Getting a driver’s licence in Victoria takes more than just skills in driving since there are theory and practical tests to go through.
Getting your Victorian driver’s license follows a specific progressive process that breaks down the learning period over five years. What you get from it is an unrestricted driver’s license as well as bragging rights. But getting there is easier said than done.
There are three levels of driving licenses that you must qualify for before you can get your full license. To start, you need a learner’s permit, and then it progresses to the P1 probationary permit followed by the P2 probationary permit.
A learner permit is granted to allow you to start learning how to drive. To get a learner permit, you need to be 16 years old and pass the learners’ test. The theory test covers driving rules, and fortunately, there is free learners practice test in VIC online intended to help you familiarise yourself with the questions in the actual examination. There are specific requirements for obtaining a driver’s license, including passing an eyesight test, proving your identity, and paying the proper fees. Once you have your L-plates, which denote that a driver has started the process of acquiring their learner’s permit and is still under supervision until they get their full license, you can drive a car.
In Victoria, new drivers gain a probationary licence that goes through two stages. P1 restrictions limit driving to unsupervised with a range of other conditions the driver must follow, while P2 restrictions are less extensive and allow unsupervised driving with only specific additional requirements. If you apply for your P1 license when you are under the age of 21, it will take one year to upgrade to a full P2 license. However, if you are over the age of 21 and applying for probationary licenses, you will start on a P2 licence and can go straight from there.
Probationary licences are handed out once an applicant passes these requirements:
- The applicant owns a learner permit for a minimum of one year
- The applicant completed 120 hours of driving
- The applicant passed the driving and eyesight tests
- The applicant passed the Hazard Perception Test
There’s no point in learning how to drive when the student driver fails to acknowledge the need for a driver’s licence. Even with the natural ability to manoeuvre a vehicle, experts warn that those who didn’t go through the traditional process are more likely to be involved in an accident.
Finally, successfully getting a license to drive requires passing all the tests, including theory and practical. Fortunately, free online resources and tools such as learners practice tests in VIC to help out in the transition process. Professional driving instructors recommend that applicants take the exams seriously to get them done on the first try.
