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Queensland · Your Keys to Driving in Queensland · chapter 2 · 33 min read

Licensing — Getting Your Licence

Introduction Your keys to driving in Queensland is a publication for Queensland drivers that combines important information about the Queensland driver licensing system and the Queensland road rules.

Your keys to driving in Queensland is not just for learner drivers – it is important for everyone who uses the road, regardless of their level of experience, to read the book to update their knowledge of the road rules and road safety.

The information in this guide is an interpretation of the rules applying to road use in Queensland. For the complete picture of the Queensland driver licensing system and the Queensland road rules, visit the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel website at www.legislation.qld.gov.au. For further information, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au, www.qld.gov.au or call the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 23 80.

Queensland licensing • Queensland driver licence • Licence types

Queensland driver licence

Queensland has secure, durable and reliable licences, authorities and proof of age cards. The cards include:

Applying for a card

Applying in person and providing additional information Due to the introduction of more secure technology, you will need to apply in person at a licence issuing centre to obtain a card. This is so you can have your photo and signature captured digitally.

Receiving your card For improved security, you will not receive your card on the spot. Instead, it will be produced at a secure location and mailed to you within 14 days. Once your application is approved you will receive an interim Driver Licence Receipt to show to a police officer if requested to do so. This will act as proof you hold a licence until your card arrives in the mail. For more information please visit www.qld.gov.au or call 13 23 80.

Licence types

Before you drive, or learn to drive, any class of motor vehicle on a road in Queensland, you must hold a current licence allowing you to drive, or learn to drive, that class of vehicle.

Learner licence Before learning to drive any class of motor vehicle you must hold either a learner, provisional, probationary or open licence that allows you to learn to drive that vehicle. Licence classes, codes and conditions on page 12 provides information about learning to drive another class of vehicle under your provisional, probationary or open licence. Applying for a licence on page 17 provides information about getting your learner licence. Learning to drive on page 24 outlines the conditions for driving with a learner licence and helps you get ready for your Q-Safe practical driving test or Q-Ride assessment.

Provisional licence Queensland has a two-stage provisional licence – P1 and P2 – as part of its graduated licensing system. You can go for your driving test once you have held your learner licence for one year, completed 100 logbook hours (if you are under 25), and passed the hazard perception test. Depending on how old you are when you pass your practical driving test, you will get either a P1 or P2 provisional licence, which you must hold for a minimum period before you can progress to the next stage – see Provisional licences on page 35. Probationary licence You will only be eligible for a probationary licence if you have been disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence by a court and you have served the period of disqualification – see Probationary licences on page 40. Restricted licence If you are convicted of drink driving but need a licence to earn a living, you may be eligible to ask the court that convicts you to grant you a restricted licence, commonly known as a ‘work’ licence – see Restricted licences on page 41. Open licence You may be eligible for an open licence if you have held your provisional or probationary licence for the required period – see Open licences on page 39. Graduated licensing system Statistics show that drivers aged 17 to 24 have the highest risk of being involved in crashes resulting in death or injury. As a result, the Queensland graduated licensing system has been designed to give novice drivers more supervised on-road driving experience, including identifying and dealing with hazards, to improve their driving skills with minimal distraction. For learner drivers aged 23 and under, there are seven steps before you get your open licence:

PrepL (or the written road rules test if you cannot access PrepL) Learner licence Hazard perception test 100 hour logbook requirement Practical driving test P1 provisional licence* P2 provisional licence. *If you got your P1 licence before the hazard perception test was moved to the learner licence phase, you will have to complete the test before you upgrade your P1 licence.

Open licence Under the graduated licensing system, you can get your learner licence at 16 and if you meet all the requirements for each stage, you may get your open licence by the time you are 20. For information on the graduated licensing system, visit www.qld.gov.au.

For a learner licence

For a P1 provisional licence

For a P2 provisional licence

5am, may apply if your licence is suspended or cancelled or you are serving a good driving behaviour period – see Late night driving restrictions, page 169.

For an open licence

Learner licence for motorcycle

Returning drivers

If you previously held a class of licence that has not been valid for more than five years (for example, expired, surrendered or cancelled), you may apply to reobtain that class or a lower class of licence without having to hold any other licence for a minimum period of time. For more information about returning drivers, visit www.qld.gov.au.

