Driver licensing
This domain tests the graduated driver licensing system and the conditions attached to each licence stage. The exam expects you to know what a learner and restricted driver may and may not do.
Core rules
- Learner licence: minimum age 16, pass the theory test, display L plates, and drive with a supervisor who has held a full licence for at least 2 years. Zero alcohol and no phone use.
- Restricted licence: available after 6 months on a learner licence if under 25, or 3 months if 25 or over. You can drive solo, but there is a 10 pm to 5 am curfew, no passengers under 20 unless a supervisor is present, zero alcohol and no phone use.
- Full licence: available after 18 months on a restricted licence if under 25, or 6 months if 25 or over, after passing the practical test.
- Overseas licences: a valid overseas licence can be used for up to 12 months before conversion requirements apply.
- Carry your licence and comply with every condition.
Worked example
A restricted driver at 11 pm gives a 19-year-old friend a lift. Two conditions are breached: the 10 pm to 5 am curfew and the no-passengers-under-20 rule without a supervisor. Even a short trip is an offence. The reasoning is that both conditions apply at the same time.
Traps
Carrying classmates on a restricted licence; using a supervisor who has not held a full licence for 2 years; driving alone on a learner licence; ignoring the curfew; and assuming an overseas licence lasts indefinitely.