ACT Driving Test: Your Complete Guide for Canberra Learners

What You're Dealing With

Canberra is Australia's roundabout capital, and the driving test reflects it. The first-time pass rate has plummeted from 60.8% in 2021 to just 27.7% in 2025 — meaning fewer than 1 in 3 candidates pass on their first attempt. That's well below the national average of 62% and one of the sharpest declines of any Australian jurisdiction.

The test is run by Access Canberra and assesses 23 specific competencies across 25-45 minutes of driving. There's one other thing that makes the ACT unique: if you're converting an overseas licence and you fail the one-off test, you must enter the full graduated licensing system from scratch — including all supervised driving hours.

ACT Graduated Licensing System

The ACT uses a graduated licensing system with distinct requirements based on age.

Learner Licence (L)

• Minimum age: 15 years 9 months (with Pre-Learner Licence Course) or 16 years
• How to get it: Complete the Pre-Learner Licence Course and pass the Road Rules Knowledge Test
• Must hold for: 12 months (under 25) or 6 months (25 and over)
• Supervised driving: 100 hours including 10 night hours (under 25) or 50 hours including 5 night hours (25 and over)
• Speed limit: 100 km/h (same as full licence holders)
• BAC limit: Zero

Instructor Bonus Hours

Professional driving lessons count triple towards your logbook hours:

• 1 hour with a certified instructor = 3 hours in your logbook
• Maximum benefit: 10 instructor hours = 30 logbook hours
• Additional credits available through safety courses:
  • Safer Driving Course: 20 hours credit
  • Vulnerable Road User Program: 10 hours credit
  • Learner Driver First Aid: 5 hours credit

Provisional P1 — Red P's

• Minimum age: 17 years (for those under 25)
• How to get it: Pass the practical driving test
• Duration: 3 years total on P plates before Full licence
• Speed limit: 100 km/h
• Automatic restriction: If you pass in an automatic, you must drive automatic only for the first 12 months (marked with an "A" condition)

Provisional P2 — Green P's

• Issued to: Candidates aged 25 and over who pass the driving test
• Speed limit: 100 km/h
• Duration: 3 years before Full licence

Full Licence

• Available after holding a P licence for 3 years
• Available in 1-year, 5-year, or 10-year terms

Two Pathways to Your P Plates

The ACT offers two distinct ways to obtain your provisional licence:

Path 1: Government Driving Test (One-Off Assessment)

This is the standard route. You book a single practical driving assessment through Access Canberra and are tested by a government examiner.

• Duration: 25 to 45 minutes
• Cost: $129.00
• Where: Gungahlin Service Centre or Tuggeranong Service Centre
• You must bring your own vehicle (registered and roadworthy with L plates displayed)

Path 2: CBT&A (Competency Based Training and Assessment)

An alternative route where a certified driving instructor assesses you progressively through a logbook system, covering all 23 competencies over multiple lessons rather than in a single test.

• Assessment is conducted by your instructor, not a government examiner
• Generally more expensive overall due to the number of lessons required
• Can be less stressful since you are assessed in a familiar learning environment

What the Test Covers — 23 Competencies

The ACT driving test assesses 23 specific competencies across three categories:

Vehicle Control

1. Cabin drill (seat, mirrors, seatbelt adjustment)
2. Starting up procedure
3. Moving off procedure
4. Steering control

Manoeuvre Skills

5. Turns, left and right
6. Overtaking
7. Hill parking
8. Reversing in a straight line
9. Reverse parallel parking
10. U-turns
11. Three-point turns
12. Lane changing, merging, entering and leaving freeways

Road Driving and Safety

13. Observation skills, scanning and hazard awareness
14. Give-way rules
15. Vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists)
16. Speed awareness
17. Following distance
18. Right of way at intersections
19. Roundabouts

Items 20 through 23 cover additional safe driving behaviours including general driving conduct and response to road conditions.

