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The objective of these Regulations is to make provision under the Road Safety Act 1986 for—
driver licences and learner permits; and
the charging of fees.
These Regulations are made under section 95 of the Road Safety Act 1986.
These Regulations come into operation on 29 October 2019.
The Regulations set out in Schedule 1 are revoked.
In these Regulations—
Reg. 5(1) def. of alcohol assessment tool inserted by S.R. No. 120/2019 reg. 5.
alcohol assessment tool means a tool used to determine usage of alcohol by a person who has made an application under section 50AAAE of the Act;
appropriate licence or permit, for a category of motor vehicle, means a licence or permit that authorises the holder of the licence or permit to drive a motor vehicle of that category in the jurisdiction or, if issued in another country, the country in which it was issued;
appropriate P plate—
in relation to a P1 probationary driver licence, means a plate measuring approximately 150 millimetres by 150 millimetres that has a white letter "P" clearly marked on a red background; and
in relation to a P2 probationary driver licence, means a plate measuring approximately 150 millimetres by 150 millimetres that has a white letter "P" clearly marked on a green background; and
in relation to a probationary licence issued under a corresponding law of another jurisdiction which requires the holder of that licence to display a "P" plate while driving a motor vehicle, means a "P" plate that complies with the relevant requirements of that law;
Reg. 5(1) def. of approved alcohol and other drugs professional inserted by S.R. No. 120/2019 reg. 5, amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 1(a)).
approved alcohol and other drugs professional means a person approved by the Secretary under section 58J of the Act to provide a behaviour change program in relation to alcohol and other drugs;
Reg. 5(1) def. of authorised representative amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 1(a)).
authorised representative means a person who has the authority to represent the estate of a deceased person and can establish to the satisfaction of the Secretary the person's—
identity; and
authority to represent the estate of the deceased person;
car means a motor vehicle, other than a motor cycle, that—
has a GVM of not more than 4·5 tonnes; and
is constructed or equipped to seat not more than 12 adults (including the driver);
Note
GVM is defined in section 3 of the Act.
car driver licence means a driver licence that authorises the holder of the licence to drive a car on a highway;
car learner permit means a learner permit that authorises the holder of the permit to learn to drive a car on a highway;
Reg. 5(1) def. of commercial driving instructor (general) inserted by S.R. No. 19/2022 reg. 5(1)(c).
commercial driving instructor (general) means a person who, for financial gain or in the course of any trade or business, is teaching a person who is driving a motor vehicle to drive that motor vehicle on a highway;
Reg. 5(1) def. of correspond-ing novice driver amended by S.R. No. 19/2022 reg. 5(1)(a).
corresponding novice driver means a person who—
holds an Australian driver licence issued on a probationary or provisional basis; and
has held that licence for less than 12 months and was under 21 years of age when that licence was granted to that person;
defence force member means a person who is on—
full-time permanent service with the Australian Defence Force; or
full-time duty with the Australian Defence Force Reserve;
Reg. 5(1) def. of Demerits Register amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 1(a)).
Demerits Register means the Demerits Register required to be kept by the Secretary under section 35(1) and (2) of the Act;
driver under instruction plate means—
if displayed on a car—a plate approximately 150 millimetres by 150 millimetres bearing the words "driver under instruction" in black letters clearly marked on a yellow background; and
if displayed on a heavy vehicle or bus—a plate approximately 525 millimetres by 250 millimetres bearing the words "driver under instruction" in black letters clearly marked on a yellow background;
Reg. 5(1) def. of dual control vehicle inserted by S.R. No. 19/2022 reg. 5(1)(c).
dual control vehicle means a motor vehicle that has duplicate pedals for—
the footbrake; and
if the motor vehicle has a manual transmission, the clutch—
fitted so that a driving instructor seated beside the driver may operate the footbrake readily and effectively and disengage the transmission of the motor vehicle;
eligible family member, of a defence force member, means a person who—
resides with the defence force member; and
is entitled to be transferred with the defence force member at the expense of the Australian Defence Force;
emergency vehicle has the same meaning as in the Road Rules;
expiry date means—
in relation to a driver licence—the date specified in the licence as the date the term of the licence ends in accordance with section 19(3) of the Act; or
in relation to a learner permit—the date specified in the permit as the date the term of the permit ends in accordance with section 22(4) of the Act;
heavy combination vehicle means—
a prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer that has a GVM of more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly; or
a rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a trailer that has a GVM of more than 9 tonnes plus any unladen converter dolly;
heavy rigid vehicle means—
a motor vehicle that has a GVM of more than 8 tonnes and has 3 or more axles (whether or not the wheels on those axles are on the road); or
a bus consisting of more than one rigid section which are connected to one another so as to allow rotary movement and passenger access between the sections;
jurisdiction means an Australian State or a Territory;
L plate means a plate measuring approximately 150 millimetres by 150 millimetres that has a black letter "L" clearly marked on a yellow background;
Reg. 5(1) def. of learner approved motor cycle amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 1(a)).
learner approved motor cycle means a motor cycle, or a class of motor cycle, that has been approved by the Secretary under regulation 59(7) to be a learner approved motor cycle;
learner driver means a person who holds an Australian learner permit and does not have an appropriate driver licence;
Reg. 5(1) def. of learner log book amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 1(a)).
learner log book means a record of a person's driving experience in a form approved by the Secretary;
light rigid vehicle means a motor vehicle that—
has a GVM of more than 4·5 tonnes but not more than 8 tonnes; or
seats more than 12 adults (including the driver) and has a GVM of not more than 8 tonnes;
Reg. 5(1) def. of local licence or permit inserted by S.R. No. 19/2022 reg. 5(1)(c).
local licence or permit has the same meaning as in section 25A(3) of the Act;
Reg. 5(1) def. of local probationary or provisional licence inserted by S.R. No. 19/2022 reg. 5(1)(c).
local probationary or provisional licence means a licence issued under the law of another State or a Territory authorising the holder to drive a motor vehicle on a highway on probation or that is a provisional licence;
medium rigid vehicle means a motor vehicle that has a GVM of more than 8 tonnes and has no more than 2 axles;
motor cycle includes a motor trike;
Note
Motor cycle and motor trike are defined in section 3 of the Act.
motor cycle learner permit means a learner permit that authorises the holder of the permit to learn to drive a motor cycle on a highway;
motor home means a motor vehicle that—
is not a bus; and
has a GVM of not more than 4·5 tonnes; and
is designed and constructed for the primary purpose of providing a temporary dwelling for persons using the vehicle for recreational travel;
non-Victorian licence or permit means a licence or permit issued in another jurisdiction or country that authorises the holder to drive a motor vehicle in that jurisdiction or country;
P1 probationary driver means a person who holds a P1 probationary driver licence;
P1 probationary driver licence means a probationary driver licence granted in accordance with regulation 50 or a licence as varied under regulation 54;
Note
Probationary driver licence is defined in section 3 of the Act.
P1 probationary period means the period during which a person holds a P1 probationary driver licence;
P2 probationary driver licence means a probationary driver licence granted in accordance with regulation 51 or a licence as varied under regulation 55;
Note
Probationary driver licence is defined in section 3 of the Act.
P2 probationary period means the period during which a person holds a P2 probationary driver licence;
peer passenger, in relation to a P1 probationary driver or corresponding novice driver, means a person who is at least 16 years of age and less than 22 years of age but does not include a person who is—
the spouse or domestic partner of the P1 probationary driver or corresponding novice driver; or
the sibling or step-sibling of the P1 probationary driver or corresponding novice driver;
Note
Domestic partner and spouse are defined in section 3 of the Act.
personal particulars, in relation to a person means the following details—
the first name, second and third initials (if any) and family name of the person;
the person's date of birth;
the person's residential address;
the person's address for service of notices, if this is different from the person's residential address;
the person's mobile phone number;
the person's email address;
police vehicle has the same meaning as in the Road Rules;
Reg. 5(1) def. of practical driving test amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 1(b)).
practical driving test means a test of a person driving a vehicle, conducted by the Secretary or a person authorised by the Secretary, for the purpose of assessing a person's driving skills;
probationary driver means the holder of a probationary driver licence;
Note
Probationary driver licence is defined in section 3 of the Act.
probationary prohibited vehicle has the meaning given to it in regulation 57;
registered occupational therapist means a person who is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) to practise in the occupational therapy profession (other than as a student);
registered optometrist means a person who is registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Victoria) to practise in optometry (other than as a student);
Reg. 5(1) def. of supervising driver substituted by S.R. No. 123/2020 reg. 4, amended by S.R. No. 19/2022 reg. 5(1)(b).
supervising driver, in relation to a motor vehicle being driven by a learner driver, means a person who at the relevant time is supervising the learner driver and holds—
a full driver licence that authorises the person to drive the motor vehicle; or
an appropriate licence or permit issued in another jurisdiction or country (other than a probationary, provisional or learner licence or permit) and the person is authorised by these Regulations to drive the motor vehicle;
the Act means the Road Safety Act 1986;
Reg. 5(1) def. of VicRoads revoked by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 1(c)).
* * * * *
Victoria Police means the body established by section 6 of the Victoria Police Act 2013.
Reg. 5(2) amended by S.R. No. 19/2022 reg. 5(2).
In these Regulations, a reference to a person disqualified from driving in a particular jurisdiction or another country includes a person who is disqualified from obtaining a non‑Victorian licence or permit in that jurisdiction or country.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, a reference in these Regulations to a driver includes a reference to a rider, and a reference in these Regulations to driving includes a reference to riding.
For licensing purposes, the categories of motor vehicles are as follows
motor cycle;
car;
light rigid vehicle;
medium rigid vehicle;
heavy rigid vehicle;
heavy combination vehicle;
multi-combination vehicle.
For each category of motor vehicle referred to in subregulation (1) there is a corresponding category of driver licence with the same name.
For each category of motor vehicle referred to in subregulation (1)(a) and (b) there is a corresponding category of learner permit with the same name.
The holder of a motor cycle licence or motor cycle learner permit is authorised to drive a motor cycle.
The holder of a car driver licence or car learner permit is authorised to drive—
a car; or
a tractor; or
a tractor that is towing a trailer of any size.
