How to get your motorcycle licence

Are you thinking about exploring Australia on two wheels? Before you set off, you’ll need the right motorcycle licence – and the process varies depending on where you live.

To help you get started, we’ve broken down the steps across each state and territory, from getting your learner’s permit through to your full licence.

New South Wales¹

Stage 1: Learner licence

Firstly, you need to:

• Be at least 16 years and nine months
• Complete pre-learner training
• Pass the Rider Knowledge Test
• Pass an eyesight test

Stage 2: Provisional P1 licence

Then you’ll need to:

• Be at least 17 years old
• Have held your learner licence for three months
• Complete a pre-provisional course through an approved riding training centre
• Pass the Motorcycle Operator Skills Test

Stage 3: Provisional P2 licence

If you’re under 25:

• After 12 months on your P1 licence, you can upgrade to P2 without testing
• Then you’ll get your green P plates

If you’re 25 or older, you can transition straight from P1 to a full rider licence, as long as you:

• Have held your P1 licence for 12 months
• Have a full Australian driver licence

Stage 4. Full licence

After two years on a P2 licence, you can apply for a full rider licence.

Find out more at: Transport for NSW

Victoria²

Stage 1: Learner permit

Firstly, you need to:

• Be 18 years or older
• Complete a two-day training course at an accredited training and assessment provider
• Pass a learner permit knowledge test
• Complete a ‘check ride’ test
• Do an eyesight test

Stage 2: Restricted motorcycle licence

Then you’ll need to:

• Have held your learner permit for three months
• Pass a riding skills assessment
• Sit a hazard perception test (unless you already have a car licence)
• A half-day ‘check-ride’ test
• A motorcycle on and off-road test

Stage 3: Full motorcycle licence

After holding your restricted licence for three years, you can transition to a full licence.

Find out more at: Transport Victoria

Queensland³

Stage 1: Learner licence (REL)

Firstly, you’ll need to:

• Have held a provisional or open car licence for at least 12 months
• Complete a two-day Q-Ride pre-learner course
• Pass an online motorcycle knowledge test

Stage 2: Restricted licence (RE)

Then you’ll need to:

• Have held a learner licence for at least 90 days
• Pass the hazard perception test
• Pass the one-day Q-Ride restricted course

Stage 3: Unrestricted licence (R)

Finally, you’ll need to:

• Have held an RE licence for at least two years
• Pass the half-day Q-Ride unrestricted course

Find out more at: Queensland Government

South Australia⁴

Stage 1: Learner permit

Firstly, you’ll need to:

• Be at least 18 years old, or 17 with a provisional driver licence
• Pass the online Motorbike Rider Knowledge Test
• Pass the online Hazard Awareness Test
• Pass the two-day Motorbike Learners Course

Stage 2: Motorbike licence (R-DATE class)

Then you’ll need to:

• Be at least 19 years old
• Have held a learner permit for 12 months
• Pass the Pre-Licence Course
• Pass the 75-minute on-road riding assessment

Stage 3: Unrestricted licence (R-class)

After two years on your R-DATE class licence, you’ll be upgraded to an unrestricted R-Class licence at renewal time.

Find out more at: Government of South Australia

Western Australia⁵

Stage 1: Learner’s permit

Firstly, you’ll need to:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Pass the Learner’s Permit Computerised Theory Test
• Pass an eyesight test

Stage 2: Restricted motorcycle (RE) licence

Then you’ll need to:

• Be at least 17 years old
• Have held a learner’s permit for at least six months
• Record at least 50 hours of supervised riding, including five hours of night riding (unless you hold a C class licence)
• Pass the Hazard Perception Test
• Pass the Practical Driving Assessment

Then you’ll get your red P plates for the first six months, and green P plates for the following 18 months.

