Your Keys to Driving in Queensland – Licences

Obligations of licence holders

The Queensland Government has introduced secure, durable and reliable licences, authorities and proof of age cards including:

• Driver licence
• Heavy vehicle driver licence
• Proof of age card
• Marine licence indicator
• Industry authority

Applying for a card

Applying in person and providing additional information

To obtain a card, you must apply in person at a licence-issuing centre so you can have your photo and signature captured digitally.

Receiving your card

Cards are produced at a secure location and mailed to you within 14 days of your application. An interim Driver Licence Receipt will be issued and will act as proof you hold a licence until you receive your card in the mail.

It is illegal to try to bribe people. Penalties include fines and imprisonment.

Licence types

To drive legally, you must hold a current licence allowing you to drive that class of vehicle on a road in Queensland. Types of Queensland driver licences are:

• Learner licence
• Provisional licence
• Probationary licence
• Restricted licence
• Open licence

Learner licence

You must hold a learner, provisional, probationary or open licence that allows you to drive a class of vehicle before learning to drive that class of vehicle.

Provisional licence

After holding your learner licence for 1 year, you may sit a Q-Safe practical driving test. Depending on your age when you pass, you will get either a P1 (red Ps) or P2 (green Ps) provisional licence, which must be held for a minimum period before progressing.

Probationary licence

A probationary licence is for people disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence by a court who have served their disqualification period.

Restricted licence

People convicted of drink driving who need a licence for work may be eligible to request the court for a restricted licence (also known as a ‘work’ licence).

Open licence

If you have held your provisional or probationary licence for the required period you may graduate to the open licence.

Graduated licensing system

Statistically, drivers aged 17-24 have the highest risk of being involved in crashes that result in death or injury. The Queensland graduated licensing system aims to give inexperienced drivers more supervised driving experience to decrease this risk.

Learner drivers aged 23 and under must complete six steps before the open licence:

1. Written road rules test
2. Learner licence
3. Q-Safe practical driving test
4. P1 provisional licence
5. Hazard perception test
6. P2 provisional licence

Open licence

If all steps are completed on time (starting with the written road rules test when you become eligible at 16) you may get your open licence when you are 20.

For a learner licence

A car learner licence can be obtained when you are over 16 and pass a written road rules test. Learner licences are issued for 3 years and you must hold your learner licence for 1 year (of the previous 3 years) to be eligible to take the Q-Safe practical driving test and progress to a provisional licence.

While learning to drive, at all times:

• Your learner licence (or Driver Licence Receipt) must be with you.
• L plates must be clearly displayed at the front and back of the vehicle.
• You must be accompanied by a supervisor who has held an open licence for that class of vehicle for at least 1 year. Supervising drivers must not be on a provisional, probationary, restricted, suspended, cancelled or expired licence.

To progress to your P1 or P2 licence:

• If you are under 25, you must complete and record 100 hours of supervised on-road driving (including at least 10 hours of night driving) in your logbook.
• You must pass the Q-Safe practical driving test.

Learner licence restrictions include:

• A zero (0.00) blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
• A car supervising driver must have a BAC below 0.05
• A heavy vehicle supervising driver must have a 0.00 BAC
• Learners under 25, their supervisor and passengers have additional restrictions on mobile phone use
• If you accrue 4 or more demerit points over a continuous 1 year period your learner licence will be suspended for 3 months

For a P1 provisional licence

A P1 provisional car licence can be obtained when you are over 17 and under 25, have held your learner licence for 1 year (of the previous 3 years) and pass the Q-Safe practical driving test. You must hold your P1 licence for 1 year to be eligible to take the Hazard Perception Test and progress to a P2 provisional or open licence.

While on your P1 licence, at all times:

• Your P1 licence (or Driver Licence Receipt before it arrives) must be with you.
• Red P plates must be clearly displayed at the front and back of your car.

P1 licence restrictions include:

• A zero (0.00) BAC
• If you accrue 4 or more demerit points over a continuous 1 year period you will have to choose a 3-month suspension or 1-year good driving behaviour period.
• If your licence is suspended/cancelled or you are serving a good driving behaviour period, late night driving restrictions that prohibit you from driving between 11pm and 5am may apply.

Additional P1 licence restrictions for drivers under 25:

• Mobile phone restrictions apply to you and your passengers.
• Restrictions apply to driving high-powered vehicles (e.g. vehicles with 8 or more cylinders, and turbo, super-charged or modified engines).
• Peer passenger restrictions apply.

For a P2 provisional licence

A P2 provisional car licence can be obtained when you are 18 or over.

• If you are under 25, you must have held your P1 licence for at least 1 year and have passed the Hazard Perception Test.
• If you are 25 or over, you must have held your learner licence for at least 1 year and passed your Q-Safe practical driving test.
• If you got your P1 licence when you were under 23 and your P2 licence when you were under 25, you are required to hold your P2 licence for at least 2 years. In any other case you are required to hold your P2 licence for at least 1 year.

While on your P2 licence, at all times:

• Your P2 licence (or Driver Licence Receipt before it arrives) must be with you.
• Green P plates must be clearly displayed at the front and back of your car.

P2 licence restrictions include:

• A zero (0.00) BAC.
• If you accrue 4 or more demerit points over a continuous 1 year period you will have to choose a 3-month suspension or 1-year good driving behaviour period.
• If your licence is suspended/cancelled or you are serving a good driving behaviour period late night driving restrictions that prohibit you from driving between 11pm and 5am may apply.

Additional P2 licence restrictions for drivers under 25:

• Restrictions apply to driving high-powered vehicles (e.g. vehicles with 8 or more cylinders, and turbo, super-charged or modified engines).

For an open licence

You may only get your open licence if you are at least 20.

• If you were under 23 when you got your P1 licence you must hold your P2 licence for at least 2 years to progress to an open licence.
• If you were 23 when you got your P1 licence you must hold your P2 licence for at least 1 year to progress to an open licence.
• If you were 24 when you got your P1 licence you must hold your P1 licence for at least 1 year to progress to an open licence.
• If you were 25 or over when you passed your practical test, you would’ve been issued with a P2 licence which you must hold for at least 1 year. To progress to an open licence you are not required to undertake the Hazard Perception Test.

If you accrue 12 or more demerit points in a continuous 3 year period you will have to choose between a licence suspension or a 1 year good driving behaviour period.

Learner licence for motorcycle

Only drivers who have held their class C provisional, probationary or open licence for at least 1 year can apply for a class RE learner licence. On your motorcycle learner

• An L plate must be displayed at the back of your motorcycle or on the back of a vest worn while riding.
• You may only learn on a learner approved motorcycle.
• You must always ride with a zero (0.00) BAC.
• Restrictions apply to pillion passengers.

Minimum period for licence types

If you are required to hold your licence for a stated minimum period, any period during which your licence is expired, suspended (including State Penalties Enforcement Registry suspensions) or you are disqualified from holding a licence by a court will not count towards the stated period.

Returning drivers

If you previously held a class of licence that has not been valid for more than 5 years (e.g. expired, surrendered or cancelled), you may apply for that that class or a lower class of licence without the requirement to hold any other licence.

Licence classes, codes and conditions

Licence class determines the vehicles you can drive. Licences show only the highest class of authorised vehicle and the code for any required conditions. Motorcycle classes RE or R and class UD appear separately on licences.

Authority to learn

If you hold a provisional, probationary or open licence, you are authorised to learn in vehicles of that class with either an automatic or manual transmission or with a synchromesh gearbox and higher classes of vehicle (see table). When learning another class of vehicle, you must be accompanied by a person who has held an open licence for that class of vehicle for at least 1 year. Fines apply for driving unaccompanied or with a person not appropriately licensed. L plates must be displayed.

Driver licence classes

Licence codes and conditions

Upgrading your licence

To upgrade your licence to another class, you must:

• complete a Driver Licence Application/Renewal (form F3000) and produce your licence. You will be required to declare any suspensions, disqualifications or cancellations of your driver licence.
• provide evidence of identity and residence (if required)
• pass a written road rules test (if required). To pass the heavy vehicle test, you must answer 8 of 10 questions correctly. For the motorcycle test, you must answer 27 of 30 questions correctly
• pay the Q-Safe driving test fee and pass the test (if required).

Minimum periods for licence classes

Applying for a licence

To apply for a licence you must:

• visit a Department of Transport and Main Roads service centre, Queensland Government licence issuing office or, for rural areas, Queensland police station
• complete a Driver Licence Application/Renewal (form F3000)
• provide evidence of identity and Queensland residency
• declare you are medically fit to drive or provide a medical certificate if you have a medical condition that may affect your ability to drive
• pay the licence fee

You may be required to have your photo and signature taken digitally.

Learner licence

To apply, you will need to pay for and pass the road rules test (if required).

Provisional licence

To apply, you will need to have recorded 100 hours of supervised driving in a logbook and submit the logbook for assessment prior to your driving test (if required).

To move from a P1 to a P2 or open licence you will need to pay for and pass the Hazard Perception Test (if required).

Evidence of identity

When applying for, renewing or seeking a replacement for a lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged licence, if you are unable to present a Queensland licence that is current or expired less than 2 years ago, you will need to comply with the identity requirements.

These requirements may be met if you can present your Queensland industry authority, marine licence indicator or adult proof of age card (conditions apply).

If you want your changed name shown on your licence, you must show an official change of name document.

Evidence of identity documents

You will need to show 3 evidence of identity documents. They can include either 1 category A and 2 category B documents or 2 category A and 1 category B documents.

Documents must be originals and current unless stated. At least one must include your signature. The Department of Transport and Main Roads may keep a copy of or information about your documents to verify them. Any documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a recognised English translation. If you cannot produce identity documents, you should consult Department of Transport and Main Roads staff.

Category A documents

These establish the legal existence of your name and date of birth (not a full list):

• Australian birth certificate – full, including a bicentennial birth certificate issued for births in 1988 (other commemorative certificates, extracts, acknowledgment of birth, photocopies or certified copies of originals are not acceptable)
• Australian or foreign passport (current or expired less than 2 years)
• Australian citizenship certificate or naturalisation certificate
• Department of Immigration and Border Protection travel document (valid up to 5 years after issue)
• Australian photo driver licence (current or expired less than 2 years)
• Department of Immigration and Border Protection Certificate of Evidence of Resident Status
• Queensland or Australian federal police officer photo identity card
• Queensland Card 18+ (issued after 1 January 1992)
• Queensland Accreditation (laminate) – for example driver or rider trainer, pilot or escort vehicle driver, dangerous goods driver, tow truck driver and assistant certificate (current or expired less than 2 years)
• Queensland Driver Authorisation (laminate) – for example bus, taxi or limousine driver (current or expired less than 2 years)

Category B documents

These documents establish the use of your name in the community, they include:

• Australian Medicare card
• Australian Defence Force photo identity card (excluding civilians)
• financial institution debit/credit card with signature and embossed name
• education institution student identity document (must be issued in Australia and include photo or signature)
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs/Centrelink pensioner or health care card
• Australian security guard or crowd controller licence (with photo)
• Australian firearm licence (with photo)

Change of name documents

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

• Australian marriage certificate issued by the relevant Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (ceremonial certificates are not acceptable)
• Australian change of name certificate issued by the relevant Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
• Australian civil partnership/relationship certificate
• Australian birth certificate (amended or with notations)
• divorce papers decree nisi or absolute (must show the name being reverted to)
• deed poll (issued before 1 February 2004)

An official overseas marriage certificate may only be accepted if it has a registration number and official crest and is accompanied by 1 category A document or 2 category B documents in your married name.

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:

• contract of purchase, lease or rental document, mortgage or land ownership certificate
• Queensland vehicle registration certificate
• Queensland licence or vehicle registration notice (for the coming period)
• Queensland local government rates notice
• Queensland land tax valuation notice
• Australian Taxation Office assessment (last or current financial year)
• Australian Taxation Office tax file number confirmation (valid up to 2 years)
• electricity, gas or telephone account

If providing documentation from the Australian Taxation Office, black out all personal information other than your name and residential address (e.g. tax file number).

Eyesight

If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses when driving, your licence will show an ‘S’ code. If you have sight problems, you may be required to obtain a medical certificate to certify that your sight meets the standard for the class of licence you want. If you only have vision in one eye, you will be required to obtain a medical certificate confirming the extent of the loss of visual acuity and fields (whether you are a private or commercial driver). If you do not meet the standards, you will not be granted a licence.

Medical conditions and driving

You must tell the Department of Transport and Main Roads about any long term or permanent medical condition that may affect your ability to drive safely. If you already hold a licence you can complete a Medical Condition Notification (form F4355). Fines in excess of $6,600 and temporary disqualification applies for failing to notify the Department of Transport and Main Roads about a relevant medical condition.

If you have a relevant medical condition you must present a Medical Certificate for Motor Vehicle Driver (form F3712) completed by your doctor. To apply for or to continue to hold a licence your doctor must recommend that you are either:

• fit to drive with no conditions, or
• fit to drive with stated conditions (e.g. daylight driving or automatic transmission)

Common medical conditions that may affect your ability to drive safely include:

• alcohol and/or drug dependency
• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• arthritis and other joint diabetes (early and late onset)
• eye problems (e.g. cataracts)
• diabetes
• epilepsy
• hearing problems
• heart disease
• injuries and disabilities
• loss or partial loss of a limb
• lung disease
• psychiatric conditions
• sleep disorders
• stroke

If you have a medical condition the code ‘M’ will be recorded on your licence. When you drive you must carry a current medical certificate, obey stated conditions and show it to a police officer if asked. Fines in excess of $2,200 apply for breaking this law.

If you can only drive a specially modified vehicle, you may also be required to carry a current written notice authorising you to drive a vehicle with specialised equipment.

If you drive vehicles with a GVM of more than 8t, public passenger vehicles (e.g. buses or taxis) or vehicles carrying dangerous goods, you must meet the commercial vehicle driver medical standards.

If you are 75 or older

You will be required to present a current medical certificate recommending that you are fit to drive to the Department of Transport and Main Roads when you apply for or renew a licence. You must always carry your medical certificate and obey any stated conditions. Normal requirements about the notification of medical conditions still apply.

From 1 January 2014, medical certificates issued to drivers 75 or older will be valid for a maximum of 12 months.

Road rules test

When you apply for your learner licence you must take the written road rules test at a driver licence issuing centre. If you apply for an additional licence class, you may need to pass a specific test for that class. Allow at least 30 minutes to complete your test.

If you fail, you must wait until the next working day to make another attempt. You must pay the test fee for each attempt. If you pass, the result is valid for 5 years.

You can take the motorcycle road rules test online (a fee is only charged if you pass).

Class C general road rules test

There are 30 multiple-choice questions in the general road rules test. The first section is 10 questions on the give way rules (requires 9 correct answers). The second section is 20 questions on the other road rules (requires 18 correct answers).

Class RE or R (motorcycle) road rules test

You will have to correctly answer at least 27 of the 30 additional multiple-choice questions specific to motorcycles to pass.

Class LR, MR, HR, HC or MC (heavy vehicle) road rules test

You will have to correctly answer at least 8 of the 10 additional multiple-choice questions specific to heavy vehicles to pass.

Practice test questions

There are practice road rules tests for all licence classes online. These will give you an idea of the areas you need to focus on before you try to pass the road rules test.

Learning to drive

Learner licence conditions

Rules for all class C learner licence holders regardless of age

• Display L plates on the front and back of your vehicle
• Keep your licence (or Driver Licence Receipt) with you at all times while driving
• Drive with a zero (0.00) BAC
• Be supervised by a person who has held an open licence for that class of vehicle for at least 1 year (not a provisional, probationary, restricted, suspended, cancelled or expired licence). If supervising in a car, they must have a BAC below 0.05. If supervising in a heavy vehicle, they must have a 0.00 BAC.
• You must hold a learner licence for at least 1 year to be eligible to take a Q-Safe practical driving test. If under 25, passing will qualify you for your P1 licence. If 25 or over, passing will qualify you for your P2 licence.
• Using a mobile phone is prohibited while driving, including hands-free, loudspeaker and Bluetooth functions. Your driving supervisor and passengers are also restricted from using mobile phones on loudspeaker function.

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

• Complete 100 hours (or equivalent) of supervised on-road driving experience including 10 hours at night, recorded and verified in a logbook.

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

• Learners 25 years of age and over are not required to log 100 hours of driving before taking a Q-Safe practical driving test.
• All drivers are banned from using a mobile phone held in the hand while driving.