Drive test

What to bring to your appointment

On the day of your appointment, please make sure you bring:

• Your learner permit card or full evidence-of-identity documents (External link)
• Your overseas licence card (if applicable)
• Your completed log book or have completed your hours in the myLearners app (if you’re under 21).

Using your own car

You can use your vehicle at a drive test if it meets all the below conditions:

• is clean, registered and in roadworthy condition
• has a working primary speedometer that can be seen from the passenger seat (see below for more info on supplementary display)
• has both driver and passenger side mirrors
• has a functioning windscreen and rear window demister (where fitted)
• has a seatbelt for all occupants
• is able to maintain a comfortable temperature
• displays ‘L’ plates
• has working headlights
• has a handbrake that the licence testing officer can operate if required. Vehicles fitted with electronic or foot operated park brakes cannot be used for solo tests 
• has working doors
• has a normal manual transmission if you want a manual driver licence issued.

If your vehicle is not suitable, you will need to find another vehicle that meets all of these requirements. You may be able to use your instructor's vehicle.

Note: VicRoads does not supply vehicles for a drive test.

Unacceptable drive test vehicles

The following vehicles cannot be used in a drive test for legal, safety and practical reasons:

• a taxi or tow truck which is licensed so that it can be only used by a Drivers Certificate (DC) or Tow Truck Driver Authority (DA) holder
• vehicles registered as primary producer vehicles
• left hand drive vehicles (this includes heavy vehicles where the vehicle has dual controls - the driver must use the right hand side controls)
• vehicles carrying dangerous goods
• unregistered vehicles displaying 'trade plates'
• armoured security vehicles
• vehicles without a reverse gear
• vehicles issued with a Club Permit or Street Rod Permit
• vehicles fitted with Takata ‘alpha’ airbags which have not been replaced (see below).

Takata airbags and drive test vehicles

Some airbags made by Takata Corporation are being recalled in Australia. One type of airbag, the Takata ‘alpha’ airbag, poses a significant risk to people inside the vehicle.

From 27 March 2019, any vehicle fitted with a Takata alpha airbag cannot be used for a VicRoads drive test. 

To check if the vehicle you want to use for your drive test has a Takata alpha airbag installed, visit is my airbag safe (External link) or text Takata on 0487 AIRBAG (247224).

If you have already booked an appointment in a vehicle fitted with a Takata Alpha airbag, you can:

• use different vehicle for the drive test after confirming that this vehicle is not also affected by the Takata airbag recall

 OR

• reschedule your drive test in the same vehicle after you have had the faulty Takata airbag replaced.

Note: There will be no additional charges for drive tests which are rescheduled because of the Takata airbag issue.

Before you begin the on-road component of the drive test with your vehicle (or your instructor's vehicle), the licence testing officer will instruct you to:

1. Identify and operate the following vehicle controls:
   • indicators
   • windscreen washer and wipers
   • horn (required to identify and operate in your own vehicle. Only required to identify in a driving instructor's vehicle)
   • headlights (high and low beam)
   • hazard lights
   • brake lights.
2. Identify the handbrake.
3. Identify but not operate the following vehicle controls:
   • windscreen demister
   • rear window demister (where fitted)
   • horn (required to identify and operate in your own vehicle. Only required to identify in a driving instructor's vehicle)
4. Start the engine.

If you are unable to complete items 1 and 2, or if any of the controls are not operating correctly, you will not be permitted to take the drive test.

If you can't identify a control in item 3, you will be shown the control. If you need to use one of the controls during the test and you need help to identify it again, the drive test will end and you will be unsuccessful.

You must consistently demonstrate safe driving behaviours while driving in different traffic conditions. During the drive test, the licence testing officer will be assessing you on:

• observation
• signal use
• gap selection
• speed choice
• following distance
• lateral position
• stop position
• parking
• control.

For more information, please refer to the Driving instructors drive test criteria [PDF 1.8 Mb].

Stage one is designed to assess your safety as a driver in less challenging conditions. The testing officer will give you simple, clear instructions during the test (eg. at the next street, turn right). You must follow their instructions and show that you can drive safely and efficiently. If you’re unsure of an instruction, ask for it to be repeated.

Stage one will take about 10 minutes to complete. The testing officer will then instruct you to stop safely at the kerb while they calculate your score.

If during stage one you do anything unsafe or illegal, the drive test will end and you will be unsuccessful.

Stage one may include:

• starting and stopping the vehicle
• left and right turns at intersections
• changing lanes.

Stage one also includes a low speed parking manoeuvre. The testing officer will instruct you to complete one of the following:

• reverse parallel park
• three point-turn.

Speak to your driving instructor or supervising driver if you're unsure about how to do this task.

If you pass stage one of the on-road driving test, you will progress to stage two. Stage two is conducted in busier traffic and is designed to assess your ability to safely execute normal driving tasks. The testing officer will give you simple, clear instructions during the test (eg. at the next street, turn right). You must follow their instructions and show that you can drive safely and efficiently. If you’re unsure of an instruction, ask for it to be repeated.

Stage two will take about 20 minutes to complete.

If during stage two you do anything unsafe or illegal, the drive test will end and you will be unsuccessful.

Stage two may include:

• driving in busy traffic
• changing lanes
• merging with other traffic
• driving on straight and curved roads.

Feedback about your results

After you have completed the drive test, the licence testing officer will give you feedback and advise whether you are successful or unsuccessful. You will also find out if there are areas of your driving that need improvement.

There are two distinct types of serious errors:

• immediate termination error
• critical error.

Immediate termination error

Your test will end and you will be immediately unsuccessful if you do something that puts you or other road users at risk.

An immediate termination error will be recorded if you:

• collide with another vehicle or fail to give way, signal, or check for other road users and someone else has to avoid a collision
• mount the kerb while driving
• exceed the speed limit by 5 km/h or more at any time
• exceed the speed limit by any amount for five seconds or more
• exceed the speed limit by any amount in a 'school' speed limit area
• fail to give way, signal or check for other road users, and someone else has to avoid a collision
• stop the car in a dangerous position
• drive through a stop sign or red traffic light
• disobey a direction from your testing officer or a member of the Victoria Police, or if your instructor or testing officer provides any kind of verbal or physical assistance
• do anything else that creates an unsafe situation.

For more information, please refer to the Drive test criteria [PDF 1.8 Mb].

Critical error

This penalty is given if you do something during the drive test that could create an unsafe situation but is not an immediate danger.

A critical error will be recorded if you:

• drive too slowly for the conditions
• fail to look or signal but no evasive action is required from other road users
• block a pedestrian crossing but no pedestrians are affected
• allow one wheel of your car to mount the kerb when parking or leaving a parking space
• stall your car
• slow and pause, but do not stop your car completely at a stop sign and other road users or pedestrians are not endangered
• do something else that is potentially unsafe but that does not result in an immediate risk of collision or injury.

For more information, please refer to the Drive test criteria [PDF 1.8 Mb].

Please ensure that your mobile phone, pager, radio and any form of audio/visual recording device are turned off. If any of these devices sound and/or are used during the drive test, the test will be terminated.

The following in-car devices must be turned off during the drive test:

• speed warning devices
• cruise control
• navigators
• any form of audio and/or visual recording equipment (this does not include an alcohol interlock device fitted to the vehicle).

A supplementary display unit (an add-on speedometer or camera), excluding one that is GPS based, can be used in your drive test if it can be seen from the passenger seat.

You will need to provide verification in writing (by letter) from either the manufacturer, distributor or installer that the supplementary speedometer replicates the exact speed of the primary speedometer at all times. You must supply the tester with this information prior to the drive test.

Note: Check your car manual for evidence that it replicates the exact speed if the supplementary display unit was fitted by the vehicle manufacturer.

Where the vehicle used for the drive test has dual controls fitted, the vehicle must have:

• working electronic buzzers fitted, or
• dual control pedal covers.

If you pass your probationary drive test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you can only drive vehicles with an automatic transmission during your probationary period. This condition is displayed as an ‘A’ condition on the driver licence card.

At the end of your probationary period, you can drive vehicles with a manual transmission without having to do another driving test provided the condition is not required due to a medical condition or impairment.

If you are required to drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission due to a specific medical condition, the condition will apply regardless of whether you are a probationary driver or not. This condition will be displayed as a ‘V’ condition on your driver licence and/or learner permit card.

Removing the A – Automatic transmission condition

If you have a probationary licence with an ‘A’ automatic transmission condition, the only way you can have this condition removed is to pass the drive test in a vehicle with a manual transmission.

When you have passed the drive test and paid the licence variation fee (External link) you will be issued with a replacement driver licence card that has the ‘A’ automatic condition removed.

To book an appointment to take a drive test, call 13 11 71 or visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre. Note: This drive test can’t be booked online.

Go to driver licence and learner permit fees for more information about fees.

When learning to drive in a manual vehicle, you must have someone with a full manual licence sitting beside you and display 'Driver Under Instruction' plates as well as your 'P' plates on the front and back of your vehicle. Driver Under Instruction plates must be 150mm x 150mm with black lettering on a yellow background.