Step 1: Get a Learner's Permit
Before you can learn to drive on the road, you must first gain a learner’s permit. For 'C' class vehicles (Manual and Automatic cars) the minimum age is 16 years. On or after your 16th birthday you can apply for a learner’s permit at any Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) branch. (Metro DVS branches listed below). You do not need to make an appointment.
Cannington - 18C, 1480 Albany Highway, Cannington
City West - Cnr Troode Street & Plaistowe Mews, West Perth
Joondalup - 65 Boas Avenue, Joondalup
Kelmscott - 34 Gillam Drive, Kelmscott
Mandurah - Cnr Pinjarra Road & Ranceby Avenue, Mandurah
Midland - Midland Gate Shopping Centre, Cale Street, Midland
Mirrabooka - 13/1 Chesterfield Road, Cnr Mirrabooka Ave and Yirrigan Drive, Mirrabooka
Rockingham - 37 McNicholl Street, Rockingham
Willagee - Cnr Stock Rd & Leach Highway, Willagee
When you apply for your learner’s permit you must provide identification which provides evidence of your age, address and identity. Click here to go to the Department of Transport website for information on proving your identity.
Learner Permit Fees
When you apply for a learner's permit, you will be charged fees for the following:
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Undertaking a theory test. You may not need to take this theory test if you have completed your “keys4life” program through school and have the certificate to present to the Department of Transport.
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Application Fee
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A Log Book
More information regarding these fees can be found by searching for "learner" on the Department of Transport Fee Finder.
After you have passed the theory test and paid the relevant fees you will need to pass an eyesight test and answer some questions about your medical history. The customer service officer will advise whether or not you will need to have a medical assessment before you can obtain a learner’s permit.
You will then be issued a learner permit which is valid for 3 years. Now you can start learning how to drive!
Step 2: Learning How to Drive
Once you have your learner's permit and Log Book, you can begin learning to drive with a supervisor. The supervisor must be either a licenced driving instructor or a licenced driver who has held a license of the same class or higher than the person learning for a minimum of 4 years (including P plates).
You must complete and record a minimum of 50 supervised driving hours and gain experience in different traffic and weather conditions in order to be eligible to sit the practical driving assessment.
A note from the WA Department of Transport on learning to drive:
The importance of quality instruction
"Learning to drive can be very stressful for both you and your student, especially if you are related.
We strongly advise that starting off with a professional driving instructor can be a very good idea for your 'student'. Driving instructors can quickly tell them what they will need to learn and start them off properly.
Once your student has learned the early stages of how to control a car, they can then gain experience with you.
We do strongly recommend however, that once your student has gained experience with you they have another lesson with a professional driving instructor. This will make sure they are developing the right driving habits and let them know how their driving compares to the assessment standard."
Step 3: Hazard Perception Test (HPT)
After holding your WA learners permit for a minimum of 6 months, you are able to sit the Hazard Perception Test. (HPT). You do not need to book your HPT simply go into a DVS branch near you.
There is a fee for sitting your Hazard Perception test. For information on these fees please click here and scroll down to "Learner Driver Fees".
After passing your HPT you will need to complete a minimum of 50 supervised driving hours before attempting the Practical Driving Assessment.
Step 4: Complete the 50 Hours
50 hours is the minimum requirement; it is recommended that you exceed this minimum. 5 of the 50 mandatory supervised hours must be conducted at night.
There is no minimum time frame in which these hours must be completed.
During these 50 hours it is advised that learners drive in many different conditions including;
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Open Roads and Highways
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Heavy Traffic
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Country Roads
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Unsealed Roads
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Wet Weather
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Dawn and Dusk
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Night
Step 5: Practical Driving Assessment (PDA)
When you have completed your minimum 50 supervised hours, including at least 5 hours of night driving and are at least 17 years old you can book in and sit a PDA.
You must book your practical driving assessment in advance. You can book your driving assessment on the Department of Transport Practical Driving Assessment Bookings page.
You can also call 13 11 56 to book your driving assessment or go into a DVS branch near you.
