How to Get Your Driver's Licence in Tasmania (2026)

You can sit the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) from the age of 15 years and 11 months, and hold a learner permit from age 16. There is no older-applicant shortcut in Tasmania: the 12-month minimum hold period applies to everyone, regardless of age.

The Driver Knowledge Test

The DKT tests your understanding of road rules, signs, and safe driving behaviour. You have two ways to complete it. The first is to work through the Plates Plus online course, which walks you through the theory in structured modules before you sit the test. The second is to sit a standalone DKT at a Service Tasmania outlet. Both lead to the same outcome. Most learners find the Plates Plus course useful because it organises the content clearly, but if you already know the road rules thoroughly, the standalone DKT is also available.

How Long You Hold the Learner Permit

Once you have your permit, you must hold it for a minimum of 12 continuous months before you can progress to P1. That clock only runs while your permit is current, so let it lapse and you restart. Plan ahead.

While you hold your learner permit, you must complete 80 hours of supervised driving, including at least 15 hours at night. This is mandatory for all learners in Tasmania, no matter your age. There is no accredited-lesson bonus that reduces the required hours, so the 80-hour target is the same whether you use a professional instructor or drive entirely with a supervising driver.

Recording Your Hours

Every drive goes into your logbook. Each entry needs to be signed by your supervisor. Keep the book up to date after every trip rather than trying to reconstruct it at the end. Inspectors can ask to see it, and you will need to declare your hours when you apply for your P1 assessment.

Getting the Most from Your Hours

Eighty hours sounds like a lot, but the quality of practice matters as much as the quantity. Include a mix of conditions: quiet suburban streets early on, then busier roads, highways, night driving, wet weather, and unfamiliar areas. Booking lessons with a qualified driving instructor for some of those hours is genuinely worthwhile. An instructor can spot habits you and your supervising parent might not notice, and they are trained to teach defensive driving, not just how to pass a test.

Once you have held your learner permit for at least 12 months and completed 80 hours (including 15 at night), you are eligible to move toward your P1 provisional licence. Two things need to happen: you must pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) and then the P1 Practical Driving Assessment.

The Hazard Perception Test (HPT)

The HPT is an online test that assesses your ability to identify developing hazards in video clips of real driving situations. You can sit it from three months before your earliest eligible P1 date. It is worth sitting the HPT as soon as you are eligible so it is done and out of the way.

The P1 Practical Driving Assessment

This is an on-road driving test conducted with a licensed assessor. You must be at least 17 years old to sit it. The assessor will take you through a range of real traffic conditions and assess your ability to drive safely and independently. You need to supply a roadworthy vehicle for the test. Bring your logbook and all required documentation on the day.

Tasmania has two provisional stages. Here is how they work.

P1 Provisional Licence

P1 uses red-on-white P-plates and runs for a minimum of 12 continuous months. The main conditions are:

• Maximum speed of 100 km/h
• 0.00 BAC at all times
• No mobile phone use at all, including hands-free
• If you are under 25, you may carry no more than one passenger aged 16 to 21 during your first 12 months on P1

The peer-passenger restriction is worth taking seriously. It exists because crash risk rises sharply with young passengers in the car. If you are 25 or older when you get your P1, this restriction does not apply to you.

P2 Provisional Licence

P2 uses green-on-white P-plates. You can use a hands-free phone holder on P2. The 0.00 BAC rule still applies. You may drive up to the posted speed limit. How long you hold P2 depends on your age:

Once your P2 period is complete and you meet all requirements, you can apply for a full (open) licence.

Getting through the Tasmanian licensing system takes time and consistency. A few habits make a real difference.

Start Early with a Lesson Plan

Do not wait until month ten of your learner period to book your first professional lesson. Starting early means you build good habits from the beginning, rather than spending the last few months undoing bad ones. A qualified instructor will teach you how to manage space, read traffic, and handle situations that are hard to practise in a family car with a nervous parent.

What Lessons Typically Cost

Driving lessons in Tasmania generally range from around $70 to $110 per hour, though prices vary between schools, regions, and whether you book a package. Always confirm the current rate when you book, as prices change.

Choosing a Driving School

Look for an instructor who is patient, gives clear feedback, and lets you debrief after each lesson. A good instructor will tell you honestly where you are underperforming, not just reassure you. Ask whether they offer lessons in the area where your P1 assessment will be conducted, because local road knowledge genuinely helps on test day.

Supervising Drivers: Your Role Matters Too

Parents and other supervisors are not just there to sit in the passenger seat. You set the tone for each practice session. Keep instructions calm and clear, give directions early enough to be useful, and avoid criticising mid-manoeuvre. Calm practice sessions produce calm test-day drivers.