Pass Rates

The ACT has seen a significant decline in first-time pass rates:

Key Observations

• Fewer than 1 in 3 candidates now pass on their first attempt — down from 3 in 5 just four years ago
• The second attempt has a much higher pass rate (58.8%) than the first, as candidates learn from their mistakes
• Technical control errors drop by over 70% between first and second attempts
• Safety habit errors (running red lights, poor mirror use) are the hardest to correct and persist across multiple attempts
• Speed violations have worsened significantly — from 8.1% of errors in 2021 to 12.5% in 2025

Most Common Reasons for Failing

Based on Access Canberra data from 2021 to 2025:

1. Examiner intervention (17.9%) — The examiner has to grab the steering wheel or apply the brake. This is an immediate fail.
2. Poor anticipation and judgement (16.7%) — Failing to predict other road users' actions or misjudging situations.
3. Right of way and give-way errors (13.6%) — Particularly at roundabouts and uncontrolled intersections.
4. Speed management (11.1%) — This has worsened from 8.1% in 2021 to 12.5% in 2025. Both speeding and driving too slowly are penalised.
5. Insufficient head checks — Not turning your head visibly when changing lanes or merging.
6. Roundabout errors — Wrong lane selection, failing to give way, or forgetting to signal left when exiting.
7. Stop sign violations — Rolling through without a complete stop.
8. Manoeuvre failures — Errors during parallel parking or three-point turns.

Canberra-Specific Challenges

Roundabouts Everywhere

Canberra has more roundabouts than any other Australian city. You will almost certainly encounter multiple roundabouts during your test, including multi-lane roundabouts that require correct lane positioning.

Key roundabout rules:

• Give way to vehicles already in the roundabout (approaching from your right)
• Signal left when exiting the roundabout, regardless of which exit you take
• Choose the correct lane before entering a multi-lane roundabout
• Maintain a steady speed through the roundabout

Wide Roads and Grid Layout

Canberra's roads are generally well planned and wide. This can be an advantage for manoeuvres like three-point turns (some candidates report the roads are wide enough to do them easily), but it can also tempt you to drive too fast.

School Zones

Watch for 40 km/h school zones. Exceeding the speed limit in a school zone is an immediate fail.

Test Centres

Gungahlin Service Centre

• Address: 125 Gungahlin Place, Gungahlin ACT 2912
• Routes typically cover the Gungahlin area with numerous roundabouts
• Quieter in the morning — consider booking between 10 am and 11 am

Tuggeranong Service Centre

• Address: Homeworld Shopping Centre, Scollay Street, Tuggeranong ACT 2900
• Routes go through Tuggeranong suburbs
• Generally similar difficulty to Gungahlin

Choosing Your Test Time

The time of day matters significantly in Canberra:

• Best times: Mid-morning (10 am to 11:30 am) on weekdays — fewer cars, roundabouts are easier to navigate, and you avoid school zone hours
• Avoid: After 3 pm on weekdays (school pick-up traffic) and Friday afternoons
• Weekday vs weekend: Tests are only available on weekdays through Access Canberra

Vehicle Requirements

You must bring your own vehicle to the test. It must be:

• Currently registered in the ACT (or another Australian state)
• Roadworthy with no dashboard warning lights
• Displaying L plates on the front and rear of the vehicle (not inside the windscreen)
• Clean inside, including the boot (the examiner may check)
• Equipped with working headlights, brake lights, indicators, and reverse lights

Important: The examiner will test your lights before the drive begins. A passenger or your instructor can help operate the controls while you check the lights from outside.

Costs

As of September 2025:

How to Book

• Online: accesscanberra.act.gov.au (recommended — choose your preferred centre and time)
• Phone: 13 22 81
• In person: Any Access Canberra Service Centre

Booking Tips

• Book as early as possible — both Gungahlin and Tuggeranong are regularly booked out 2 months or more in advance
• Cancelling or rescheduling with less than 48 hours' notice forfeits the full $129 fee
• Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment time
• Being more than 5 minutes late is treated as a no-show

After Failing

• You must wait at least 48 hours before re-booking
• The examiner will email you a detailed assessment report highlighting your weak areas
• There is no limit on the number of attempts, but you pay $129 each time

Converting an Overseas Licence in the ACT

Recognised Countries (No Test Required)

Drivers from 28 recognised jurisdictions can convert directly without a driving test. These include Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

2025 EDR Reform

From 1 May 2025, the Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) pathway has been removed in the ACT. Drivers aged 25+ from 16 "EDR countries" — including Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and South Africa — now must pass a knowledge test and driving assessment. Previously, they could convert directly.

