours).
L-platers can’t go more than 90kmh anywhere, P1 more than 100kmh, P2s can go as fast as allowed.
Of course you have to display the appropriate plates showing your level on the front and back of the car. Here it’s not required for the plates to be on the outside of the car (heard that differs in other states).
If you go the whole way without any offences you get a free 3-year full license.
I think it’s also important to note that the learner and provisional drivers need to have a sign clearly on their vehicle to indicate their level: a yellow L, red P or green P.
This helps you show some patience to L platers and also give red P plater dickheads in tradie utes who love tailgating a wide berth.
They also have different speed limits. L isn’t allowed to exceed 80km/h, red P 90km/h and green P 100km/h.
Most national motorways have 110km/h limits so you end up having to dodge L plate drivers with a 30km/h speed differential to you. I think while well intentioned the speed limit rules are more dangerous than they help.
Driving is generally taught by family in Australia, but using a driving school is a requirement now.
Australia 2006ish: take the theory exam after you turn 16 years old and 6 months. if you pass the test you get your Learners permit. After 6 months you may take your practical driving exam. If you pass you have a Provisional license for 3 years which has some restrictions like 0% alcohol or no more than 1 person in the car that is not a relative. After 3 years of holding a P plate you get your Open license.
Australia now; according to my nephew: at the age of 16 you are permitted to take the theory exam. once passed, you get your Learners permit. in order to qualify for the practical driving exam you need to fulfil the following requirements.
If you pass the exam you have your Provisional license for 3 years. after 3 years you get your open license.
I wonder if kids ever lie about the hours getting logged. Also, is it pretty challenging for kids in low income to get a license with the paying for a driving instructor requirement?
there is no doubt lying happens. take a drive to the shops that is 10 min away? well that is 15min there, and 15 min back for the book.
kids generally will save up for it, also it isn’t that expensive in Australia. $35 for your theory test and $65 for the practical exam.
FYI the requirements differ by state/territory.
In Tasmania you do a free short course and theory test (can be done online) to get your learner license (small fee, <AU$50) and L plates.
L-platers then need 80 hours of logbook driving including 15 at night. A driving school isn’t required but some participating schools can get you double hours (1 hour lesson = 2 hours in logbook, up to 10 hours).
After this you do your P1 test and a hazard perception test and go from your L plates to P1 plates on passing.
You hold the P1 for 12 months then it’s upgraded to P2.
Under 23s have to hold the P2 for two years before it’s upgraded to the full license. If you’re 23-25 you hold it for 12 months or until you’re 25. Older than 25 = 12 months.
The path was changed in 2020 from L1 -> L2 -> P1 -> P2 -> full by merging L1 and L2 to L and changing logbook requirements (I think from 100 hours).
L-platers can’t go more than 90kmh anywhere, P1 more than 100kmh, P2s can go as fast as allowed.
Of course you have to display the appropriate plates showing your level on the front and back of the car. Here it’s not required for the plates to be on the outside of the car (heard that differs in other states).
If you go the whole way without any offences you get a free 3-year full license.
I think it’s also important to note that the learner and provisional drivers need to have a sign clearly on their vehicle to indicate their level: a yellow L, red P or green P.
This helps you show some patience to L platers and also give red P plater dickheads in tradie utes who love tailgating a wide berth.
They also have different speed limits. L isn’t allowed to exceed 80km/h, red P 90km/h and green P 100km/h.
Most national motorways have 110km/h limits so you end up having to dodge L plate drivers with a 30km/h speed differential to you. I think while well intentioned the speed limit rules are more dangerous than they help.