The holder of a car driver licence is authorised to drive a car that is towing a single trailer that has a GVM of not more than 9 tonnes.
The holder of a light rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drive—
any vehicle or combination of vehicles the holder of a car driver licence is authorised to drive; or
a light rigid vehicle; or
a light rigid vehicle that is towing a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) that has a GVM of not more than 9 tonnes.
The holder of a medium rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drive—
any vehicle or combination of vehicles the holder of a light rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drive; or
a medium rigid vehicle; or
a medium rigid vehicle that is towing a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) that has a GVM of not more than 9 tonnes.
The holder of a heavy rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drive—
any vehicle or combination of vehicles the holder of a medium rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drive; or
a heavy rigid vehicle; or
a heavy rigid vehicle that is towing a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) that has a GVM of not more than 9 tonnes.
The holder of a heavy combination vehicle licence is authorised to drive—
any vehicle or combination of vehicles the holder of a heavy rigid vehicle licence is authorised to drive; or
a heavy combination vehicle.
The holder of a multi-combination vehicle licence is authorised to drive any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles other than a motor cycle.
Reg. 8 amended by S.R. No. 15/2025 reg. 5.
The category of driver licence or learner permit may be shown on a driver licence document or learner permit document by means of a code as indicated in the following table.
Table
Column 1
| Column 2 Category of driver licence or learner permit |
RIDER or R | motor cycle |
CAR | car |
LR | light rigid vehicle |
MR | medium rigid vehicle |
HR | heavy rigid vehicle |
HC | heavy combination vehicle |
MC | multi-combination vehicle |
This regulation applies to a person who—
is driving a motor vehicle; and
holds a driver licence authorising the person to drive another motor vehicle (other than a motor cycle licence); and
does not hold a driver licence authorising the person to drive that motor vehicle.
For the purposes of section 18(1)(c) of the Act, a person is authorised to drive the motor vehicle if—
the person is driving the motor vehicle for the purpose of gaining experience in driving the motor vehicle; and
someone else who holds an Australian driver licence appropriate for the motor vehicle being driven is sitting beside the driver and is supervising the driver.
The person must have displayed facing out from the front and rear of the vehicle a driver under instruction plate so that the words "driver under instruction" are clearly visible from a distance of 20 metres ahead of and behind the vehicle.
Penalty: 3 penalty units.
This regulation applies to a person who—
has previously held an Australian driver licence or a driver licence issued in another country; and
is driving a motor vehicle other than a motor cycle; and
does not hold a driver licence or learner permit authorising the person to drive that motor vehicle.
For the purposes of section 18(1)(c) of the Act, a person is authorised to drive the motor vehicle if—
Reg. 10(2)(a) amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 2).
the person is driving the motor vehicle for the purpose of their driving skills being assessed by the Secretary or a person authorised by the Secretary; and
someone else who holds an Australian driver licence appropriate for the motor vehicle being driven—
is in the vehicle with the person; and
is conducting an assessment of the person's driving skills for the purposes of these Regulations.
This regulation applies to a person who—
is driving a motor cycle; and
does not hold a driver licence or learner permit authorising the person to drive that motor cycle.
For the purposes of section 18(1)(c) of the Act, a person is authorised to drive the motor cycle if—
Reg. 11(2)(a) amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 3).
the person is driving the motor cycle for the purpose of having the person's driving skills assessed by the Secretary or a person authorised by the Secretary; and
Reg. 11(2)(b) amended by S.R. No. 172/2019 reg. 5(Sch. 2 item 3).
the Secretary or a person authorised by the Secretary is conducting an assessment of the person's driving skills for the purposes of these Regulations; and
an L plate is displayed facing out from the rear of the motor cycle so that the letter "L" is clearly visible from a distance of 20 metres behind the motor cycle.
For the purposes of section 18(1)(b) of the Act, a person is authorised to drive a category of motor vehicle if—
the person holds an appropriate non‑Victorian licence or permit for that category of motor vehicle; and
at the time the licence or permit was issued the person was ordinarily resident in the jurisdiction or country in which it was issued; and
Reg. 12(1)(c) amended by S.R. No. 15/2025 reg. 6(1).
in the case of a licence issued in another country—the licence document is written in English or accompanied by an accurate English translation and, in either case, complies with subregulation (3).
For the purposes of section 18(1)(b) of the Act, a person is authorised to drive a motor home on a highway if—
Reg. 12(2)(a) amended by S.R. No. 19/2022 reg. 6.
the person holds a licence for any category of motor vehicle (other than a licence that only authorises the person to ride a motor cycle or motor trike) issued in another country; and
at the time the licence was issued the person was ordinarily resident in that country; and
Reg. 12(2)(c) amended by S.R. No. 15/2025 reg. 6(2).
the licence document is written in English or accompanied by an accurate English translation and, in either case, complies with subregulation (3).
Reg. 12(3) amended by S.R. No. 15/2025 reg. 6(3).
A licence document or a translation referred to in subregulations (1)(c) and (2)(c) must include a full explanation, written in English, of any condition to which the licence is subject and the category of vehicle for which the licence has been issued.