To be issued a South Australian motorcycle licence, you need to attend the Basic and Advanced Rider Safe training courses.
Steps to getting a licence
- Step 1
Basic Rider Safe course
The Basic Rider Safe course is a pre-licence training course that teaches the basic skills necessary for you to ride a motorcycle safely on the road.
The fee for the course is $417.
- Step 2
Apply for an R-Date learner's permit
To be issued an R-date learner's permit you must:
- have successfully completed the Basic Rider Safe course
- meet one of these conditions:
- 18 years of age
- 17 years of age and hold a provisional licence for another class of vehicle
- 16 years of age and live in a prescribed locality. You will be eligible for a restricted learner's permit and will only be able to ride for specific purposes
- present your endorsed 'Approval to obtain a learner's permit' certificate at a Service SA centre within 12 months of issue
- pay the learner's permit fee:
- $70 issued for 2 years if aged over 17
- $95 issued for 3 years if aged under 17.
You must hold a motorcycle learner's permit for a minimum period of 12 months, regardless of age and regardless of whether a full licence is held.
You must carry your learner's permit at all times while riding.
- Step 3
Advanced training course
The Advanced Rider Safe course is a half day training session that includes a practical assessment.
You can complete the advanced training course any time after being issued your R-Date learner's permit, but an R-Date licence cannot be issued until you have held the learner's permit for 12 months.
The fee for the Advanced Rider Safe course is $371
- Step 4
Apply for an R-date licence
To be issued an R-date licence, you must:
- successfully complete the Advanced Rider Safe course
- be at least 19 years old
- have held an R-Date learners permit for at least 12 months
- present your certificate of competency at a Service SA centre to apply for an R-Date licence within 12 months of issue.
If you already hold a driver's licence, the R-date motorcycle class will be added to your driver's licence. A fee of $20 will apply.
If you do not hold a driver's licence but have held a learner's permit for at least 12 calendar months and you are at least 19 years old, you may be able to apply for a provisional licence.
You must hold an R-Date licence classification for 2 years before you will be permitted to ride motorcycles other than those on the learner approved motorcycle scheme.
- Step 5
Apply for an R class licence
After holding a restricted R-Date licence for 2 years, you may commence riding a motorcycle or motor trike of any power to weight ratio.
You do not need to apply or do further testing to upgrade to an R class. Once the eligibility date on your R-Date class licence has lapsed, you can ride a motorcycle or motor trike of any power to weight ratio.
Your licence class will automatically update to an R class upon your next licence renewal.
Alternatively, you can apply to have the class upgraded from a class R-Date to R once the eligibility date has lapsed, however a $20 fee will apply for a replacement licence card.
Need help?
Contact Service SA
Online
Only send general enquiries online. Service SA will respond within 3 working days.
If the matter is urgent or is specifically about your current licence or registration, phone or visit a Service SA centre instead.
Phone
Call Service SA between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays:
- 13 10 84
- +61 8 8226 0206 (overseas callers).
In person
Service SA centre locations and opening hours.
