One Missing Document = No Test
Show up without the right paperwork and your test is cancelled on the spot. No refund, no second chance that day, and you're back in the booking queue for weeks. It happens more often than you'd think.
Here's exactly what you need — by state, by situation.
Documents You Must Bring
Your Learner Licence
This one's obvious, but check the expiry date. An expired learner permit means an automatic cancellation. Most states still require the physical card — don't rely on a digital licence unless your state's transport authority explicitly says otherwise.
Tip: SA requires photo ID on the licence or a separate photo ID (passport, Proof of Age card). If your learner permit doesn't have a photo, bring backup ID.
Proof of Identity
Some states ask for additional photo ID beyond your learner licence — a passport, Proof of Age card, or ImmiCard will do. If your name has changed since you got your learner licence, bring the supporting documents (marriage certificate, deed poll, etc.).
Logbook
If you're under 25, every state except NT requires a completed logbook. The hours, night driving minimums, and submission rules vary a lot:
| State | Hours | Night Hours | Who Needs It | How to Submit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 120 | 20 | Under 25 | Roundtrip app or paper — submit at least 48 hours before test |
| VIC | 120 | 20 | Under 25 | Bring to test centre |
| QLD | 100 | 10 | Under 25 | QLD Learner Logbook app or paper at Australia Post — submit at least 12 business days before test |
| SA | 75 | 15 | Under 25 | Bring to test centre |
| WA | 50 | 5 | Under 25 | Learn&Log app or paper logbook |
| TAS | 80 | 15 | Under 25 | Bring to test centre |
| ACT | 100 / 50 (25+) | 10 / 5 | All ages | 3:1 credit for accredited instructor lessons (max 30h credit) |
| NT | — | — | Nobody | Only jurisdiction with no mandatory hours |
25 or over? In NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, and TAS you're exempt from logbook hours. In the ACT, you still need 50 hours (with 5 at night). NT has no requirement at any age.
Booking Confirmation
Print it or screenshot it. You need the reference number, date, time, and test centre address. Some centres won't look you up without a reference number.
Vehicle Checklist
You bring the car. If it fails the pre-test inspection, your test is cancelled and you lose the fee. The examiner checks your vehicle before you even start driving.
Registration and Insurance
Your vehicle must be currently registered in Australia with valid CTP/third-party insurance. Bring the registration papers or have them accessible digitally (e.g., Service NSW app, myGov).
Roadworthiness — Check These the Night Before
The examiner will look at all of these:
- Tyres — adequate tread depth, properly inflated, no bulges
- Lights — headlights, brake lights, indicators, reverse lights, number plate lights (all working, lenses not cracked)
- Mirrors — driver side, passenger side, rear-view — all present and adjustable
- Windscreen — no major cracks in the driver's line of sight; wipers and demisters working
- Seatbelts — fitted and functional for all occupied seats
- Horn — working
- Speedometer — visible from the passenger seat (where the examiner sits)
- Doors — opening and closing securely from inside and outside
The night-before trick: Do a full check the evening before your test. That way you have time to fix a blown indicator bulb or get air in a tyre, instead of discovering it in the car park at 8am.
This video covers the full vehicle checklist in detail — worth watching the night before your test:
L Plates
Display them on the front and rear of the vehicle when you arrive. The examiner will tell you whether to keep them on or remove them during the test (this varies by examiner and state).
Vehicle Type
Standard passenger car — no trucks, buses, or trailers. You can test in either manual or automatic, but be aware: if you pass in an automatic, most states will place a 12-month condition restricting you to automatics only.
Know Your Car Controls — They'll Test You on This
Before you even start the engine, the examiner will ask you to demonstrate at least two car controls. Get them wrong and you lose two points straight away — a minor error that puts you on the back foot before you've driven a metre.
Here's what they might ask you to operate:
| Control | What You'll Be Asked | Quick Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning | Turn on the A/C | Fan must be on first. Look for the button that lights up green. |
| Front demister | Clear fog from the windscreen | Turn on demister plus A/C to dry the air. Wipers alone won't clear internal fog. |
| Rear demister | Clear the rear window | Look for the button near the front demister — most cars group them together. |
| Hazard lights | Turn them on and off | The red triangle button. Used when broken down or warning others of danger. |
| Anti-glare mirror | Operate the rear-view mirror's anti-glare | Manual: flip the lever at the bottom. Electronic: press the small button on the mirror. |
| Windscreen wipers | Turn on the front wipers | Know all speeds — intermittent, slow, fast. The dial on the stalk controls intermittent speed. |
| Windscreen washers | Spray and clean the windscreen | Usually pull the wiper stalk towards you. Don't confuse wipers with washers. |
| Headlights | Switch on low beam | Even if your car has "Auto" headlights, you must know the manual switch. |
| High beam | Switch to high beam | Push the light stalk forward. Remember: off within 200m of other vehicles. |
| Side mirrors | Adjust the side mirrors | Select L or R on the door control, then use the joystick. You should see the road plus your own door handles. |
| Seat adjustment | Show how to adjust the driver's seat | You don't need to move it — just point to the controls (slide bar, height lever, backrest dial). |
You won't get all of these — the examiner picks two or three. But if you can't find the demister button or mix up the wipers and washers, that's points lost before you've left the car park.
Prep tip: Spend 10 minutes in the test car the day before, locating every control listed above. If you're using someone else's car or a driving school car, this matters even more — every car puts buttons in different places.
This video from Signal Driving School walks through all 15 possible controls the examiner might ask about:
Who Comes With You
You need a fully licensed driver to:
- Drive you to the test centre
- Drive you home if you don't pass
During the test itself, only you and the examiner are in the vehicle. Your supervisor waits at the centre.
State-Specific Requirements
These extra items catch people out. Check if yours applies:
VIC and TAS — Hazard Perception Test (HPT) certificate. You must pass the HPT before you can book your driving test. In VIC, your HPT result is valid for 12 months — if your driving test is more than a year after you passed the HPT, you'll need to redo it. In TAS, you can sit the HPT up to 3 months before your provisional test date through the Plates Plus system.
SA — Pre-drive vehicle safety check. The VORT examiner does a thorough roadworthiness check of your vehicle before the test begins. If your car fails, the test is cancelled with no refund.
QLD (overseas licence conversion) — Bring your original overseas licence plus a NAATI-certified English translation if the licence isn't in English.
ACT — Pre-learner course completion certificate, if you completed one.
What Else to Bring
- Glasses or contact lenses if you need them to drive — the examiner may do a quick eyesight check
- Comfortable shoes — avoid thongs, high heels, or heavy boots (you need to feel the pedals)
- Water bottle — test day nerves cause dry mouth
- Phone set to silent or off — a ringing phone during the test can count against you
Leave these behind: Extra passengers, pets, loose items sliding around the car. For dashcams, policies vary by state and examiner — check with your test centre beforehand if you want to keep yours running.
The Quick Checklist
Print this or screenshot it for test day morning:
- Learner licence (valid, not expired)
- Photo ID (if required by your state)
- Completed logbook — submitted on time if digital
- Booking confirmation with reference number
- Vehicle registration papers (physical or digital)
- L plates on front and rear
- All lights, mirrors, tyres, seatbelts checked
- Fully licensed driver to accompany you
- Glasses or contacts (if needed)
- HPT certificate (VIC and TAS)
- Phone on silent
- Know where every car control is (demister, wipers, washers, lights, A/C)
Arrive 15 minutes early. Most centres will cancel your booking if you're late, and you won't get a refund.
Practise the Route Before Test Day
Knowing what to bring gets you in the door. Knowing the route gets you through the test. AUDrive has GPS-guided practice on real driving test routes across Australia — find your test centre and drive the actual roads you'll be tested on.
Last updated February 2026. Requirements change — always double-check with your state's transport authority before test day.