Guide to getting your licence
Getting a car driver’s licence involves gradually progressing through a series of stages until you qualify for a full licence.
There is a different process for:
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Transferring an interstate and overseas licence
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Check you can get your licence
Through all the getting a driver's licence stages you must:
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meet the age and time requirements
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be medically fit to drive
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not be disqualified from driving.​
Apply for a learner's permit
You must be at least 15 years and 9 months old to start the process of completing and passing a learner's theory test before you can get your learner's permit (L's).
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You can only be issued a learner's permit when you are at least 16 years old.
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To get your L's you'll need to:​
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Your learner's permit will be valid for 2 years.
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study for and pass a theory test
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attend a Service SA customer service centre to provide evidence of identity, have your photo taken, and apply for your learner's permit.
Driving on your L's
and progressing to
a provisional licence
Having your learner's permit means you're allowed to drive a car on the road with a qualified supervising driver or driving instructor but there are conditions.
To get a P1 provisional licence you must:
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have a learner's permit for at least:
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12 months if you're between 17 and 24 years old
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6 months if you're at least 25 years old​
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complete at least 75 hours of driving including a minimum of 15 hours at night with a qualified supervising driver or a driving instructor. This must be recorded in a log book.
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pass either a:
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Vehicle on Road Test (VORT) practical driving test with a VORT authorised examiner
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Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) course
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get a certificate of competency for passing either the VORT test or CBT&A course.​
Driving on your L's
and progressing to
a provisional licence
Book an appointment to do a hazard perception test at a Service SA customer service centre.
Take the required documentation with you to the customer service centre:
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learner's permit
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certificate of competency
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Driving Companion with your completed declaration showing completion of the compulsory driving hours
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a completed application form
Once you've passed the test at the centre you'll be issued a provisional licence (P's).
Driving on your P's
Your provisional licence is valid for 3 years - P1 for 1 year and P2 for 2 years.
On your P's you can drive independently, without a supervising driver but there are conditions.
If you're eligible your P1 licence will automatically be upgraded to a P2 licence when both of these apply:
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you're at least 18 years old
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you've held a P1 licence for a minimum of 12 months
Full licence
When you are due to progress to your full driver's licence, a licence renewal notice will be automatically posted to you. Your provisional conditions will finish midnight of the expiry of your P2 licence.
