Learner rider's licence

How old do I have to be before I can get a Learner Rider's Licence?

You must be at least sixteen years and nine months old before you are issued with a Learner rider's licence.

You may book into and attend a pre-learner course at the age of sixteen years and six months, as Certificates of Competence
for course attendance are valid for three months from date of issue.

Do I have to hold a driver's licence in order to get a motorcycle licence?

No. You can get a motorcycle licence even if you don't hold a driver's licence.

How do I obtain a Learner Rider's licence?

  • Pay the pre-learner rider training enrolment fee at your nearest motor registry and keep the receipt.
  • Alternatively, if you have a Visa, BankCard, American Express or MasterCard, you may pay the fee through the RTA Customer Call Centre
    on 132 213.
  • Contact the RTA Customer Call Centre on 132 213 to book a course

Once you have successfully completed the course, you will be issued with a Certificate of Competence. A Certificate of Competence is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

Go to the nearest motor registry and:

  • take your Certificate of Competence
  • take proof of identity documents
  • complete and application form
  • pass an eyesight test
  • pass the knowledge test
  • pay the licence fee

You will then be issued with a Learner Rider's licence, which is valid for six months.

You must hold a learner's licence for a minimum period of three months before you can get a provisional licence, unless you qualify for a mature age exemption.

Make sure you can book into a provisional course at least 4-6 weeks before your learner's licence expires.

If you do not pass the provisional rider training course and get your provisional licence before your Learner Rider's licence expires, you will have to repeat the pre-learner course and pay the fees again.

Arrival Times

Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled course start time. Applicants who arrive after the course has started WILL NOT be allowed to join the course.

Courses must start on time. To include those who arrive late would require the instructor to restart the course, thereby disrupting and inconveniencing other participants.

Applicants who arrive late forfeit their course fees and will be required to repay and re-book before re-attending training.

What to take to learner training:

  • The receipt issued by the registry or the one received in the post if you paid by credit card over the telephone.
  • Proof of Identity documents, such as a current photo driver's licence (check list 1 and list 2 for other forms of acceptable identification).

What to wear on the day:

  • Wear jeans, leather or other type of sturdy pants
  • Boots or sturdy shoes
  • Long sleeved leather, denim or other type of sturdy long sleeved jacket
  • Bring a hat and sunglasses.

Motorcycle, helmet and gloves are provided by the Training Centre for Learner Courses.

What to do after you pass:

Practise, practise, practise. There is 2 main motorcycle training centres, Honda Australia Rider Training (HART) & Stay Upright. Later on there is Superbike School who mainly concentrates on Cornering classes. Jump in and complete the courses that are necessary for you. This will help build your confidence as well as your skills. As a tip, for those that are Learners, the riding group GirlsRideOut offer Learn 'n' GRO days for free to all 'Learner' members. It is a $20 membership fee which then comes with a FREE half day training with HART and a short ride with your riding buddy allocated for the day.

 

Provisional rider's licence?

How do I get my provisional rider's licence?

Pay the Provisional Course and Motorcycle Operator Skill Test (M.O.S.T) enrolment fees at your nearest registry.

* If you have Visa™, BankCard™ MasterCard™ or American Express™, you may pay the fee through the RTA Customer Call Centre on 132 213.
* Contact the RTA Customer Call Centre on 132 213 to book a course. The booking officer will ask you to quote the receipt number of your enrolment fee.

If you do not live in a 'declared area', contact your local motor registry or the RTA Customer Call Centre to arrange a riding test.

Arrival times

Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled course start time. Applicants who arrive after the course has started WILL NOT be allowed to join the course.

Courses must start on time. To include those who arrive late would require the instructor to restart the course, thereby disrupting and inconveniencing other participants.

Applicants who arrive late forfeit their course fees and will be required to repay and re-book before re-attending training.

What do I bring with me on the day?

* The receipt issued by the registry or the one received in the post if you paid by credit card over the telephone
* Your current Learner Rider's licence
* Your motorcycle in a registered and roadworthy condition with current registration label and "L" plates affixed. (You will not be allowed to undergo training or testing on a motorcycle that is not roadworthy and registered).

What to wear on the day:

* Wear jeans, leather or other type of sturdy long pants
* Boots or sturdy shoes
* Long sleeved leather, denim jacket or other type of sturdy long sleeved jacket
* Gloves
* Bring a hat and sunglasses
* Approved helmet. (The Australian Standards AS1698 sticker must be displayed upon the helmet).

After the course

Once you have successfully completed the course, you will be issued with a Certificate of Competence. The Certificate of Competence is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

Go to the nearest motor registry and:

* take your Certificate of Competence
* take your Learner's Licence
* pay the licence fee

 

Mature age riders

If you are 30 years of age or older and hold, or are eligible to hold, a gold driver's licence you may proceed directly from a learner rider's licence to an unrestricted rider's licence, after passing the provisional test (and training if you live in a 'declared area').

While on your Learner Rider's licence you must observe the normal learner rider restrictions as stated in the Motorcycle Rider's Handbook, including the motorcycle engine capacity and power weight restriction.

If you are a mature age rider, you must still attend compulsory rider training, if available in your area. However, you may proceed to the pre-provisional level of rider training or, if you do not live in a 'declared area', the rider test, without having held your Learner Rider's licence for the normal period of three months.

It should be noted that regardless of eligibility for the mature age exemption, a rider must have held a rider's licence for at least 12 months before being permitted to carry a pillion passenger.

Age test:
Riders aged 80 years or more should telephone the RTA Customer Call Centre on 132 213 to book an Age Test. For further information contact the RTA's Chief Riding Instructor on (02) 9218 6582.