Stage 3: Unrestricted licence (R)

Finally, you’ll need to:

• Have held a restricted licence for two years
• Pass a Practical Driving Assessment
• Pass an eyesight test

More information: Transport WA

Australian Capital Territory⁶

Stage 1: Learner licence

Firstly, you’ll need to:

• Be 16 years and nine months
• Complete a Pre-learner course and pass the ACT Road Rules test, unless you hold an ACT driver licence
• Pass the ACT Learner Motorcycle Rider Training Course
• Pass an eyesight test

Stage 2: Provisional licence

Then you’ll need to:

• Be at least 17 years old
• Have held your learner licence for at least three months
• Pass an approved Pre-provisional Motorcycle Rider Training Course

You’ll then display your red P Plates for one year, and green P plates for a further two years.

Stage 3: Unrestricted licence

You can automatically progress to an unrestricted licence after three years on your provisional licence.

Find out more at: Access Canberra

Tasmania⁷

Stage 1: Learner licence

Firstly, you’ll need to:

• Be at least 16 years and six months old
• Pass a Road Rules Knowledge Test at Service Tasmania
• Successfully complete a two-day Pre-Learner Course with Stay Upright – Tasmania’s motorcycle driving assessment provider

Stage 2: Provisional P1 licence

Then you’ll need to:

• Have held a learner licence for six months
• Complete a half-day Check Ride course
• Complete a Pre-Provisional Test

Stage 3: Provisional P2 licence

Once a rider has held a P1 licence for 12 months, they can move to a P2 licence with no additional assessments.

Stage 4: Unrestricted licence

Anyone aged under 25 must hold a P2 licence for two years before progressing to an unrestricted licence. For over 25s, that’s reduced to one year.

Find out more at: Service Tasmania

Northern Territory⁸

Stage 1: Learner licence

Firstly, you’ll need to:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Pass the motorcycle rider knowledge test
• Pass a pre-learner rider training course with an approved provider
• Pass an eye test (if you don’t hold a driver’s licence)

Stage 2: Provisional licence

Then you’ll need to:

• Have held a learner licence for six months
• Pass a pre-provisional rider training course with an authorised provider

If you’re under 25, you’ll get a two-year provisional licence.  If you’re 25 or over, you’ll get a one-year provisional licence.

If you already hold a full car driver’s licence, apply for a Restricted licence instead. This will last for one year.

Stage 3: Open licence

After one or two years (depending on your age and licence type), you can upgrade to a full licence.

Find out more at: Northern Territory Government

Motorbike safety in Australia

In 2025, while only 4.5% of vehicles registered in Australia were motorcycles,⁹ more than 21% of road fatalities involved motorcyclists.¹⁰

So, whether you’re riding or driving, it’s crucial to be extra careful on the road. Even if you’re an experienced rider, you may want to consider advanced training to refresh your hazard avoidance skills.

Choosing the right motorbike as a learner

If you’re just starting out, you’ll need a bike that meets the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS).¹¹ These bikes are designed with lower power and better stability to help new riders develop confidence.

A LAMS-approved motorcycle ‑needs to:

• Have an engine capacity of 660cc or less
• Meet a power-to‑weight ratio of 150kW/tonnes or less
• Be unmodified

While this is a national program, each state or territory has their own list of approved motorcycles.

Insurance for motorbike riders

Once you’ve got your licence (congratulations), your dream bike and safety gear, you’re ready to hit the road.

Before you jump in the rider’s seat, it’s worth thinking about motorcycle insurance.

You can tailor your bike insurance to include cover for accidents, theft and your gear. With 140 years’ experience insuring Australians on the road, QBE is at the heart of every ride.

QBE Motorcycle Insurance Get a quote

*All information is correct at time of publishing.

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¹ Learner rider licence | NSW Government
² Prepare for your motorcycle licence in Victoria – Transport Victoria
³ Getting your motorcycle licence | Transport | Queensland Government
⁴ Applying for your motorbike licence | SA.GOV.AU
⁵ Apply for your learner’s permit | Transport WA
⁶ Motorcycle licences – Access Canberra
⁷ Complete a learner motorcycle licence knowledge test | Service Australia
⁸ Take a rider training course with an authorised provider | NT.GOV.AU
⁹ Road vehicles, Australia, January 2025 | Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics, page 10
¹⁰ Motorcycling safety | National Road Safety Data Hub
¹¹ Source: Transport for NSW – Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS)