NSW Driver Licence – How to get your first driving licence in New South Wales

Here is Sydneycars guide to the NSW Driver Licence program. It can be a confusing and difficult process for the learner driver to obtain their NSW driver licence. However, after reading this guide you will be well on your way to understand how to get your first driving licence here in New South Wales.

NSW Driver Licence links to read before applying to get a licence

Before you start the complicated and (can be expensive process) of getting your NSW Driver Licence, here are some useful links for you to read. These links will help you understand the whole process and make it easy to go from not owning a licence to becoming a learner driver! Plus the driving licence comes in handy as a form of identification as well.

How to get your first driving licence in New South Wales

Now you have some background information about how to get your first NSW driver licence, it’s time to get the ball rolling. Let’s look at the application process and break it down to understand what is going on. Getting your NSW drivers license can quickly turn into a long and expensive adventure! Firstly, you will have to go for an eye test and sit a Drivers Knowledge Test before you can go on the roads!

Getting your NSW Driver licence – Official Graduated Licensing Scheme

The whole process seems very complicated to other countries around the world to be honest. In New South Wales you have to get your NSW driver licence through the NSW Graduated Licensing Scheme.

What is the Graduated Licensing Scheme?

The (GLS) or Graduated Licensing Scheme known is the process or route map you have to traverse to get a full licence. You start with a provisional learner licence, and it takes you through several different stages and tests before obtaining your full NSW driving licence.

This more arduous process was due to the large number of accidents involving inexperienced learner drivers here in NSW. The first six months of driving solo are the highest risk period for novice drivers. For example, P1 drivers are ten times more likely to be in a crash than learner drivers. Since the introduction, there has been a fifty per cent reduction in the number of young drivers killed on New South Wales roads.

Now we know what the GLS scheme is, how is it all organised and where can I apply to get my NSW Driver Licence?

NSW Driver Licence Overview – learner to a full licence

There are six stages you need to pass to obtain your NSW Drivers Licence. This process takes you from a new learner driver to being a full licence NSW holder:

Stage one – pass the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT)

You will need to pass the Driver Knowledge Test to get your actual learner licence.

Stage two (if under 25 years old) 120 hours of supervised driving experience

The second stage involves taking supervised driving practice to achieve one hundred and twenty (120) hours of driving experience. You will need to prove these logged hours before you can take your driving test. You will also need to hold your learner licence for at least ten (10) months before progressing to stage three, the Hazard Perception Test.

Note: If you are over twenty-five (25) years old, you can skip this section and go straight to the (HPT) Hazard Perception Test.

Stage three – take the Hazard Perception Test (HPT)

At stage three, you need to sit and pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT). This test is a computer-based touch screen exam that measures your ability to recognise potentially dangerous situations on the road and respond appropriately.

Notes if under 25 years old: If you’re under twenty-five (25), you need to hold your learner licence for at least twelve (12) months and complete your one hundred and twenty (120) hours of supervised driving practice, including twenty (20) hours of night driving, before moving to the next stage.

Notes if over 25 years old: If you’re over twenty-five (25), you can go straight to the next stage after passing the HPT.

Stage four – book and pass your driving test

Stage four is when you actually book and then pass your driving test to get your provisional P1 (red) licence. You will need to hold your P1 licence for at least twelve (12) months before you can progress to the next stage.

Stage five – upgrade to NSW provisional P2 (green) licence

After at least one year on the P1 licence, you can now finally apply to upgrade to the NSW provisional P2 (green) licence. You will need to hold your P2 licence for at least twenty four (24) months before you can progress to the final stage six.

Note: Provisional P2 licence holders/drivers who receive a suspension for unsafe driving behaviour must stay on their P2 licence for an extra six (6) months for every suspension they receive during the P2 licence process

Stage six – apply for full unrestricted NSW Drivers Licence.

This last stage is like you finding gold down the mine! Congratulations, and you can now apply and process to hold a full, unrestricted NSW Drivers Licence.

Source: Thanks to the Transport NSW page for supplying the information need to create this page.

What is the minimum age to drive a car in NSW = 16 years old

The first hurdle you have to jump over is your age! The minimum age to drive a car in New South Wales is 16 years old. Other states have different rules, so in this guide, we are sticking to NSW regulations.

The first step (or challenge) is to prove your identity and then pass an eye test. Once you have done this part, you move on to the next exciting chapter of your NSW Driver Licence adventure, pass your Driver Knowledge Test!

Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) – what is it and how do you pass the test?

Now is the time to break down what is in the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) and what you need to do to get your NSW Drivers Licence! The test is a computer-based road rule knowledge test. You have to answer forty-five (45) questions about road safety and general knowledge to pass the test. It’s definitely worth studying for this test as you will have to pay a test fee each time you attempt the test!

How does the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) work?

You will sit in front of a computer to take the text. The program will select random questions from a possible six hundred (600) questions! Therefore if you don’t do any studying beforehand it can become expensive to keep failing the test! Here is a quick breakdown of what is on the test:

15 general knowledge questions (you need to get at least 12 correct to pass)
30 road safety questions (you need to get at least 29 correct to pass)

Note: The test will terminate and you will fail immediately if you get the following wrong:

4 questions wrong in the general knowledge section
2 wrong in the road safety section

Therefore our tip of the day is to make sure you read each question carefully before answering. There is no time limit to complete the test, so worth going slow and getting it right the first time!

Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) available in Languages other than English

The Driver Knowledge Test(DKT) is available in the following languages English, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Korean, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese. A free interpreter service is available to people who need to take the test in other languages. Call 13 22 13 to arrange an interpreter.
Source of information: Official Driver Knowledge Test webpage.

More info coming soon…….

We have lots more info coming soon about the whole process of getting your NSW Drivers Licence. It’s a lot to take in, so we are having a break now. We will be back in a couple of weeks to explain some more about the whole process. Remember Sydneycars is the best place to test drive good value for money used cars in Sydney.

Best used first car dealer in Sydney under $5000

Once you have started the process of getting your NSW Driver Licence, you will at some stage be looking to buy your first car in Sydney. When you thinking about buying your first car it is not going to be a Rolls Royce, but it would be nice to have something decent. With the price of getting your NSW driver licence and all the lessons, the money can soon mount up. Therefore you need to find a used car dealer in Sydney who specializes in good value for money used cars. If you are looking for the best place to buy your first car, then come on down to Sydneycars!

Test drive any of our used cars for learner drivers

You are more than welcome to test drive any of our used cars for learner drivers. We have a range of used cars for sale under the $5000 mark that is perfect for new NSW Driver Licence holders. All vehicles for sale are available for test drives at 11A Clevedon Street, Botany, 2019, Sydney. Why not call our team on 0421101021 to see what we have in stock for your first used car.

We sell used Toyota and other great brands

Not only are we known as the ‘best used car dealer Sydney under $5000″, but we are used Toyota and Japanese car specialists. They are our number one requested used car brand for first time buyers. Give Shaun a call on 0421101021 to use our “first time car buyer finder service”. Talk to Shaun about your budget, specifications you want and we will find you a decent used first car. Our team is always looking for stock, there is a good chance we can find your ideal used car for sale.

Thinking of buying a used car – email us your questions

Now you have all the information you need on how to get an NSW Driver Licence, how about buying that first car? Are you thinking of buying a car for the first time now you have your NSW Driver Licence? Do you have any questions about what is the best value for money used car to purchase? All you have to do is fill in our contact us form below, and our team will happily answer any question you have. In the meantime, you can always call Shaun on 0421101021, and he can answer any questions over the phone. We are specialists in finding good value for money used cars under $5000.