Licence classes, codes and conditions You need a particular class of licence to drive certain vehicles. Your licence will show only the highest class of vehicle you are authorised to drive and, if required, the code for any conditions with which you are required to comply. This means you are allowed to drive each type of vehicle listed for that licence class. However, motorcycle classes RE or R will appear separately on your licence.

Authority to learn If you hold a provisional, probationary or open licence for a particular class of vehicle, you can learn to drive the higher class of vehicle – see the table below. Also, if you hold a provisional, probationary or open licence for a particular class of vehicle, you can learn to drive that class of vehicle with either an automatic or manual transmission or with a synchromesh gearbox. For example, if you hold an automatic car licence, you can learn to drive a car with a manual transmission. If you are authorised to learn to drive a class of vehicle under your provisional, probationary or open licence, you must be accompanied by a person who holds an open licence for the class of vehicle you are learning to drive and has held that licence for at least one year. You risk a fine if you drive unaccompanied or with a person who is not appropriately licensed. Note: L plates must be displayed while learning to drive the higher class of vehicle.

Driver licence classes

This table shows what class of licence you need to drive a particular vehicle.

Licence class Class of vehicle RE (motorcycle) You may ride:

Licence class Class of vehicle HR (heavy rigid)

You may drive:

Licence codes and conditions

Code Licence condition A You may only drive the class of vehicle with automatic transmission. B You may only drive the class of vehicle with synchromesh gearbox; or a class C motor vehicle with an automatic or manual transmission. I You may only drive a nominated vehicle fitted with a prescribed interlock, or while carrying, and in accordance with, an interlock exemption certificate. M You may only drive while carrying a current medical certificate form F3712. You must obey any conditions listed on the certificate. RD You may learn to drive the class/es of vehicle stated in your returning driver certificate. You must carry your certificate at all times while learning to drive - for more information about returning drivers, visit www.qld.gov.au. S You may only drive while wearing corrective lenses.

Code Licence condition V

You may only drive a motor vehicle fitted with driver aids, or equipped or adapted, in the way stated in a written notice given to you by the chief executive, and only while carrying the notice. X1 You may only drive while carrying, and in accordance with, an order under section 87 or 88 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. X3 You may only drive while carrying, and in accordance with, a special hardship order and any special hardship order variation order. X4 You may only drive while carrying, and in accordance with, a section 79E order and any section 79E variation order.

Upgrading your licence To upgrade your licence to another class, you must:

Minimum periods for licence classes You must have held a provisional, probationary or open licence for a minimum period before you can upgrade to another licence class. Licence class Minimum period RE (motorcycle) You must have held a class C provisional, probationary or open licence for at least one year. R (motorcycle) You must have held a class RE provisional, probationary or open licence for at least two years. LR (light rigid) You must have held a class C provisional, probationary or open licence for at least one year.

MR (medium rigid) You must have held a class C provisional, probationary or open licence for at least one year.

Licence class Minimum period

HR (heavy rigid)

You must have held:

HC (heavy or open combination)

You must have held a class MR or HR provisional, probationary or open licence for at least one year.

MC (multi-combination) You must have held a class HR or HC provisional, probationary or open licence for at least one year.

Applying for a licence

To apply for a licence you must:

Learner licence To apply for a learner licence, you will also need to pay for and complete PrepL. If you are unable to access PrepL you may be able to complete the written road rules test instead, call 13 23 80 to find out more.

Provisional licence To apply for a provisional licence you will need to:

Evidence of identity You will need to comply with the evidence of identity requirements when you are applying for a licence for the first time, or when you are renewing your licence and are unable to show your Queensland licence (current or expired less than two years). If you are unable to present your Queensland driver licence, the evidence of identity requirements may be met if you can present your Queensland industry authority, marine licence indicator, adult proof of age card or photo identification card (conditions apply).

You will also need to comply with these requirements when you are applying in person for a replacement of your licence if it has been lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged. You may also apply for a replacement licence online. If you have changed your name and you want your new name shown on your licence, you must show an official change of name document – see Change of name documents, page 19.

Evidence of identity documents You will need to show three evidence of identity documents. These documents must include either of the following:

Category A documents These documents establish the legal existence of your name and date of birth. They include:

Resident Status

Category B documents These documents establish the use of your name in the community. They include:

Change of name documents If you have changed your name, or the details of your name are different on the documents to be shown, you must also show an official change of name document such as:

Evidence of Queensland residential address

If your current Queensland residential address is not shown on either the category A or category B documents, you will need to show another document that provides evidence of your Queensland residential address. They include:

Eyesight Clarity of vision is very important for driving. Any loss of vision may reduce your ability to drive safely. If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses when driving, your licence will show an ‘S’ code indicating that you must wear corrective lenses when driving. If you have any eyesight problems, you may be required to obtain a medical certificate from a doctor, who may seek the specialist opinion of an optometrist or ophthalmologist, certifying that your sight meets the approved standard for the class of licence you want. If you only have vision in one eye (monocular vision), you will be required to obtain a medical certificate from a doctor, with verification from an optometrist or ophthalmologist, confirming the extent of the loss of your visual acuity and visual fields. This applies regardless of whether you are a private or commercial vehicle driver. If you do not meet the eyesight standards, you will not be granted the licence. Medical conditions and driving When you apply for a licence, you must tell the Department of Transport and Main Roads about any medical condition that may adversely affect your ability to drive safely. Before you drive in Queensland, you must notify the Department of Transport and Main Roads about any long term or permanent medical condition, or any change to an existing medical condition that is likely to adversely affect your ability to drive safely. You can notify the Department of Transport and Main Roads by completing a Medical Condition Notification (form F4355) or visit www.qld.gov.au. If you fail to notify the Department of Transport and Main Roads about a medical condition that is likely to adversely affect your ability to drive safely, you risk a fine in excess of $8200 and you may also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for a period of time. If you have a medical condition that may adversely affect your ability to drive safely, you must present to the Department of Transport and Main Roads a Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (form F3712) completed by your doctor. In order to be eligible to apply for or continue to hold a licence, your doctor must recommend on your Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (form F3712) that you are either:

If you have a medical condition the code ‘M’ will be recorded on your licence. This means that when you drive you must carry a current medical certificate (this is detachable from your Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver form F3712) and drive in accordance with any stated conditions. If you don’t, you risk a fine in excess of $2700. You must also show your medical certificate to a member of the Queensland Police Service if you have been asked to do so. If you have a medical condition and can only drive a specially modified vehicle, you may also be required to carry a current written notice from the Department of Transport and Main Roads authorising you to drive a vehicle with driver aids or specialised equipment. For more information about driving a specially modified vehicle, please visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au or call 13 23 80. If you drive vehicles with a GVM of more than 8 tonnes, public passenger vehicles (for example buses, taxis or booked hire) or drive a vehicle that is licensed or required to be licensed to carry dangerous goods, you must meet the commercial vehicle driver medical standards in the Assessing Fitness to Drive publication. For more information, visit the Austroads website www.austroads.com.au.

If you are 75 or older You must have evidence that you are medically fit to drive. This means that you must have a current medical certificate (this is the detachable form from the Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (form F3712) completed by your doctor recommending that you are fit to drive. You always carry your current medical certificate when you drive and drive in accordance with any stated conditions. This is a mandatory requirement even if you don’t have a long-term or permanent medical condition that is likely to adversely affect your ability to drive safely. You will be required to present a current medical certificate to the Department of Transport and Main Roads when you apply for or renew a licence. However, in the interim, if you do develop a long-term or permanent medical condition, or you have a change to an existing medical condition that is likely to adversely affect your ability to drive safely, the normal medical condition notification requirements apply. Medical certificates issued to drivers 75 or older are valid for a maximum period of 13 months from the date of issue. Medical certificates issued prior to 7 July 2017 will expire on the stated expiry date. However, in some cases your doctor may want you to undertake more regular check-ups and therefore may issue you with a medical certificate for a period less than 13 months. If you are unsure about any medical condition you may have, you should talk to your doctor about any potential impact on your ability to drive safely. Your doctor is the best person to determine if you are fit to drive. For more information or to obtain forms relating to medical conditions, please visit www.qld.gov.au, call 13 23 80 or contact your nearest licence issuing centre. Forms may also be available from your doctor.

PrepL/Road rules test

PrepL PrepL is an online learning and assessment program which is replacing the written road rules test to obtain a learner licence. You will need to pay the PrepL fee upfront. This gives you 12 months to complete the program. You can retry as many times as needed for the one fee. You must wait 24 hours to retake the test if you fail. For more information visit www.qld.gov.au.

Class C general road rules test If you are unable to access PrepL, you may be able to take a written road rules test at a driver licence issuing centre to obtain a learner licence. Allow at least 30 minutes to complete your road rules test. You pay a fee for each test attempt. There are 30 questions in the general road rules test. The test has two main sections. The first section is 10 questions on the give way rules. You need to get 9 correct answers. The second section is 20 questions on the other road rules. You need to get 18 correct answers. The questions on the test are all multiple choice. This means that you are given a choice between different answers and you have to choose the correct one. Once you complete PrepL or pass your written road rules test, the result is valid for five years. If you apply for an additional licence class, you may need to pass a specific road rules test for that class.

Class RE or R (motorcycle) road rules test The motorcycle knowledge test is online. If you take the test online, a fee is only required once you pass the test. If you pass your test, you may get a learner licence. If you fail your test, you cannot take it again until the next working day. You will have to correctly answer at least 27 out of the 30 additional questions specific to motorcycles to pass the test.

Class LR, MR, HR, HC or MC (heavy vehicle) road rules test You will have to correctly answer at least eight of the 10 additional questions specific to heavy vehicles to pass the test.

Practice test questions You can test your knowledge for all licence classes by completing the practice road rules test online at www.qld.gov.au. This will give you an indication of the areas you need to focus on.

Learning to drive Accredited Driver Trainer

Using an accredited driver trainer will help you get training which promotes the knowledge, attitude, and skills to efficiently and safely use a motor vehicle on our public roads. The benefits of using an accredited driver trainer include:

Learner licence conditions Now you have your car learner licence, there are a number of requirements and restrictions that you must understand.

Rules for all class C learner licence holders regardless of your age

Rules for class C learner licence holders (under 25 years of age)

Rules for class C learner licence holders (25 years of age or over) The Queensland licensing system affects you differently if you apply for a learner licence and you are 25 years of age or older. Learners 25 years of age or over are not required to log 100 hours of driving before undertaking a practical driving test, although this is encouraged. All drivers are banned from using a mobile phone that is held in the hand while driving. For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au. If you accumulate four or more demerit points over a continuous one year period while on your learner licence, your licence will be suspended for a three month period – see Accumulation of demerit points – Queensland licence holders, page 165.

L plates

An L plate is a sign that measures at least 146mm x 146mm and shows a black uppercase letter ‘L’ on a yellow background. When you are learning to drive a car or heavy vehicle, you must clearly display L plates at the front and back of the vehicle. When you are learning to ride a motorcycle, an L plate must be clearly displayed at the back of the motorcycle or back of a vest worn while riding. You risk a fine if the letter L cannot be clearly seen at the front and rear of the car (rear only for motorcycles) from 20m away. You can buy L plates from service stations, major retailers and automotive outlets. Check with your local supplier for the cost. You can also download and print a colour template from www.qld.gov.au. A person driving or riding a vehicle, other than as a learner driver or rider, must not display L plates on the vehicle.

The compulsory Queensland learner logbook International research shows there is a significant link between the amount of supervised on-road driving experience that new drivers gain and improvements in road safety. All learner drivers under 25 must gain 100 hours of supervised on-road driving experience in a car (including at least 10 hours night driving) and record it in a Queensland learner logbook. If you are a learner driver 25 or older, it is not a requirement but highly recommended that you also gain 100 hours of on-road driving experience. When you are issued with your learner licence, you can download the Queensland learner logbook app or receive a hard copy learner logbook. The logbook has lots of important information about learning to drive, supervisors and your Q-Safe driving test. You can also record your 100 hours using a learner logbook app from a recognised third party provider. For more information please visit www.qld.gov.au. If you need to replace your logbook for any reason (for example, your logbook is lost, stolen or destroyed), you will need to:

Next chapter
Practical Test & Provisional Licences