You get to a certain age and you are instantly grasping for extra freedom. Driving brings that in spades and getting your Ls is not only a milestone, but an essential right of passage and life skill for any teen.
I hope to give an overview of your journey to getting your Ls, especially in NSW (where I live). If you’re looking for specific information regarding the other states, please visit the government websites linked below.
Requirements for getting your Ls in NSW
The only requirement to book your learner’s license driver knowledge test (DKT) in NSW is that you are 16 years old on or before the test date.
The Steps
1. Book
Depending on where you live, the DKT placements can book up very quickly. I recommend looking for an opening between one and three months before your birthday (or before you intend to take the test).
2. Study
Once you have booked and paid through the Service NSW website, you can start preparing for the Driver Knowledge Test. In my opinion, the test is very straightforward and should not take much study.
Completing a few successful attempts of the online practice test here will be more than sufficient. There is also a bank of all questions that can be asked – this can be accessed here. While this isn’t necessary to know off by heart for the test, I found it helpful just to skim over.
3. Prepare
Before the day of the test, you will need to gather the required documents:
Three documents need to be brought on the day. The first is this form filled out. The second document has to be from List 1. This list can be found on the official website linked above but is usually an Australian passport or birth certificate. The final document must be from List 2. This is usually a Medicare card or credit card.
4. On the day
On the day of the test, you will need to bring your documents to the local Service NSW centre, pass the DKT on their computers, pass an eye test, pay the license fee and finally get your photo taken. This process can vary in time, mine was relatively quick (45 minutes) but be aware that some centres have limited facilities and can take up tothree hours. The DKT is the exact same format as the practice so there is absolutely no need to stress.
5. Good to go
You will be given a temporary license paper while your actual card is shipped off. This should arrive within 10 days.
Some things to keep in mind
If you need glasses or contacts, bring them. You need to pass the eye test and there would be nothing worse than getting through everything only to have to reschedule.
Your photo will be taken – it is completely up to you how you dress – just be aware of this. In terms of the actual requirements of the photo, hair cannot be covering your eyebrows due to the facial recognition software. In other words, fringes should be pinned back.
The last thing to remember is that you won’t be driving on the test day. Getting your Ls doesn’t mean you can actually drive. This may be self-explanatory, but it is a good idea to let your parents know you won’t magically be able to drive home from the test centre. I’ve heard it has happened. The stress!
Here’s what happens next: 10 things to know before you teach your teen to drive
Once you pass
If you don’t pass the first time around, reschedule it and try again. This is okay! Getting your Ls isn’t necessarily a one and done thing. Plenty of kids need a couple of goes to pass the test.
Once you do pass, though, here’s what happens next:
1. Download a logbook app
I used this one and found it so much easier to have everything done automatically than use a paper log book. This also prevents the issue of losing your log book or forgetting to put in hours. That said, there’s not much opportunity to ’round up’ your hours in an app like there is in a logbook…
2. Keep practising
100 day hours and 20 night hours are required – and let me tell you, night driving is hard going! Start practicing driving in the dark through routes you are comfortable and familiar with.
3. Getting ready for your Ps test
When you eventually get to take the provisional test, you may be in a different car with a different supervisor. It’s a good idea to switch between cars, supervisors, and routes often to keep you alert and practice for the second step towards a full license.
4. Keys2Drive
Book a keys2drive lesson to get some professional advice and experience. It is a free program run by the government and is really helpful at the 5-10 hour mark.
Feature image by pripir; drive on left by Thandy Yung