Steps to getting a driver's licence

Check you're allowed to drive

Through all the getting a driver's licence stages you must:

• meet the age and time requirements
• be medically fit to drive
• not be disqualified from driving.

Apply for a learner's permit

You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old to start the process of completing and passing a learner's theory test before you can get your learner's permit (L's).

You can only be issued a learner's permit when you are at least 16 years old.

To get your L's you'll need to:

• study for and pass a theory test
• attend a Service SA centre to provide evidence of identity, have your photo taken, and apply for your learner's permit.

Your learner's permit will be valid for 2 years.

Apply for a learner's permit

Driving on your L's and progressing to a provisional licence

Having your learner's permit means you're allowed to drive a car on the road with a qualified supervising driver or driving instructor but there are conditions.

To get a P1 provisional licence you must:

• have a learner's permit for at least:
  • 12 months if you're between 17 and 24 years old
  • 6 months if you're at least 25 years old
• complete at least 75 hours of driving including a minimum of 15 hours at night with a qualified supervising driver or a driving instructor. This must be recorded in a log book.
• pass either a:
  • Vehicle on Road Test (VORT) practical driving test with a VORT authorised examiner
  • Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) course
• get a certificate of competency for passing either the VORT test or CBT&A course.
• pass the hazard perception test.

Find out more about the Learner's stage.

Apply for a provisional licence

Book an appointment to do a hazard perception test at a Service SA centre.

Take the required documentation with you to the Service SA centre:

• learner's permit
• certificate of competency
• Driving Companion with your completed declaration showing completion of the compulsory driving hours
• a completed application form (237.2 KB PDF).

Once you've passed the test at the centre you'll be issued a provisional licence (P's).

Apply for a provisional licence

Driving on your P's

Your provisional licence is valid for 3 years - P1 for 1 year and P2 for 2 years.

On your P's you can drive independently, without a supervising driver but there are conditions.

If you're eligible your P1 licence will automatically be upgraded to a P2 licence when both of these apply:

• you're at least 18 years old
• you've held a P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months.

Full licence

When you are due to progress to your full driver's licence, a licence renewal notice will be automatically posted to you. Your provisional conditions will finish midnight of the expiry of your P2 licence.

You must:

• be at least 20 years old
• held a provisional licence for at least 3 years - including at least 12 months on P1 and at least 2 years on P2.

Renew online or go to a Service SA centre to get your full licence:

Renew licence