Non-Recognised Countries (Including China)

Rules apply for overseas licence holders from non-recognised countries:

1. Complete the ACT Pre-Learner Licence Course
2. Pass the Road Rules Knowledge Test
3. Book and attend a practical driving test — you get one attempt
4. If you pass, you receive a Provisional Licence (P1 for under 25, P2 for 25 and over)
5. If you fail, you must apply for a Learner Licence and complete the full GLS requirements (including all supervised driving hours)

Important change from 1 July 2025: Overseas licence holders who pass the driving test are now issued a Provisional Licence, not a Full Licence. Those who booked their test before 1 July 2025 and passed received a Full Licence. This is a significant change — passing the same test now results in a more restrictive licence.

This means overseas licence holders have significant pressure to pass on the first attempt. The consequence of failing is far more severe than for standard learners.

Required Documents

• Passport
• Original overseas licence
• NAATI-certified English translation of your licence
• Pre-Learner Course certificates
• Photo ID
• Two proofs of ACT residential address (must be paper originals)
• Medicare card (requirements vary — bring it to be safe)

Tips for Passing First Time

Before the Test

• Invest in professional lessons — even experienced overseas drivers benefit from 2 to 4 lessons with a local instructor who knows the test routes
• Practice the actual test area — drive around Gungahlin or Tuggeranong repeatedly to learn the roundabouts, lane markings, and speed limits
• Time your test wisely — book mid-morning on a weekday for lighter traffic and fewer complications at roundabouts

On Test Day

• Arrive 15 minutes early and park in the correct waiting area (your instructor can advise on the exact spot)
• Clear everything from the back seat and boot
• Ensure your phone is off or on silent
• Bring all required documents — missing paperwork means you cannot sit the test

During the Test

• Head checks must be exaggerated — the examiner needs to see your head turn, not just your eyes moving
• At roundabouts, always signal left when exiting, even if going straight through
• At stop signs, come to a complete stop and pause for a full 2 to 3 seconds
• Maintain the speed limit — driving too slowly can also be penalised
• Listen carefully to instructions. The examiner will give clear, simple directions. If you do not understand, ask politely for clarification
• Stay calm after an error — one small mistake does not necessarily mean failure. Continue driving safely

Three-Point Turn Tips

• Check your mirrors and perform a head check before each movement
• Signal appropriately for each direction change
• On Canberra's wide streets, you may be able to do it in fewer points, but follow the standard three-point procedure unless the examiner says otherwise
• The examiner may tell you that using five points is acceptable — do not panic if you need extra room

Parallel Parking Tips

• If your first attempt is not perfect (for example, you touch the kerb), the examiner may allow you to try again without penalty
• Take it slowly and make small steering adjustments
• Check all mirrors and perform head checks throughout the manoeuvre

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the ACT driving test? Between 25 and 45 minutes, depending on traffic conditions and the route taken.

How much does it cost? The test fee is $129. A P plate costs $160.30 on first issue.

Where can I take the test? Gungahlin Service Centre or Tuggeranong Service Centre.

What is the pass rate? The first-time pass rate in the ACT has dropped to just 27.7% as of 2025 — one of the lowest in Australia. However, 58.8% pass on their second attempt.

Can I choose between government test and CBT&A? Yes. The government one-off test is a single 25 to 45 minute assessment. CBT&A involves ongoing assessment by a certified instructor through a logbook system.

What happens if I fail with an overseas licence? You must apply for a Learner Licence and complete the full graduated licensing requirements, including all supervised driving hours. Also note that from 1 July 2025, even passing the test only gets you a Provisional Licence (not a Full Licence).

Can I ask the examiner to repeat instructions? Yes. Examiners will speak clearly and give you time to respond. Do not hesitate to ask for clarification.

Do I need my own car? Yes. Access Canberra does not provide vehicles. Your car must be registered, roadworthy, and displaying L plates.

Information in this guide is current as of February 2026. Fees and rules may change — always check the Access Canberra website for the latest information.