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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You need to be at least 16 years old to obtain a NSW Learner Licence.  You will need to study the Road Users Handbook (either from the BTW site or from SNSW.)  Once you are confident that you understand the contents of the Handbook, you can then attempt some practice tests online through Service NSW  https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/driver-knowledge-test These questions are similar to those in the Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) that you will need to pass, to obtain your Learner licence.

You can then book a test time at a Service NSW site to complete the DKT.  For bookings you will need to book and pay a fee to Service NSW.  When you attend a Service NSW site you will need to have completed a form to obtain a Learner licence and also provide proof of identity documents.  (The various proof of identity options are included on the form).  

 After completing the DKT you will be advised if you have passed.  If you have passed you will then have an eyesight test and have your photo taken for your Learner Card Licence.  You will then be given a paper licence and your new card licence will arrive in the post within 14 days.

  • Must be supervised at all times by the holder of a full Australian drivers Licence.  
  • Have L plates displayed conspicuously on front and rear of car (or on roof if with BTW).   
  • Maximum speed limit of 100km/h. 
  •  Not tow another vehicle.   
  • Not exceed zero blood alcohol concentration.  
  •  Not supervise another Learner driver.   
  • Only carry the number of passengers that can be properly seated in seats and with seat belts.  
  •  Only drive a vehicle that has a seat belt fitted to driver seat and you must wear the seat belt.   
  • Not drive with any passengers in or on the boot of the vehicle.

Your BTW driving instructor will have 3 forms plus your normal Logbook to complete.

The first form is the "Structured Lesson Planner". This form is completed to advise of the lesson content, topics etc that have been delivered in the lesson.

The instructor will complete the Lesson Record Keeper in your Logbook.

The third form is the BTW Client Record Sheet. This form plots your progress through your driving instruction over the course of your training. This form will assist the learner driver to understand the areas that require development and will also assist the usual supervising driver when teaching the learner.

Only if BTW have supervised the student for 3 hours at night. If a 1 hour lesson has been conducted, it will be recorded as 1 hour of night time driving and 2 hours of daylight driving. This means that to complete 20 hours of night time driving, you will need to complete the full 20 hours in night time.

Of course you can still have further lessons, but they will only be recorded as 1 hour = 1 hour lessons, and cannot be claimed under the 3 for 1 scheme.

Yes, if you are 25 or over you will not need to complete the hours or the Log Book to be able to sit the Provisional Licence test.

The Safer Drivers Course is $140, for any area in which we provide the course. This includes both the Module 1 facilitated workshop and the Module 2 in car Coaching session. If you hold a current Healthcare or Pension card then the course is FREE. Please advise at the time of booking, if you have either of these Concession Cards.

This will depend on a lot of variables, but as a minimum you will have to have completed at least 120 hours of driving in your Logbook, (of which 20 hours must be of night time driving), you must have held the Learner licence for a minimum of 12 months, and you must be at least 17 years of age.

Once you have qualified to attend you Provisional driving test, you should then ask yourself the question: "Am I ready to get my P's Licence?" The types of questions you should ask yourself are: 

  • Have I had a wide and varied experience in my driving so far?
  • Do I feel confident and safe on busy roads, country roads, motorways etc?
  • Have I completed 1000's of repetitions of every skill I will require as a Provisional driver? 
  • Do I feel confident to make all of the decisions when I am driving?
If you are unsure of where you are at with your driving, we would encourage you to attend at least 1 structured professional lesson or the FREE Keys 2 Drive lesson.

What you will learn will be determined by where you are at on your Learner journey and what your instructor identifies as work for you. This could include such things as headchecks, hazard perception and response, speed management, gap selection, strategies to assist in reading the conditions around you etc. In each lesson the instructor will assess your level and then work on areas that require development. You can also ask the instructor for particular help in an area, that you feel that you need help with.

You will need to book and complete the Hazard Perception Test (HPT) at a Service NSW site before you can book your Provisional Driving Test. Once you have booked your P's test you will need to decide on which vehicle you will drive for the test. If you pass your P's driving test in an automatic vehicle then you will be restricted to only being able to drive an automatic vehicle whilst on your P1 licence (unless you at a later date, choose to redo the test in a manual vehicle). If you complete the test in a manual vehicle then you will be able to drive both a manual or automatic vehicle.

It is also an option to use the BTW driving school car for the test. Whichever vehicle you intend to drive for the test, you will need to confirm that the vehicle is registered, insured and is in a roadworthy condition for you to take the test.

You will need to check the vehicle that will be used for the test. Make sure that all lights are in working order, that the car and windows are clean, the tyres have the correct pressure, that the vehicle is currently registered and insured, and that you have enough petrol for the test.

It is best to arrive a little early for the test, as if you are late you may miss out on your test altogether and will need to rebook for another date.We would suggest that you arrive approximately 15 minutes before the test, with all paperwork, log book, identification completed, and payment for the licence ready.

Most Service NSW Offices have a particular place for you to park your vehicle for the test, so if you are not sure where this is, please make enquiries before the day to familiarise yourself with the parking area.

If you pass you will have another photograph taken and will then pay for the new Provisional Licence. You will also be given P plates for your car. You will be issued a paper licence and will have your Learner Licence returned to you. You must keep both of these together until your new Provisional Photo card licence arrives by mail. This will take approximately 7 - 14 days to arrive.
If you fail the test, the examiner will explain to you the areas that caused the failure. You will then need to book another test when you feel that you are ready to attempt the test again. If you are having lessons with BTW, we will then target those areas of deficiency in any further lessons, to prepare you for the next test date.
Ok, so now you have a few more rules to remember. Make sure you know these, as if not you could lose your licence.

  • P Plates need to be displayed conspicuously on front and rear of vehicle. (Not inside the window). If driving with a trailer you will also need a P plate for the back of the trailer. 
  • Any speeding offence will result in at least a 3 month suspension of your licence, a fine, and loss of 4 demerit points.  
  • You are banned from using a mobile phone, even those with bluetooth or hands free sets, or mobiles set to speaker.   
  • You can only carry 1 passenger under the age of 21, between 11pm and 5am. (Some exemptions do apply).  
  • Not to exceed zero blood alcohol concentration.  
  • Maximum speed of 100km/h.
  • Only tow light trailers up to 250kg uploaded weight.  
  • Must not accumulate more than 3 demerit points. 
  • Restricted to driving an automatic car if licence was attempted in an automatic car.  
  • Not supervise a learner driver. 
  • Not to upgrade the licence to a higher class.   
  • Only drive a vehicle with a seat belt fitted to the driver seat and you must wear the seat belt.   
  • Only carry the number of passengers that can be properly seated in seats and wear a selt belt.  
  • Not drive with passengers in or on the boot.

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