Getting your learner's permit

Licensing Authority

Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure

Minimum Age

16

Other prerequisites

Must be resident of SA

Cost

What test/s do I have to take?

The Theory Test

What's on the test?

• Part A:  8 diagram-based road rules questions
• Part B:  42 multiple choice road rules and road safety questions.

What do I need to score to pass?

• Part A: all questions must be answered correctly
• Part B: at least 32 correct answers

What study materials do I need?

The Driver’s Handbook, available online or at any  Service SA customer service centre for $10.

How do I book the test?

You do not need to book ahead, just visit your nearest Service SA customer service centre between 9am and 4.15pm. Rural applicants can take the test at most country police stations.

Where do I take the test?

At any Service SA customer service centre. Rural applicants can take the test at most country police stations.

What do I bring to the test?

• Evidence of identity
• Means to pay for the test and licence fee

I've completed the requirements, now how do I get my learner's permit?

Your learner's permit will be issued to you on the spot when you successfully complete the required test and pay the licence fee.

Once you've received your learner's permit

What does having a learner's permit mean?

• You are now permitted to drive a car under supervision. Your supervisor must be someone who has held a full Australian driver's licence for a minimum of two years
• You must adhere to the special rules for learner drivers

Special rules for learner drivers

• Must clearly display L plates on front and rear of the vehicle's exterior
• Must not exceed a blood alcohol level of 0.00%
• Must not exceed the speed limit by 10km/h or more
• Must be supervised at all times by a person with a full Australian driver's licence with a blood alcohol level of no more than 0.05%, who has held their full licence for at least two years
• Must carry learner's permit when driving
• Must not accumulate four or more demerit points

What happens next?

The next stage is your P1 licence.

If you got your learner’s permit ON OR AFTER September 4th 2010, to be eligible for your P1 licence you must fulfill these requirements:

• If you are under the age of 25, you must hold a learner’s permit for at least 12 months
• If you are 25 years or older, you must hold a learner’s permit for at least six months
• You must have completed at least 75 hours of supervised driving practice (including 15 hours at night), which must be recorded in your Learner Logbook. The logbook is available online in the Driving Companion booklet
• You must obtain a Certificate of Competency

If you got your learner’s permit BEFORE September 4th 2010, you must:

• Have held your learner's permit for a minimum of 6 months
• Have completed at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice (including 10 hours at night), which must be recorded in your Learner Logbook. The logbook is available online in the Driving Companion booklet
• Obtain a Certificate of Competency