If you are sitting your 1st PDA, you will have already paid for one test with the Department of Transport when you purchased your learners permit.
Before you book the PDA
Many people go into their PDA and fail due to lack of proper instruction. Make sure you have had some professional driving lessons before attempting the PDA.
On Test Day
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Ensure the vehicle you bring to the licence centre for your PDA is road worthy
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Ensure your logbook is correctly completed and signed by yourself and all supervisors
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Be on-time for the test. The Department of Transport advises that you arrive 15 minutes before your test is due to commence.
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Bring your Learners Permit, Log book and a second primary ID
After passing your PDA you will need to go into the licence branch and receive your provisional licence.
Step 6: Your Provisional Licence
Once you have your provisional licence, you can drive without supervision.
You will be required to display 'P' plates whenever you drive for 2 years unless otherwise specified by the Department of Transport.
Why is it important to learn to drive properly?
Nobody else does!
Road accidents are awful for everyone involved. The victims, the families, the witnesses and emergency services personnel.
Did you know that emergency services personnel are the highest risk of suicide of any profession? After witnessing a traumatising event such as an accident or death most people suffer from a condition known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms include the inability to sleep and continual vivid mental replay of the traumatic event in the person’s mind.
For emergency services personnel seeing road side accidents can cause serious mental suffering long after they have attended the scene. Then there are the families of the victims. There would be nothing more traumatic for a parent than a phone call from the police requesting that they come to the morgue to identify the body of their son or daughter. Or the pain of having to wait day after day beside a hospital bed hoping their child recovers from their injuries.
It is not only the victims who suffer in road accidents.
Firstly, let’s look at why these accidents occurred. Of the 161 deaths:
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62 were speed related
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39 were alcohol related
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16 were fatigue related
Statistically men are most at risk of being killed in a car crash with 118 of the deaths in WA last year being male and only 41 females. Sometimes men like to show off, their cars, their skills and their 'bravery' but there is nothing brave about speeding to prove that your car can go fast. There is nothing brave about putting your own life and the lives of others in danger for fun.
The below information has been taken from the WA Drive Safe Handbook.
Alcohol is absorbed quickly into the blood and travels rapidly to all parts of the body. It affects your brain’s ability to make judgements and process information. It also impairs your consciousness and vision. No amount of coffee or soft drink will sober you up – only time can do that.
If you drink alcohol and drive, you will find it difficult to:
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judge the speed of your vehicle;
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judge the distance between your car and other cars;
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notice traffic control signals, pedestrians and other potential hazards;
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concentrate on the task of driving;
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keep your balance, especially on a motorcycle (or on a bicycle, or as a pedestrian); and
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stay awake when you are driving.
Alcohol also gives you a false sense of confidence. You may take more risks than you would normally – but remember, alcohol slows down your reaction time to road hazards.
Fatigue related accidents occur when the driver is tired and either falls asleep when driving or starts to loose concentration or takes micro naps when driving (long blinks to rest the eyes). Obviously not having your full attention on the road can result in very dangerous situations.
Some things you can do to reduce your risk of a fatigue related accident:
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Avoid driving between midnight and 6am. At this time your body clock turns its alertness down. This usually when you are at your worst driving performance.
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Take breaks from driving every 2 hours. Either share the driving with a passenger or simply get out the car for at least 10 minutes to walk and stretch.
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Get plenty of sleep before a long trip
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Listen to music or interesting audio material during your drive to keep you engaged and awake.
In addition to the 161 killed, a further 170 people were critically injured. Critically injured means these individuals were as close as could be to joining the 161 dead. However, through immediate medical attention these 170 were able to recover enough from their injuries to survive. No doubt they are still suffering from long term effects of their injuries.
Crashes are avoidable. We can teach our next generation of drivers to be safe on our roads for life through better education and it all starts with choosing the right driving school.
Choose Indi Drive to help keep your loved one safe on our roads for life.
For more information on road safety visit the WA Road Safety Council website.
Helpful Links and Resources
For more information, links, and resources that may be helpful to you. Please visit the following:
