How to Get Your Driver's Licence in SA

Getting your driver's licence in South Australia happens in three main stages: your Ls, your Ps and then your full licence.

It might sound like a lot, but each step is straightforward once you know what's ahead. This guide takes you through the process, from getting your learner's permit to the day you move onto your full licence.

One important heads-up: South Australia is changing how the practical driving test works in 2027. Nothing changes for current learners until the new system starts. We've explained what's planned in the What's changing in 2027 section below.

Key takeaways

• You can apply for your learner's permit from age 16. You can start the learner's theory test, online or in person, from 15 years and 9 months.
• If you're under 25, you need to hold your Ls for at least 12 months. If you're 25 or older, it's 6 months.
• You need at least 75 hours of supervised driving, including 15 hours at night.
• You need to pass the hazard perception test before getting your Ps.
• Right now, there are two ways to complete your practical driving assessment:
  • the Vehicle On Road Test (VORT) with an authorised examiner
  • Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A), commonly called the logbook method
• From the first half of 2027, these assessment options are expected to be replaced by a practical driving test with a government examiner.
• After your Ls, you'll progress through P1 and P2 before getting your full licence.

Step 1: Get your learner's permit (L plates)

To get your Ls in South Australia, you need to be at least 16 and pass the learner's theory test. You can start the theory test from 15 years and 9 months, so you can be ready to apply on your 16th birthday.

You have two options.

Option 1: Complete the myLs online course

myLs is an interactive online learning course that includes your learner's theory test.

• You enrol once at a Service SA centre. While you're there, you'll show your evidence of identity, have your photo taken and set up your mySAGOV account.
• You then have 12 months to work through the course online at your own pace.
• You can attempt the online test as many times as you need during your enrolment, with no extra fee.

Option 2: Take the theory test at Service SA

If you'd prefer to sit the test in person, or you need a translator, you can book a test at a Service SA centre. Bring the required evidence of identity. Keep in mind that a fee applies each time you attempt the in-person test.

Apply for your permit

Once you've passed the theory test and you're at least 16, you can apply for your learner's permit. Your permit is issued for two years. If you apply online, you can access a temporary permit while you wait for your physical card to arrive.

For a full breakdown of fees, see How much does it cost to get your licence in SA? below.

Get test-ready for free: try the EzLicence SA practice learners test to find out which road rules you've nailed and which ones need another look.

Step 2: Build your driving experience on your Ls

Your Ls are where you start turning road rules into real driving skills.

You need to hold your learner's permit for at least:

• 12 months if you're under 25
• 6 months if you're 25 or older.

Log your 75 hours

Before you can get your Ps, you need at least 75 hours of supervised driving, including at least 15 hours at night.

You'll record every drive in your learner's logbook, which is part of The Driving Companion booklet you get with your permit. Extra logbook pages can be downloaded from mylicence.sa.gov.au. You can also use an approved electronic logbook app, as long as it can print a record with the same details as the paper version.

Try to get experience in a range of conditions rather than treating your hours as something to simply tick off. That might include driving during the day and at night, in different weather conditions and on both quiet and busy roads.

Who can supervise you?

You can drive with a qualified supervising driver, such as a parent or another experienced driver who meets South Australia's requirements, or with a licensed motor driving instructor.

There are also rules you'll need to follow whenever you're driving on your Ls. You can find the full rundown in our guide to L and P plate restrictions in SA.

Why professional lessons can help

Professional driving lessons can help you build safe driving habits from the beginning. An instructor can help you identify habits early, practise skills in different situations and understand what you'll eventually need to show in your practical assessment.

South Australia is also planning to introduce bonus logbook hours as part of its driver training reforms. Under the planned change, every hour with a licensed motor driving instructor will count as three supervised driving hours, for up to five hours of professional training.

That means five one-hour lessons could count as 15 logged hours, giving you up to 10 bonus hours towards your 75-hour requirement. The scheme is expected to start as part of the broader reforms. We'll update this guide when the start date is confirmed.

Ready to start? Find a driving instructor in South Australia, compare profiles and reviews, and book online.

Step 3: Pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT)

The hazard perception test is a computer-based test you need to pass before you can get your P1 licence.

It checks how well you recognise and respond to potentially dangerous situations on the road. You'll watch clips of real traffic situations and respond based on what you think the driver should do.

The HPT is compulsory for SA learners, including learners in regional areas. There are two ways to take it.

Online

Enrol through your mySAGOV account and complete the test online whenever you're ready. Your enrolment lasts 12 months, and you can attempt the test as many times as you need during that time without paying again.

In person at Service SA

If you'd prefer to take the test at a centre or need a translator, you can book an in-person HPT at selected Service SA centres. A fee applies to each in-person attempt.

Real-world driving experience is one of the best ways to build your hazard perception skills. For more help, read our guide on how to prepare for the hazard perception test.

Step 4: Pass your practical driving assessment

Your final step before getting your Ps is showing that you can drive safely and independently.

To apply for your P1 licence, you need to:

• be at least 17
• have held your Ls for the required minimum period
• have completed your 75 supervised driving hours
• have passed the hazard perception test
• have a certificate of competency from a practical driving assessment.

Until South Australia's new system begins in 2027, you have two assessment pathways.

VORT (Vehicle On Road Test)

VORT is a practical driving test completed with an authorised examiner. It can suit learners who have built up plenty of driving experience and are ready to show their skills in one assessment.

CBT&A (Competency Based Training and Assessment)

Often called the logbook method, CBT&A lets you work through a series of driving tasks with an appropriately authorised instructor, who assesses your competency as you progress. It can suit learners who prefer to develop and demonstrate their skills step by step.

Fees for both pathways are set by the instructor or examiner, so prices vary.

Not sure which option is right for you? Read our guide to Logbook vs VORT: getting your Adelaide driving licence.

Whichever pathway you choose, professional lessons can help you understand what to expect and spot any skills worth practising before your assessment. Book a lesson with an instructor near you.

What's changing in 2027: SA's new practical driving test

South Australia is reforming the way learner drivers are trained and assessed. The new system is expected to start in the first half of 2027, although an exact start date hasn't been confirmed yet.

Until the reforms begin, the current VORT and CBT&A assessment pathways remain available. Once the new system starts, both will be replaced by a practical driving test with a government examiner.

Here's what the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) has announced so far.

Who tests you

• Now: a VORT authorised examiner, or your CBT&A authorised instructor.
• From 2027: a government examiner.

How you book

• Now: directly with your examiner or instructor.
• From 2027: through an online booking system.

Test fee

• Now: set by the examiner or instructor.
• From 2027: set by government. It's currently expected to be around $240.

Test vehicle

• Now: often your instructor's car.
• From 2027: generally a government-provided vehicle.

If you don't pass

• Now: feedback from your examiner or instructor.
• From 2027: feedback plus a report showing what you need to practise.

Where you test

• Now: depends on examiner and instructor availability.
• From 2027: government testing across South Australia. This includes weekend tests in metropolitan Adelaide, and testing in regional areas based on local needs.

What stays the same?

You'll still need to:

• complete at least 75 supervised driving hours
• learn with qualified supervising drivers, including parents or other eligible supervisors
• build the skills you need to drive safely and independently.

Driving instructors will also keep providing professional lessons. The main difference is that they won't run the final Class C practical driving test once the new system begins.

New protections for learners

Under the new system, driving instructors will also face stronger requirements. These are expected to include:

• written contracts explaining fees, services, cancellation terms and refund rights
• new standards for instructor vehicles, including dual controls, cameras and GPS
• an online public register of licensed motor driving instructors.

Some of the detailed regulations and standards are still being finalised.

What does this mean for you?

If you're learning now, you don't need to change what you're doing. The current system will continue until the reforms officially start.

Under the new system, a government examiner will run your test instead of your instructor or a private examiner. Either way, the goal is the same: build the skills and experience to drive safely and confidently on your own.

We'll update this guide as DIT confirms more details.

Step 5: Drive on your P1 and P2 licence

You passed. Congratulations! You can now start driving on your own.

Your provisional licence lasts for three years:

• 1 year on P1 (red Ps)
• 2 years on P2 (green Ps).

Getting your P1

To apply for your P1 licence, take your learner's permit, certificate of competency and completed learner's logbook to a Service SA centre. You'll pay the provisional licence fee, which covers both your P1 and P2 years.

Moving to P2

Your P1 progresses to P2 once you:

• are at least 18, and
• have held your P1 licence for at least 12 months.

On your P2 licence, you no longer need to display P plates in South Australia.

P1 and P2 drivers still have extra rules to follow. These can include passenger restrictions, late-night driving restrictions for some P1 drivers, zero blood alcohol and restrictions on high-powered vehicles. Some restrictions depend on your age, so check our guide to L and P plate restrictions in SA for the full details.

Step 6: Get your full licence

You're eligible to move onto your full licence once you:

• are at least 20 years old, and
• have held your provisional licence for at least three years, including at least 12 months on P1 and two years on P2.

Service SA will send you a renewal notice before your provisional licence expires. You can then renew online or at a Service SA centre.

Once your provisional period ends, you're a fully licensed driver.

How much does it cost to get your licence in SA?

Government fees from your Ls through to your Ps add up to about $352. That doesn't include driving lessons or your current VORT or CBT&A assessment, as those prices vary.

Here's how it breaks down, based on current South Australian Government fees:

• Learner's theory test (myLs or in person): $44. In-person attempts are charged each time.
• Learner's permit (2 years): $78
• Hazard perception test: $37. Online includes unlimited attempts for 12 months. In-person attempts are charged each time.
• Provisional licence (3 years, P1 + P2): $193, or $106 with a concession
• Practical assessment (VORT or CBT&A): varies by examiner or instructor
• New government practical driving test (from 2027): expected to be around $240
• Driving lessons: vary by instructor

Fees change from time to time, so always check the SA.GOV.AU licence and permit fees page before paying.

Want to save on lessons? Book a package of 6 or more lessons on EzLicence and get 5% off, or 10% off when you book 10 or more.

FAQs

How old do you have to be to get your Ls in SA?

You can apply for your learner's permit from age 16. You can start the learner's theory test, through myLs or in person, from 15 years and 9 months, so you can be ready before your birthday.

How many driving hours do learners need in SA?

You need at least 75 hours of supervised driving, including at least 15 hours at night. These hours need to be recorded in your learner's logbook.

How long do you have to be on your Ls in South Australia?

You need to hold your learner's permit for at least 12 months if you're under 25, or 6 months if you're 25 or older.

When can you get your Ps in SA?

Under the current system, you can apply for your P1 licence once you:

• are at least 17
• have held your Ls for the minimum required period
• have completed 75 supervised driving hours
• have passed the hazard perception test
• have completed a practical driving assessment through VORT or CBT&A.

How long are you on your Ps in SA?

Your provisional licence lasts three years: at least 12 months on P1, then two years on P2. You also need to be at least 20 before you can move onto your full licence.

Can I still use the logbook method (CBT&A)?

Yes. CBT&A and VORT remain available under the current system. They're expected to be replaced when South Australia's new government practical driving test begins in the first half of 2027.

When does SA's new driving test start?

DIT currently expects the new system to start in the first half of 2027. An exact start date hasn't been confirmed yet.

Can my driving instructor test me after the reforms start?

No. Once the new system begins, government examiners will run Class C practical driving tests. Licensed driving instructors will still teach learners and help them build the skills they need to prepare for the test.

Do I need to do the hazard perception test if I live in regional SA?

Yes. The hazard perception test is compulsory for all SA learners, including those in regional areas. You can complete it online or at selected Service SA centres.