What type of driver's license do I need for different vehicles?

You need to be aged at least 16 years to qualify for a driving license. There are different types of driver’s license you can obtain, and this depends on the type of car you wish to drive. For most people, the ability to drive means mobility and the ability to go places and do things they could never before. However, driving also poses danger if you have not been taught to drive the right and safe way by a registered driving school.

You are entitled to apply for a brand new driving license if you have never held one before. Even where your driver’s license was cancelled because of alcohol or drug-related issues, the law allows you to re-apply for one, but only after you meet certain conditions. The first step is to identify the right driving instructors in Perth, and go to them for driving lessons. However, the law requires that you must be 16 years old in order to take driving lessons. You must pass by scoring 24/30 in the theory test in order to be eligible for the learner’s permit.

The next step requires you to learn how to drive, where your supervised driving hours must not be less than 25 hours. These supervised hours must be entered in your Pre- PDA Log Book, and the best Perth driving schools will be able help and prepare you on the best ways of going about such an exercise. The third step is to go for the Practical Driving Assessment (PDA), and you only qualify to sit for this one if you are aged not less than 16 years and six months. Thereafter, a Post-PDA Log Book will be issued to you, and you need to post not less than 25 hours of supervised driving on this document.

Step 4 requires that you pass the Hazard Perception Test (HPT), and for this, you must be aged 17 years and above. You only qualify for the HPT if not less than 6 months have passed since you sat for the PDA, and the time you wish to take this test. This applies regardless of the type of driving license you are interested in getting from the best driving instructors in Perth. Subsequently, you will get a Provisional Driver’s License, which is valid for 2 years. For the first 6 months, the law requires you to display white on red ‘P’ plates on your vehicle, and you can only drive during the daytime.

The following are the different class of vehicles and the driver’s licenses you need for each:
a) Moped Class (R-N)
b) Motorcycle Class (R-E), LAMS Approved
c) Motorcycle Class (R)
d) Car Class (C)
e) Light Rigid Heavy Vehicle Class (LR)
f) Medium Rigid Heavy Vehicle Class (MR)
g) Heavy Rigid Heavy Vehicle Class (HR)
h) Heavy Combination Heavy Vehicle Class (HC)
i) Multi-Combination Heavy Vehicle Class (MC)
j) Special Tractor Vehicle Classes
k) Special Wheelchair Licenses

Therefore, you should choose the right driving schools in Perth where the driving license you wish to obtain, based on the type of vehicle you would like to drive, is offered. Perth has various top driving schools and there are driving lessons you need to take to get the right license.


For more information on driver's licences and vehicles, Western Suburbs Driving School has the info and knowledge to guide you on anything driver license and vehicle related.